Should I tow my car, or drive to the shop?
Using your vehicle while something's wrong could cost you, writes Brian Turner.
Auto repair shops all see more than their share of vehicles driven in for repairs when they should have been towed. Techs scratch their heads: how do these rides and their drivers actually make it without breaking down or causing an accident?
`Collision' would be a better term, of course, because choosing to drive an unsafe or unreliable vehicle is no accident.
Driving an injured vehicle to the shop often results in more damage and higher cost estimates than if the vehicle was safely delivered on a tow truck. But how do you know if that noise, vibration, odour, sputtering, or other condition is cause to call for a tow?
FLUID ON THE GROUND
Every new driver's test should include a quiz identifying the different fluids that an average vehicle has on board. If you see a puddle that's coming from your ride, stop and evaluate before hitting the ignition. If it's engine coolant, you risk overheating the engine to the point of warpage and destruction. A brake-fluid leak means you might not be able to stop at the first intersection — or pedestrian. Transmission fluid loss means you're likely to lose power to the wheels. Lose enough engine oil and you'll be looking for a replacement engine. A gasoline leak means you risk becoming a fireball, but at least that comes with an unmistakable odour that any driver should recognize.
A vehicle leaking fuel or brake fluid is definitely not driveable and isn't even safe to park anywhere near any buildings or people.
CHECK-ENGINE LIGHTS
The majority of automakers program a basic and an urgent warning into these dash icons. The basic warning is a checkengine light that is constantly on while the engine is running; an urgent condition causes it to flash.
If you fire up your ride some morning and this light comes on while you're letting it warm up and checking all the other gauges for any unusual activity and the light is not flashing, you're most often OK to make an appointment to get it checked out and continue on your way. Don't forget to check the gas fill cap to see if it's on properly: the No. 1 cause of check engine lights. If it's flashing, you're rolling the dice if you decide to drive anyway. For example, the flashing light might be caused by a malfunctioning charging system, which may let the vehicle run normally until the battery is discharged. You could be on a freeway on ramp as the engine sputters to a stall because there's no electrical power for the fuel pump.
VISUAL CLUES
So you've slid into a curb on an icy day — a pretty common mishap. Take a look at things before heading off. Is the wheel that was affected damaged? Check the edge of the rim where it meets the rubber; is anything broken, missing, or cracked? Straighten the steering wheel and check if both front wheels are pointed in the same direction.
Compare the vertical angle of the wheel between the damaged and undamaged sides. Anything that's askew means the impact bent a steering or suspension linkage which may break completely at the next pothole, leaving you with no steering control.
Even if the bent components hold up, if the wheel alignment is off enough to see with the naked eye, you can easily scrub a good tire to the point of needing replacement in a very short drive.