What To Do: Flat Tire – Engine Won’t Start – Car Overheats

How Do You Know If Your Car Is Overheating?

There are several signs that can tip you off to an overheating engine:

• A strange smell coming from the engine. Coolant typically has a sweet smell, while oil has a burnt odor.
• Your car’s temperature gauge may spike to the H or red zone.
• Steam coming from under the hood or trunk of your vehicle, depending on where the engine is located.

What to Do If Your Car Overheats

Pull Over

If you see signs of your car’s engine overheating, it is important to pull off the road as soon as possible, ideally within a quarter of a mile, to prevent more extensive damage.

Crank on the Heat

Running the air conditioner puts a lot of stress on your car’s engine. If you see signs that it is overheating, immediately turn off the air conditioner and turn on the heat. This will remove some of the heat from the engine.

Check Your Coolant Level

If the coolant level is low, top it off and plan on scheduling an appointment with a mechanic to find out why you are losing coolant.

Caution! Do NOT open the radiator on an engine that is hot, the coolant is pressurized and could explode.

Get to a Service Station

An overheating engine is not a problem that will fix itself. Even if adding coolant seemed to resolve the issue, if there is a leak, it will only get worse. Taking care of the problem as soon as possible can save you from more expensive repairs down the road.

How To Change A Flat Tire

Whether you are driving across town or across the country, a flat or blown tire can be a stressful experience. Knowing how to take care of it yourself, quickly and safely, can provide peace of mind and help prevent more extensive damage to your vehicle.

What You Will Need

Changing a tire requires a few basic items, including:

• Jack
• Spare tire
• Lug wrench
• Wheel wedges
• Reflective triangles
• Flashlight (if at night)

13 Steps for Changing a Tire

1). Pull off the road as far as possible onto firm, flat ground. If you are on a highway, in the center, emergency lane or there is no flat/firm ground available, it is not safe for you to change the tire yourself. In these scenarios you should call for help.

2). Once your vehicle is parked, have all passengers exit the vehicle and stand as far from traffic as possible.

3). Ensure the vehicle is in park and engage the emergency brake.

4). Keep the vehicle from rolling by placing wheel wedges behind one of the undamaged tires if you are on an incline or in front of the wheel if your vehicle is facing downhill.

5). If you have a hubcap, remove it.

6). Loosen the lug nuts by using your lug wrench to turn them counter-clockwise. After you have loosened the first one, leave it in place. Skip every other lug nut, working your way around until they are all loose.

7). Jack your car up by sliding the jack under the frame, then pumping or turning it to lift your vehicle. Refer to your vehicle owner’s manual to see exactly where to put the jack.

8). Completely remove the lug nuts and put them somewhere for safe keeping.

9). Remove the tire by pulling it straight out from the car.

10). Place the spare tire on the screw prongs with the air valve facing out, ensuring that the screws are lined up to the holes.

11). Screw the lug nuts on, first by hand, and then tighten them with the lug wrench.

12). Use the jack to lower your vehicle so the tire touches the ground and does not spin, then tighten the lug nuts again in the same pattern you first loosened them.

13) Drive to the nearest tire shop.

Getting Great Coverage with Nevada Insurance Enrollment

Adding emergency roadside assistance to your auto insurance policy is an affordable way to gain peace of mind that you can get fast help if the unexpected happens. At Nevada Insurance Enrollment, our licensed auto insurance agents can help you review your budget, needs and driving habits to help you build a policy that is right for you.