Owing a car comes with a whole lot of responsibilities. The process of maintenance at regular intervals is something that should never be ignored. Negligence creates the room for frequent breakdowns in the middle of nowhere, ultimately putting you in a situation to get the help of a tow car. These mishaps become especially frequent in the winter months because of the sudden change in temperature. There are many people who get frustrated in the colder months due to this reason and refuse to take their car out of the garage. Does your search history look like “car towing near me”? Then you should be aware of the ways in which you can eliminate the chances of this issue.
Why Are Car Breakdowns So Common in Winter?
Well, car breakdowns are extremely common. When you take your car out for a run, it automatically creates chances for malfunctions, ultimately leading you to call for the assistance of a tow car. That being said, winter car breakdowns can be more irritating because they put you in a vulnerable situation. Some of the things that can be responsible for putting you in this situation are:
1. Low antifreeze levels
Well, this one is the biggest reason behind car breakdowns. Without antifreeze, the fluids in your car freeze. This results in a dead engine and puts you in a place where your car makes a squealing noise every time you try to start it.
2. Car overheating
Overheating is a common issue and it happens with most of the cars. This happens because the motor oil gets a little thicker during the winter months. This makes it hard for the engine to properly circulate oil. And if you are someone who knows anything about cars then you will already know these things. You should know that it is very important to maintain the right viscosity level of the oil to make the car function properly.
3. Dead battery
The extreme temperatures of the winter months tend to have adverse effects on car batteries. This is exactly what makes it hard for the car batteries to produce enough charge for the car. As a result of this, your car fails to start when you try over and over again. This is why you should look out for those warning lights blinking on the dashboard. This way you will at least be warned before your car suddenly just stops working, making you search for “car towing near me”.
Ways to Avoid Car Breakdown
Now that we have told you a few reasons why car breakdowns happen, let us move on to the next part. Well, there are many ways to help you avoid the chance of calling a tow car. That being said, all of them are not that cost-effective. Some of the best ones are:
1. Check the fluid levels
Well, we already told you about the issue of antifreeze. This one will help you solve that problem. So make sure you frequently check the fluid levels by yourself. This will help you to stay away from situations like leaks and others. In case you notice that the reservoir level is pretty low, then you should contact a professional for some help.
2. Battery checkup times
A battery is not supposed to last forever. And most of the ones only last for 5 years. So, keep this in mind to get it checked with your mechanic. This will give you an estimate of how much life is left in it. After that, you can just go and buy a new one for backup.
3. Take a look at the tire tread
If your tires have been serving you for quite some years then you should just take a close look at them. Check the tire tread to understand if you need to change these ones. It is important to do this beforehand because no one likes to deal with a flat tire in the middle of nowhere, ultimately saving you from being stranded and searching for “services for towing near me”.
4. Check the brakes
This is something that you should definitely be a part of your fall season car maintenance because failed brakes quite literally equate to a direct threat to your safety. So, remember to ask your mechanic to check the brake pad wear properly. This will help them understand if there is any fluid leak or if the rotors aren’t properly wrapped.
5. Securing the locking system
The changes in climate can have a big effect on the vehicle’s electrical and locking system. This sometimes makes it hard for you to lock your car doors as they get frozen. So, make sure you apply some lubricant on the door seal to stop this issue.
Final Findings
Car breakdowns are a very common thing. And there is absolutely no way in which you can guarantee that you will never need the help of a tow car. But still, you can try to lower the chances by following the ways that we have listed. We are sure that these simple yet effective ways will definitely help you out.