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Roadside Emergency Safety & Assistance Lapeer Michigan

The Ultimate Guide to Emergency Roadside Safety & Assistance

With so many people driving vehicles in today’s day and age, there is a good chance that you will experience an accident or be involved in some roadside emergency, such as, a flat tire, dead battery, overheated radiator, or engine problems that will force you off the road for repairs or towing services. This is a potentially dangerous situation, which, without keeping safety in mind for yourself and others with you, could get you injured or killed.

Even though an emergency situation or accident is not completely preventable, you can prepare your vehicle and yourself ahead of time before traveling to reduce or eliminate an incident from happening. There are two things that you will need to do to arrive safely at your destination, which we will detail now:

Table of Contents

Preparing for a Roadside Emergency or Breakdown

Prepare Your Vehicle

Prepare Yourself

Two Basic Types of Roadside Breakdowns

Accidents

Breakdowns

What To Do When You Are Involved In An Accident

What To Do When You Are Involved In A Roadside Emergency

The Best Roadside Emergency Kit for Your Vehicle

Preparing For A Roadside Emergency or Breakdown

Prepare Your Vehicle

In order for your vehicle to get you to where you need and want to go, it is important to maintain your vehicle. The alternative is that you will experience an emergency and un-necessary frustration. In a worse case scenario, your disabled vehicle could cause an accident and you or your passengers could get injured. The following list will get you started on the right track to keeping your motor vehicle well maintained.

Periodic Safety Checks – It’s a good idea to check your vehicle on a regular basis to be sure everything is in good operating condition. Typically, a safety check will include looking at your tires, belts, hoses, lights, windshield wipers and fluids.

  Safety Inspection – Some auto repair shops will do a safety inspection for you if you are having other work performed. Establish a relationship with your repair facility. They should see your vehicle no less than twice a year and should be doing safety inspections along with your regular maintenance.

  Vehicle Owners Manual – In order for you discern whether your vehicle is operating properly, fully read the owners’ manual of your vehicle and become familiar with the warning lights or signals and what you should do in each of those situations. If you don’t have an owner’s manual, you can call your dealer or do a search for it online. A good place to start online would be eBay.

  Check Charging System – Before going on a long trip or each change of the season, take your vehicle to your local auto repair shop to get the charging system checked. They will be able to tell you how much life is left in your battery and recognize any system repairs.

  Emergency/Safety Equipment – It is important to familiarize yourself on how to use emergency tools and safety equipment. This could include flares, scissor or hydraulic jack, fire extinguisher, tire gauge, jumper cables, etc. Practice using these at home or in a safe place before you have to use them in an emergency situation.Also, be sure your spare tire, if you have one, is properly inflated and the hoist (if available) is properly lubed and raised up and down periodically.

  Emergency Contacts – Since most people today have a mobile phone, you should know how to use it. But, if you don’t, learn how to use your phone to call for assistance. Program into your phone 810-664-8811 with other emergency contacts and keep a list on paper as well – just in case you can’t use or you lost your mobile phone.

  The next step in preparation and prevention is making sure you are ready to go when you are planning to travel, or go on a trip.

Prepare Yourself

Now, just because your vehicle is being well maintained, doesn’t mean that you are prepared and ready. Below we have listed out some things you can do to be better prepared when traveling or just out on the road:

Plan Your Route – Plan and know where you’re going. Print out directions from Google Maps or get a triptik. Let family or friends know where you are going and call them when you get there.

  Be Aware of the Weather – Take a look at what the weather will be like during your travels to be alert to any adverse conditions while driving.

  Construction – Similar to weather above, check your GPS, Google Maps or another provider to see if there are any construction or other hazards between you and your destination.

  Traffic Patterns – Depending on the time of day you are going to be traveling, the traffic patterns will differ. Be alert to those patterns in your area so you are not traveling during rush hour or during a big event.

  Minimize Distractions – The most important factor in driving is focus, so it is best to minimize talking with other people, playing loud music, texting or speaking on the phone or anything else that may distract you from getting to your destination safely and un-harmed.

  Emergency Vehicles – Be mindful of police vehicles, fire trucks, ambulances or tow trucks that may require the right of way at any time. This is one reason why minimizing distractions is important as it allows you to be aware of what is happening in front and around you. In Michigan, we have what’s called a “emergency vehicle caution” or “move over” law. It was enacted to protect police, medical, fire fighters and tow truck drivers rendering assistance for emergency or accidents.

