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DIY Emergency Repairs on the Road
The sounds and smells of a car overheating or a flat tire are some you never want to hear. But here are a few easy fixes to help you get from the roadside to the car repair or home.
Tool Kit
Solving issues while on the road are easier with some basics in your car. Make sure to always carry with you a handy set of tools that include a pair of small locking pliers, a length of soft wire, roll of duct tape, wire snips, tie wraps, a good multi-tool, sharp knife, rescue tape, electrical tape, a rag and a flashlight. Several good tool kits can be found online and by adding the remaining items complete you kit.
Broken Window
The kit starts to come in handy with the simplest repairs. By using duct tape and a plastic trash bag a broken window can be covered until you can get it repaired. Start by cutting the bag to fit the window frame. As you secure the bag to the frame start at the top and continue across the bottom pulling the bag tight before securing the sides. Try to secure the bag tightly to the frame as the bag will last longer and make less noise when it is tight.
Blown Radiator Hose
There are a few things that can happen to the radiator hose that allow you to fix them on the spot. If it blows out from the end of the hose it may be possible to take the clamp off of the hose, cut off the very end portion, put the clamp back on and re-attach the hose. Isn’t it great to have your handy tools? Another option is to patch the hose by wrapping it with self-fusing silicone Rescue Tape which can withstand pressure to 700 pounds per square inch and temperatures to 500 degrees Fahrenheit. Once the car is cool wipe the hose so there is no dirt or grime which allows the tape to get a better bond. Make sure to top off the radiator until you can get to a mechanic to repair the problem correctly.
Exhaust (Tail) Pipe Hanging
With a dangling tail pipe several mishaps could happened. The sparks could cause fire either under your car or in the brush on the sides of the roads and with our nations dry weather conditions it is important to fix it as soon as possible. Another problem is that the pipes could catch on the roadway and be torn completely off the car. The exhaust system is usually suspended under the car with rubber hangers, which can over time dry out, become dracked and break. This is where the stout wire comes in handy — a coat hanger or hot dog cooker work great . When the car and exhaust have cooled carefully wire the exhaust back up into place making sure the wire is not touching any moving parts, such as the drive shaft. Also, do not wire around the brake lines or electrical wiring. This quick fix will get you to the repair station without further costly repairs being added when the exhaust falls completely off.
Blown Heater Hose
The heater hose of your car is about the size of a garden hose, it carries coolant from the engine the heater hoses carry coolant from the engine to the heater core, located on the firewall or under the dash. They can deteriorate, fail and spew coolant. If a heater hose blows near its end, try to cut off the hose and reattach it. If you don’t have Rescue Tape or the fitting has failed, simply cut the hose at the firewall, bend it over in the middle like you are kinking a garden hose, and secure it with tie wraps. You’ll need to do this to both hoses. Now coolant will stay in the engine. Top off the radiator ASAP
Stuck Lug Nuts
Changing a flat tire is frustrating, can be hard, and if you have never done it before is almost overwhelming. And when the lug nuts are stuck, uugghh life is hard. This is where your lug wrench comes into play. First, position your lug wrench parallel to the ground and pointing to your left, and then stand on it. Your weight will often break the nut free.
*Remember these are just quick fixes that allow you to get to a proper mechanic. These fixes do not take the place of proper car care.
