The Right Supplies To Help You With Three Common Summer Vehicle Emergencies
If you are going to be heading off on any long summer road trips, you should make a summer emergency roadside kit so that if your vehicle breaks down or your encounter adverse weather conditions, you have the supplies on hand to deal with the situation. Here are a few things that you should add to your emergency roadside kit for the summer that will help you deal with the three most common issues that arise during summer travel.
Jumper Cables
When you are on a road trip and thinking about so many different things, it can be easy to leave the lights on in your vehicle. Dealing with a dead battery is never fun, but it is a whole lot easier if you have jumper cables in your vehicle. Jumper cables will allow you to use another vehicle to get your car's battery working again.
To use jumper cables, you'll want to hook up the appropriate positive and negative terminals to the corresponding terminals on your car's battery and on the battery of another vehicle. Then, let the other vehicle run for a few minutes while your vehicle is off so that your battery can absorb the energy. After a few minutes, try to turn on your vehicle. If it doesn't start up right away, let the other car charge it for a few more minutes and then try again. You should let your vehicle run for a while before you turn it off again to ensure that your battery is fully recharged.
Extra Coolant
Another thing you should keep in your summer emergency kit is some extra coolant for your vehicle. Oftentimes, vehicles' break down in the summertime because they overheat and don't have enough coolant. If your vehicle overheats, you should allow your vehicle to cool off for a few hours before you put coolant in it; your engine is really hot, and you could burn yourself if you attempt to open the coolant cap right away.
Many coolants also need to be mixed with water; if the coolant you purchased needs to be mixed with water, make sure that you are carrying enough water with you. Generally, distilled and filtered water is better than general tap water for this purpose. You may also want to keep a funnel handy so it is easier for you to add the coolant to your vehicle.
Tire Sealant
Finally, one of the major reasons that you may need assistance during the summer is because of damage to a tire. Tire sealant will allow you to easily patch up your tire if you are not able to get a hold of a tow truck and get somewhere safe where you can have your tire fixed by a professional. This is a handy tool to keep in your roadside emergency kit so you have a back-up option if you are not able to change your tire or get a tow truck for some reason.
In addition to the three items discussed above, it is a good idea to always keep a flashlight, pocket knife, flares, reflective hazard triangles, tool kit, duct tape, gloves and rags in your emergency kit. You should also keep non-perishable snacks, such as dried fruit or energy bars, as well as water, so you have something to eat and drink if you have to wait a while for assistance.
For roadside assistance, contact a company such as Ragans Mac Auto Sales And Service.