  Below is a video created by B / A Products to be dedicated as an awareness media piece to towers everywhere with the end goal to prevent a towing accident from happening in the first place and to make motorists aware of the move over laws. You can watch their video below:

  Over the last couple of years there have been several deaths and injuries to tow truck operators in Michigan, so it would behoove us all to be aware and alert of those who are out on the roads to assist and help so that others don’t get hurt or killed.

  Driving Don’ts – To be aware and alert while driving, it is imperative that you do not drive while you are tired, fatigued, emotional or under the influence of drugs or alcohol. At the minimum, you could have your license suspended, vehicle impounded or the worse case, you could end up injuring or killing yourself or others.

  Safety – To keep yourself and other passengers safe, be sure you and they are buckled and secure, particularly infants and small children.

  Defensive Driving – Even if you are an experienced driver, you may want to consider taking a refresher course in defensive driving. You can find these classes by searching online or checking with your auto club for more information.

Two Basic Types of Roadside Breakdowns

Now that you have your vehicle and yourself prepared for traveling on the roads, let us take a look at the two most common types of roadside breakdowns that you could experience. Please be aware that we are not trying to cover every type of situation that could happen. What we will cover is the most common ones amongst the two roadside emergency types. Let us begin…

I. Accidents

Auto accidents are the number one roadside emergency in which motorists will find themselves. This is where you or another vehicle have collided or “crashed” into one another while driving on the ROADWAY. A number of circumstances can cause this type of incident and the damage could range from minimal to disastrous. Unfortunately, this type of breakdown cannot be predicted, so the best advice we can give you, is to read through the Prepare Yourself list, drive responsibly and if you do end up in or causing an accident, stay calm and don’t panic.

II. Breakdowns

The reasons that motorists need help along the roadway are as numerous as the parts on your vehicle (ok, maybe not that many). But the nine specific car problems listed below make up the bulk of the roadside assistance calls.

Dead Battery – In general, your auto battery should last between three and five years. If your vehicles battery is over three years old, have it checked by an auto mechanic to make sure it still has some good life. For batteries newer, have it checked while at your safety inspection or before traveling. Some of the reasons your battery can fail are bad cell(s) in battery, corroded terminals, old age and won’t hold a charge, leaving accessories on (lights, radio, etc.) and then having to jump the battery and alternator not recharging the battery.

  Lockouts – The best way to prevent yourself from being locked out of your car is to invest in some spare keys. Be sure to store them outside of your vehicle, such as, your home, office or with a family member.

  Engine Trouble – This is a broader topic within this list as there could be multiple things that can cause engine problems. Some of the common ones are a broken hose, alternator, fuel pump/filter or a belt breaking. If you are keeping up on your maintenance you should be able to catch these to prevent problems on the road.

  Flat Tire/Blowout – It is very important to keep your tires properly inflated, clear of foreign objects (nails, screws, rocks, etc.) rotated and when the tread gets below an eighth of an inch, it’s time to change them. It’s best to check your tires on a weekly basis. Also, be sure you have a spare tire or donut, and the tools needed to change your flat tire (Many of the newer vehicles no longer have a spare tire.)

  Brake Troubles – Being able to stop your vehicle is a crucial aspect when driving. When braking, if you feel pulling to one side, the pedal going to the floor, a pedal too soft or spongey, squeaking or grinding, then get your brake system checked. For regular maintenance, get your brakes and rotors checked every two years and have your brake fluid replaced every two to three years. Check your owner’s manual for specifics to your vehicle.

  Transmission Problems – It may not be as easy to spot a transmission problem in today’s more modern and computerized vehicles which have sensors or engine control software, but keep an ear out for any slipping or clunking when driving, as well as, listen for “slamming” when moving your shifter into one of the gears. To prevent having a transmission problem, have your fluids checked during your routine maintenance or before going on a long trip.

  Running Out of Gas – This one is more common sense than a problem with your car. By keeping a good eye on your fuel gauge you will not run out of gas. But, if you are in a situation where your low fuel light comes on, get your gas topped off as quickly as you can. As a backup, carry an empty, dry, fuel container in the case you do end up running out of fuel.

  Overheating – If your car is too hot and steam is coming from your hood, then there could be several issues causing this to happen. First, your thermostat could be stuck in the closed position. Second, there could be a leak in your cooling system. Third, the water pump could be faulty. Fourth, a bad cooling fan, and Fifth, the radiator could be clogged. If you are experience trouble with overheating, take your vehicle to an experienced repair shop to have it serviced. Most engines today have aluminum cylinder heads and will NOT withstand being overheated and driven for very long at all without causing further more expensive damage. Our recommendations are to get to a safe place immediately and shut the car off until it has cooled down to inspect fluids. When in doubt have it towed.

