It’s a rare sight on our highways. A car is parked on the hard shoulder with the hood open. But that doesn’t mean that there are no breakdowns. In the winter of 2020/2021 alone, TCS breakdown assistance had 111,544 missions. With over 6.7 million cars registered in Switzerland, 1.6 percent of all vehicles broke down.
However, with a few simple behaviors, any breakdowns can be prevented and the risk reduced to a minimum. The best way to protect your car from defects is to keep the regular service. This also includes changing the toothed belt periodically, as prescribed in the service booklet. The Swiss are very exemplary here, also because this is usually required for leasing or company vehicles.
Care and proper equipment
In addition, one should not neglect the care and wash and clean the car regularly. This also includes checking the air pressure in the tires and their profile on a regular basis. A tip for all those who do not have a garage. Take a quick look under the hood. If you have open cables, especially ignition cables, sheath them to protect them against marten bites (you can find more about protection against martens here).
But prevention also means being prepared for exceptional cases. Therefore, you should have a jump start cable with you, for example, as well as a small set of tools with a screwdriver, wrench and pliers. A flashlight and tape won’t hurt either. It is also advisable to familiarize yourself with the manual in advance so that you know where which information can be found.
Two breakdown classics
If you do get stranded, you don’t necessarily have to call the breakdown service straight away. Some things can also be solved by yourself. But remember to set up the breakdown triangle and wear the safety vest to be seen. For example, loose parts can be reattached with tape and some wire. After that, however, you should head for the nearest workshop as soon as possible. In some older cars, you can still change the lightbulbs yourself.
Two classic breakdowns are an empty battery and a flat tire. If you have your own jumper cable, all you need is a good soul to help you. Important: Always attach the positive pole first – the engine of the helping vehicle must already be running. When changing tires, you should loosen the wheel nuts before the wheel is in the air. This is easier and also applies afterwards when tightening the screws. Check the manual to find out where you can safely place the jack under the car.
Keep a Cool Head
You can also temporarily solve a problem with too hot cooling water yourself. Stop and open the hood to allow the heat to escape. Look under the car to see if there is any leaking fluid. You should only look for the cause in the engine compartment when the engine has cooled down a bit.
If you find a tear or hole in a hose, you can temporarily patch it up with electrical tape or a plaster. You should then go to a workshop as soon as possible. If you have water in a bottle on board, you should refill the cooling water. Mineral water is also suitable for this.
Asking for help
If the engine stutters, it could be due to an empty tank or a defective ignition system. With the former, a look at the fuel gauge or a reserve canister helps. But you can also change a spark plug, provided you have a replacement on board. However, this does require a bit of manual skill, because if you go a little too briskly with the pliers, you can break off the spark plug – then you definitely need the breakdown service.
If in doubt, it is better not to do your own handicrafts and call a specialist. When it comes to electronics, there’s not much you can do without the right control unit anyway. Even safety-relevant parts such as the brakes or the steering are taboo for laypeople.