When A Mechanical Failure Means It's Time To Pull Over
When you get inside your car, you're on a mission, and you have someplace to be. Consequently, you have no interest in pulling over because of a problem with your car. However, in some instances, it's vital you pull over if your vehicle is experiencing a malfunction. Failure to pull over puts your safety in jeopardy and could make the matter worse. Make sure you know when it's time to pull over.
Tire Pressure Warning
A tire pressure warning light is not something to ignore. A pressure warning means that at least one of your tires has a lost a considerable amount of air. While the tire may not be flat, it does not have enough air inside it to allow for safe operation. Pull over and check the tire to see if it just needs air or if it needs to be replaced.
Smoke
Smoke coming out of the hood or from the rear of a vehicle is never a good thing. Typically, the smoke is an indication that your vehicle is overheating. The overheating could be due to low fluid or some other concern. However, no matter the source of the overheating, it's necessary you understand that engine overheating can cause catastrophic damage to the engine, so you should not continue to drive without having the problem addressed.
Poor Handling
A part of safely operating a vehicle is the ability to control the car. For example, your vehicle should easily stay straight in the lane. The car should not wobble, be hard to turn, or get stuck in a particular gear when you drive. If your vehicle is not handling correctly, pull over immediately. If you cannot easily maneuver the car, you cannot safely control it.
Check Engine Light
The check engine light is one of the hardest dashboard warning lights to interpret, as it can mean a number of different things. Sometimes the light could be the sign of a severe issue with the engine, and other times it's something as minor as a loose gas cap. You should pull over immediately to try and investigate the problem, and do not continue to drive the vehicle until you have had the issue investigated.
Heed the warning that your vehicle is sending to you. Safely pull your car off the side of the road, and contact a 24-hour emergency towing company who can safely transport your vehicle to a repair technician.
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