  No Start – If your engine won’t crank over (i.e. start), it could be for several reasons, such as, starter motor relay failure, defective fuel pump, clogged fuel filter, ignition switch failure, corroded or loose battery cables or low or discharged battery.

  Now that you have become more knowledgeable in the two major roadside emergencies, it is time to cover what to do if you end up in an accident or on the side of the road needing help. Since it is near impossible to predict or prepare for all circumstances, we will be covering some suggestions and general guidelines for each case.

What To Do When You Are Involved In An Accident

Step 1: Check for Injuries

Check to see if anyone involved in the accident has been injured or seriously hurt. If so, call 9-1-1 right away! Under no circumstances move any individual unless in the case of fire or instructed to do so by roadside emergency personnel.

Step 2: Your Location

Write down the street address, nearest mile marker, billboard or other landmarks as your insurance and emergency providers will need this information.

Step 3: Accident Scene

Draw out a sketch of the accident scene and detail skid marks, damage to vehicles, weather conditions and any other details pertinent to the situation. It may help to take photos of the damage on the vehicles for reference.

Step 4: Witnesses

If you noticed anyone witness the accident go speak with them and get their name, address, phone and account of the accident.

Step 5: Fault

It is important not to admit to being the one at fault for the accident. Let the evidence, witnesses and other information determine the final outcome of who caused the accident.

Step 6: Police Report

Before you leave the scene of the accident, ask the police officer for a copy of the police report or find out how to obtain a copy of it.

Step 7: Insurance

You will need to contact your insurance company and report the accident. This is required under your contract with the insurance company, even if you choose not to file a claim.

Step 8: Towing Service

In some locations, and under certain situations, the police will allow you to request your preferred towing company. Otherwise, the police will contact their rotation or contracted towing service.

Step 9: File Claim

When you are safely back home, calmed down, contact your insurance provider and file a claim.

What To Do When You Are Involved In A Roadside Emergency

Step 1: Pull Over

The first thing to do when encountering an roadside emergency situation on the road is to pull as far off to the right side of the road as you can away from oncoming traffic. Get your vehicle to as level ground as possible. If you cannot pull off the road to the shoulder due to the vehicle becoming inoperable, then put your emergency flashers on to help on-coming traffic be alerted to your situation. Don’t try to push your vehicle to the side of the road if you end up getting stuck in a further lane away from the shoulder. It would be best to stay in your vehicle until emergency assistance arrives. If you are concerned for your safety, then get out of the vehicle and move to a safer location.

Step 2: Your Location

While driving be aware of your surroundings. Knowing landmarks, mile markers, the major intersection, rest area or cross street will come in handy when you have to communicate with those who may be assisting you.

Step 3: Assess

When you are traveling, keep your eyes and ears open for signs of possible trouble. Look for smoke or steam coming from the hood area, unusual noises, or steering problems. If you discern that something is wrong, don’t panic. Put your blinker on, gradually slow your vehicle and pull over to the shoulder.

Step 4: Get Visible

Since you are having an emergency situation and vehicles are clipping by you at a high rate of speed, it is important to make yourself visible to them. The best thing you can do is: – Turn your emergency flashers on and stay inside your vehicle and contact professional help.

Step 5: Notify Others

Once you and/or your passengers are in a safe location, notify others of your breakdown. If you have a mobile phone on you, contact your auto club provider and give them the information needed to have assistance come out to you. Let them know if you need other providers, such as, a towing service or medical help.

Being that we are in a technology world, and realizing that most people have some kind of “smart” phone or mobile device, we recommend the following:

Use your “smart” phone or mobile device and Google the towing company in the area that you are broken down in and find one that has the best reviews. Or, contact your preferred towing service and ask them who they recommend. Most decent towing companies network together and will help each other out.

Step 6: Stay In Vehicle

Under most circumstances, as long as you are safely on the side of the road, it is best to remain in your vehicle until a law enforcement officer or service provider arrives. While staying in your vehicle, keep your windows mostly closed and your doors locked. If a stranger attempts to help you, it is best to not open your doors or windows but ask them to call for roadside emergency service for you if you have not already. If you choose to exit your motor vehicle, do it safely and use the doors that are facing away from the road.

Step 7: Emergency Service

Now that emergency assistance or help is on the way, here is what you can expect from them when they get there:

Light Duty Road Service: This would include, in most areas, a jump start, tire change with a good spare, lock out, and winch outs. Anything outside of these require a tow to a safe secure location quickly. In most cases a tire change on a busy freeway will require a tow to a safer location to perform the service where both you and the service provider will not be at risk from distracted drivers.

Towing Company: If your vehicle has more severe problems which the basic service provider can’t help with, a tow truck driver will come out and have your vehicle towed to wherever you want it. In a lot of cases, if repairs are needed, the towing service can provide repair to get you back on the road safely.

Your wait time for help may range between a few minutes to or as long a several hours. The provider should be able to tell you what their estimated arrival time will be. If you feel that you are in an unsafe area, make sure the dispatcher is aware of your concern.

Here is the information you should have available when the provider for roadside emergency arrives:

If it’s your auto club arriving, have your membership card or insurance information at the ready

  Your phone number where you can be reached. Be sure you are going to be able to answer your phone when you contact your motor club or insurance provider. They are just passing along your information to a towing company and they most always will need more or better information from you.

  Exact address, locatio or nearest intersection

  Make, model, year, color of your vehicle, and whether you have an all-wheel or 4-wheel drive vehicle.

  License plate number

  Give a thorough explanation of the problem and include any other circumstances that may require special accommodations or requirements, such as, a large group of people, infants, or medical needs.Keep in mind, most tow trucks can not handle more than 3 passengers as everyone needs to be seat belted in. A taxi service may be required.

  It is important for you to remain calm and collected when your roadside emergency service provider arrives. They are well trained for most situations that occur. Some things you can do to be sure the provider is the one you called:

For auto club members, check the vehicle for the company’s emblem or have them provide identification.

  Verify that the service provider or repair garage is the correct one.

  Under no circumstances help the service provider unless they ask. The person helping will do their best to get you off the roadside as quickly and as safely as possible.

  If you are riding back with the service provider, you can do that in the emergency vehicle and not in your disabled vehicle

  Step 8: Your Responsibility

Keep in mind that you are responsible for knowing what your auto club membership, insurance or other roadside assistance program provide and covers.

Some things you may want to find out about your policy/membership:

Whether the service can be directly billed through the service provider or if you have to be re-imbursed after paying the full cost up front. Please note: All provider programs have limitations that are NOT set by the towing company. They have policies and guidelines with which they have to work within.

  If you have to pay the entire cost of the service call when you are not a paying member.

  Determine what vehicles the club membership covers or whether you are covered no matter the vehicle you drive.

  Get a receipt from the service provider

  It is your responsibility to pay for repairs, if any are needed

  The Best Roadside Emergency Kit for Your Vehicle

Up to this point we’ve discussed preparation, preservation and the two main type of emergencies and the steps you should take if/when you may be involved in one of them. In this section of the article, we would like to give you a list of items that need to be in your vehicle along with the basic & optional items in your emergency kit.

Please check out this excellent article by TheWireCutter.com in which they spent more then sixty hours researching roadside emergency products. They also give recommendations for their best product picks.

Always Have Items Winter Items

Spare tire

Scissor or hydraulic jack

Lug Wrench

Piece of 2 x 4

Cell phone & charger

Ice Scraper

Tire chains, tow strap & come-along

Wool or poly-fleece blanket & winter hat

Chemical Hand Warmers

Small Folding shovel

Bag of cat litter

Never travel in the winter without proper clothing especially during inclement weather. Short pants and a t-shirt in sub zero weather and a dead car are not pleasant situations to find yourself in with no heat. Cars breakdown even on short trips to the store.

Basic Roadside Emergency Kit Optional Extra Items

First Aid Kit

Tourniquet, QuikClot or Celox, 4 inch and larger combat dressings, & nitrile gloves

Band Aids

Hand Sanitizer

Antiseptic

Antibiotic Ointment

Bug spray

Aspirin (or similar)

Cotton Balls

Gauze Pads

Tweezers

Bandana

Ace Bandage

Warning light, hazard triangle or flares

Fire Extinguisher

Jumper Cables / Portable Battery Booster

Gloves, hand cleaner & clean rags

Duct tape

Flashlight or head-mounted light

Rain Poncho

Multi-purpose tool

Tire Plug Kit

Spare Fuses

Disposable Flash Camera

Cash in small denominations

Pen & Pad of Paper

Coolant hose repair kit & tape

Extra clothes & strong durable tarp

Water & non-perishable emergency food

Scent free baby wipes

Clean, empty, re-fillable gas jug

Items for entertainment (cards, books, writing paper)

  We’ve tried to make this information on how to handle accidents and breakdowns as complete as possible so that you are prepared for an emergency if and when it happens. Better to be prepared than not. We wanted to include the list of emergency kit items so you could have a central place to go to put yours together.

Download Your FREE Roadside Emergency Checklist

We decided to put together a roadside emergency checklist that you can use to refer to while building your emergency kit for your vehicle. Just check off the items you’ve already purchased on your list and placed in your kit.

You can download this checklist by sharing this article on one of the social platforms listed below. Once you share it, the link to download it will appear. Just right-click, select “Save Link as…” or “Save link…” and save it to your desktop.

Roadside Emergency Kit Checklist Lapeer MI

  If you received some valuable information from this article on roadside emergency safety & assistance, or would like to comment or give us feedback, please post them in the comments section below. We will be monitoring this section to make it as relevant as possible and more helpful to our readers.

The post Roadside Emergency Safety & Assistance Lapeer Michigan appeared first on E & L Service, Inc..

Roadside Emergency Safety & Assistance Lapeer Michigan

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All Auto Repair and Service Lapeer MI - 810-664-8811 - E & L Service, Inc.

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Car Maintenance Tips To Extend Your Vehicles Life

Car Maintenance Tips: 12 Things to Check To Extend The Life of Your Vehicle

We are going to share with you 12 car maintenance tips, that if done routinely and properly, will keep your car from breaking down and allow you to extend the life of your vehicle. Let’s begin.

When you buy a vehicle you receive certain instructions regarding car maintenance that are recommended by the manufacturer. However, with your busy schedule and the increased cost of vehicle maintenance you frequently put off tire and oil changes, checking under the hood, and other similar regular maintenance necessities.

Unfortunately, if you put off doing these car maintenance services due to schedule and budget you are risking a bigger inconvenience to your schedule and budget by having your car breakdown. Just ask our dispatcher’s, time and money are the first questions asked when calling for a tow truck. Like the old saying goes, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” when stranded on the side of the road on your way to something important.

The best source of information on your responsibilities can be found right in your glove compartment by opening up that book called an owners manual.

Here are 12 car maintenance tips that you can perform to make sure your car lasts as long as possible, extend its life and keep you happy:

Tip 1. Keep an eye on your “check engine” dash light

Ignoring a check engine light can be an expensive mistake. Fifty-percent of all drivers that have a check engine light on ignore it for three months or more. This may be due to the fear of finding out what is wrong and the cost to fix it. But, the problem could be just a minor one.

One of the top five reasons a check engine light comes on is for a damaged spark plug. The number one reason is a mal-functioning oxygen sensor, which could be costly to fix. Not diagnosing why your check engine light is on could have a snowball effect that can cause other problems or a possible safety risk.

Here is a list of the Top 25 most common vehicle repairs for 2015 put together by CarMD.

Tip 2. Regularly check the pressure of your tires

As a basic maintenance item, you should learn and know how to manually check the pressure of your tires. A few things can happen if you under or over-inflate your tires, such as:

A blowout: This can cause an accident plus you will have to replace one or more tires at a cost of $142 to $177 on average Burn more fuel: Your fuel efficiency will diminish if your tire pressure is off even by a little bit up or down Affect drivability: When one or more tires are either under or over-inflated it can negatively affect handling, cornering and stopping

It is recommended that you check your tire pressure once a month, or any time you are going on a long road trip. Check the tires while they are cold (in the morning is best) and with a quality tire gauge. Adjust the air pressure as indicated by the owner’s manual or the vehicle tire placard (usually found on the driver’s side door jamb).

Tip 3. Rotate your tires

Tire rotation seems to be one of those things that gets left out of the equation when it comes to car maintenance. But, it is important none the less. Not rotating your tires on time will dramatically reduce the life of your tire tread. Tires with wore down tread, or un-even tread could cause you to get stuck with a flat tire or even cause an accident. Just think of the added cost of missing work, an important meeting or needing roadside assistance.

As a rule of thumb, tires should be rotated every six months or 5,000 to 8,000 miles. It is advisable to keep a spare tire in your trunk and learn how to change it yourself for safety. AWD or (all wheel drive) vehicles are very common in this area. It is very critical of the correct tire size to be consistant on all four corners including the spare tire. The tread depth difference between any of the tires on an AWD vehicle should be no more than 3/32nds of an inch. Wrong size or worn tires on this type of vehicle will cause drive train damage.

Tip 4. Windshield wiper blades

Ah yes! Wiper blades are that one pair of equipment that is crucial to visibility when driving on the road. But, most people don’t realize they need new wiper blades until they disintegrate and falling apart. As soon as you realize your wipers are no longer properly removing water from your windshield is when you should replace them.

Having old or im-properly working wiper blades can mean big trouble when on the road. Visibility is critical when in rain, snow or inclement weather or in emergency situations. Your better off safe then sorry.

Tip 5. Change your oil regularly

We’ve all heard that we should have our vehicles oil changed on a regular basis. That typically is every three months or three thousand miles, whichever comes first. But, before you go out and get your oil changed, dig out your owners manual and see what it says.

If you have a vehicle that was bought in the last seven or eight years, you may not have to change the oil at the standard 3,000-mile mark. Due to the change in oil chemistry and engine technology, you may be able to change your oil between 7,500 and 10,000 miles.

If you have a vehicle that is from the year 2000-2017, you can use this handy online tool to find the manufacturer-recommended oil change intervals.

Don’t just guess at what your oil change interval is. You can more accurately determine your interval by reading the owners manual and on what your typical driving includes, such as, a lot of stop-and-go driving, short distances, extended idling, muddy, rough or dusty roads or really humid or cold temperatures. Stick to what you find there and you will keep your vehicle protected in which you spent a substantial investment on.

Tip 6. Check and replace other fluids

The changing of your engine oil is at the top of the fluid list, but in addition to keeping that changed you will also need to check and change other fluids. What are those fluids you ask? They are:

Transmission fluid

Brake Fluid

Engine Coolant

Power Steering Fluid

  Generally, you should check these on a monthly basis or more often based on your driving situation. Be sure to check your owners manual to tell you what the proper intervals are. It only costs just a few dollars to change these fluids in your car and if done properly can prevent more expensive repairs. You can drop your cost lower by looking for coupons for local deals on transmission, coolant, brake and oil.

Note: Some vehicle manufacturers have stated that oil consumption of a quart per thousand miles driven is acceptable but can void a warranty for engine failure when it is ran out of oil.

Tip 7. Change air & fuel filters

The air and fuel filters have important functions… keeping dirt, debris and small particles from getting into the engine and fuel. The filters themselves are not that costly to acquire, but if you neglect to replace these filters it could cause other equipment failures which would be more expensive to repair.

  Tip 8. Follow a routine service schedule

Since our vehicles are an important part of life and allow us to get to places we need to go, it is important to stick to a routine service schedule. Car parts and components wear out over time and become damaged. Having timely inspections and repairs will keep your vehicle running efficiently and prevent more expensive work down the road.

Tip 9. Using inferior replacement parts

If you are needing to replace basic items that need regular replacement or repair, such as, floor mats, wiper blades or cabin air filters, then shopping online can save you some money and they don’t have to be the top of the line brand.

If you are having to replace more complex auto parts, then take care to ensure that you are using OEM parts or equivalent and that it is being installed correctly. Your local auto repair shop should be up to date on the ways to install and handle these parts according to manufacturer’s standards.

Tip 10. Don’t drive an overheated car

It is not only dangerous to continue driving an overheated vehicle, but you could end up breaking hoses, blowing a head gasket or end up being stuck on the side of the road waiting to be towed. Imagine being on a trip, your car overheats and you need to be towed to an unfamiliar mechanic.

This puts a lot of stress on you and your pocket book. If you are checking your fluids regularly and your engine components, this should prevent this from happening.

Tip 11. A clean car is a healthy car

This may seem like we are straining at gnats, but if you allow your vehicle to go without keeping it washed can lead to build-up of dirt, damaging chemicals and such which can cause an increase potential for rust and faster wear of parts. Dirt, grime and salt can also reduce your visibility needed for safe driving.

So, be sure to wash your car to keep it clean and shiny. A regular trip through your local car wash with a good underbody wash goes a long way especially in rural areas where travel on gravel roads is a necessity.

Tip 12. Refrain from driving aggressively

It’s important to drive intelligently, be aware at all times and keep distractions to a minimum. By following the speed limit, you can improve fuel efficiency. You can avoid quick starts and stops by not driving aggressively. Prevent quicker wear and tear on your vehicle by not hauling un-necessary items or going over the weight limit when transporting items.

In closing, following the above mentioned twelve car maintenance tips will help you keep your car in excellent working order and help you keep your auto care a top priority. Keeping a routine maintenance schedule will go a long way towards saving you money, protecting your vehicle investment and avoiding headaches.

To schedule your auto for it’s next inspection or routine car maintenance, call us at (810) 664-8811 or fill out our form online.

The post Car Maintenance Tips To Extend Your Vehicles Life appeared first on E & L Service, Inc..

Car Maintenance Tips To Extend Your Vehicles Life

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Best Brake Inspection in Lapeer MI

Brake Inspection: 7 Things That Indicate You Need One

At the very least, you should get a brake inspection once a year for wear, tear or damage, or when you recognize any signs of brake problems when driving. Your brakes are eventually going to wear down due to everyday use, so don’t neglect having them checked periodically.

When it comes to our vehicles and safety, one of the most important aspects is our ability to slow down or stop when driving. August has been declared “Brake Safety Month” by the Car Care Council and this is a great time to get your brake system looked at before school starts and winter hits here in Michigan.

“A properly operating brake system helps ensure safe vehicle operation and control under a variety of driving conditions,” said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council. “Motorists can put a stop to any potential brake system problems by recognizing the signs and symptoms that their brake system may need maintenance or repair.”

Reasons You Need a Brake Inspection

Here are seven things you can look for to determine if you need to have your brakes or brake system inspected. If any one of these are encountered, you should bring it in to have your vehicle looked at. Your inspection will help determine if you need a brake repair or service.

Screeching or Grinding Noise – If you are hearing a screeching or grinding noise while pressing the brake pedal, this is a tell-tale sign that you are having brake problems. The brake pads have a warning tab that starts rubbing against the rotor to notify that it is time for pad replacement. If you do not heed this warning, you may damage additional brake components.

Black Dust – Are you seeing black brake dust on your rims? If so, this signifies that the brakes are worn down and need replacing.

Grabbing – If, when you press the brake pedal, even so lightly, that it engages your brake system, then this could signify problems with the braking system or its particular parts.

Vibrations – If your brakes are stuttering, pulsing or vibrating in an un-usual way when depressing them it could possibly mean that your brakes are reaching the end of their life and could be pre-cursor to brake failure.

Brake Light Indicator Illuminated – Most vehicles today have an indicator for the brake system. The sole purpose is to let you know of a brake problem. Several reasons could be that you have the emergency brake on, your pads are worn down or the anti-lock brake system is not working.

Pulling to the Side – When you use the brakes and you feel the vehicle pull to one side or the other, this indicates that there is an issue with one of the brake componenets. This is similar to what happens if you drive a car that is out of alignment but the pulling only occurs when you are braking.

Low/Hard Pedal Pressure – When the pedal almost goes all the way to the floor when braking, this is what is called “low pedal pressure”. If you have to press harder and harder to brake, this is what’s called “hard pedal pressure”. In either case, you are having brake problems.

What a Thorough Brake Inspection Entails

A thorough inspection should include brake lining wear, brake fluid level, rotor thickness, condition of hoses and brake lines, brake and dash warning lights, as well as taking the car for a test drive to detect other potential brake system problems.

If, after reading this article, you recognized one or more problems with your brakes, then schedule an appointment for a brake inspection. We will thoroughly check your braking system and find out where you need service or repair. Just click the button below to get your brake inspection today.

Schedule Your Brake Inspection

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Best Brake Inspection in Lapeer MI

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How Quality Auto Repair Saves Lives

How Quality Auto Repair Saves Lives in Lapeer, Michigan

You probably haven’t thought about it, but proper quality auto repair not only keeps you on the move with a car that works, but it also saves lives on a daily basis. Keeping your car maintained regularly will not only save you money on potentially more costly repairs, but also can extend the life of your car by years. But most importantly, it can save your life or the lives of your loved ones riding in the car with you.

Additionally, a well maintained car uses less gas, which expels less pollution in the air, and ultimately gives you a vehicle that drives and handles more smoothly. This means a faster reaction time when you need it and this could mean lives saved in the event of a potential accident.

Keeping the best auto care and maintenance also means taking care of things like your fluids, which in turn will also contribute to your safety.

Here are some other great quality auto repair & maintenance tips:

Make your gas mileage the best it can be. Decrease your speed on the open highway by not idling for long periods of time. If you’re sitting in traffic that isn’t moving for extended periods of time, turn your engine off and save on some gas. On the freeway, cut down on major gunning of your engine and try not to drive at high speeds; that takes a lot of juice from the engine.

Use regular unleaded fuel. To avoid knocking sounds in your engine, never use low grade fuel. Using a high grade gasoline will protect your engine from rust, and ensure you have startups that are easy, even if the car has been sitting for a long time.

Try to cut back on using the AC and heater. Extensive use of both the heater and the air conditioner will eat up your gas, so if you don’t really have to have them on, turn them off and enjoy the outside air instead.

Make regular auto maintenance and tune-ups a part of your car care routine. Keeping your car in top shape and good running order will ensure that you, the people in your car with you, as well as the other drivers who share the road with you, will stay as safe as possible. It will also increase your gas mileage, save you money on repairs and most importantly of all—potentially save lives.

The post How Quality Auto Repair Saves Lives appeared first on E & L Service, Inc..

How Quality Auto Repair Saves Lives

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Auto & Truck Repair Shop Services Lapeer MI

Auto & Truck Repair Shop Services Lapeer MI

Our auto & truck repair shop offers a variety of services for those in the Lapeer & surrounding areas.

  Auto & Truck Repair

Our highly instructed ASE certified repair professionals have several years of practical experience fixing a variety of makes and models in the auto industry. From periodic service, major repair work, tune-ups, oil changes, brakes, batteries and more, we accomplish it all.

A/C & Heating Repair

Heating and A/C systems may break eventually with usage, hose pipes may clog and drip if not serviced, causing reduced efficiency heating and cooling capabilities. Regular maintenance will keep your AC system operating at peak performance!

Brakes & Brake Systems

You can leave your brake repair and service to our professionals, but please don’t hesitate to ask us questions about why a service is needed or how it occurred.

Electrical Repair Systems

Don’t neglect your vehicle’s electronic systems! A poor driving experience can often be related to a malfunctioning computer or driving controls.

Engine Repair & Replacement

Our expert services are ideal whether you have a late model import or newer domestic vehicle. And because we guarantee the work we perform, you can rest assured you are receiving the highest quality engine overhaul and replacement services in the Lapeer area.

Transmission Repair Services

From manual to automatic transmission repair, we know how to fix the problem. Our knowledgeable transmission experts will diagnose the situation and help you make a decision. Leave the dirty work to us!

Under Car Repair Services

Wheel alignment, chassis, differentials, exhaust, tires, driveline, shocks & struts

Auto Maintenance Services

Performing preventative auto maintenance service can help your vehicle last longer and keep it in tip-top shape. To save you time and money, be sure to follow the manufacturer’s maintenance schedule. By adhering to these guidelines, you are keeping unwelcome damage and costly repairs from cropping up.

General Services

No matter how carefully you drive your car, truck, SUV or Fleet vehicle, you will need the occasional general services performed. These general repairs may include engine diagnostics and repairs, alignments, brakes, front end and rear end and electronics service and/or repair.

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Auto & Truck Repair Shop Services Lapeer MI

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Car Care Service Schedule

Make Your Auto Care A Priority

It’s that time of year again where you need to be checking your car care service schedule to see what needs to be serviced on your vehicle. And April is a great time to do that since Spring is upon us. Using the Infographic below, see how your vehicle measures up:

[Source: http://ift.tt/1wzrTAE]

How did your vehicle fare compared to the chart?

The Car Care Council took a survey last year and found out that 84% of the vehicles inspected were in need of some kind of service or repair. Here is a breakdown of what they found:

25% of cars had low or dirty engine oil

18% of air filters checked were dirty

18% needed new belts

17% had low coolant levels

16% needed new wiper blades and 27% had low or contaminated washer fluid

13% had low or contaminated brake fluid

As you can see, it is important to keep up on your vehicle maintenance. Not only to keep your car running smooth down the road, but it will keep you from higher repair costs and reducing the value of your car. Most of the service checks can be done at little or no cost and are quick and easy to do. We included a general service chart (provided by the Car Care Council) to help you keep up to date on your regular car maintanance:

General Car Care Service Schedule

Check Frequently

Dashboard Indicator Lights On

Engine Oil Level

Lights

Tire Inflation and Condition

Windshield Washer Fluid

Check Every 3 Months/3,000 Miles

Automatic Transmission Fluid

Battery and Cables

Belts

Dashboard Indicator Light On

Engine Air Filter

Engine Oil

Exhaust

Hoses

Lights

Power Steering Fluid

Tire Inflation and Condition

Windshield Washer Fluid

Check Every 6 Months/6,000 Miles

Automatic Transmission Fluid

Battery and Cables

Belts

Chassis Lubrication

Dashboard Indicator Light On

Engine Air Filter

Engine Oil

Exhaust

Hoses

Lights

Power Steering Fluid

Tire Inflation and Condition

Windshield Washer Fluid

Wiper Blades

Check Every 9 Months/9,000 Miles

Automatic Transmission Fluid

Battery and Cables

Belts

Dashboard Indicator Light On

Engine Air Filter

Engine Oil

Exhaust

Hoses

Lights

Power Steering Fluid

Tire Inflation and Condition

Windshield Washer Fluid

Check every 12 Months/12,000 miles

Automatic Transmission Fluid

Battery and Cables

Belts

Brakes

Cabin Air Filter

Chassis Lubrication

Coolant (Antifreeze)

Dashboard Indicator Light On

Engine Air Filter

Engine Oil

Exhaust

Hoses

Lights

Power Steering Fluid

Steering and Suspension

Tire Inflation and Condition

Wheel Alignment

Windshield Washer Fluid

Wiper Blades

If you are in need of assistance to handle work needing to be done according to the car care service schedule, then give us a call at (810) 664-8811. We’ll get you taken care of!

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Car Care Service Schedule

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