But your car may eventually break down on the side of the road, and there may not be a service station nearby that can get to your vehicle quickly. In addition, you may break down in the middle of rush hour on a busy freeway or in the middle of a sunbaked desert. The temperature may be well below zero or it may be hovering in the triple digits.
kits avoid trouble
Regardless of the scenario, you will wish you had an emergency kit handy so you can get your car back on the road. This kit takes little time to prepare and can be stocked full of the things you might need when you run into trouble on the road.A flashlight, for instance, is handy when you need to inspect your engine at night.
Flares set out along your vehicle make it clear to other drivers that your car is on the side of the road.
Duct tape is good for making quick repairs to leaky hoses.
These are just a few of the items you should consider packing into an emergency kit and storing in your trunk. Find a cardboard box and store the items in the back of your trunk. Although it may seem like a waste of space, you will be glad you have your emergency kit when you run into trouble on the road.
it needs a jump
Probably the single most important item you should include in your kit is a pair of jumper cables. You never know when your car's battery may run low and you will need the cables to start.Dead batteries are among the major reasons why people call auto clubs or automakers for roadside assistance. Save yourself the expense and time of calling a tow truck. In addition, you can also play Good Samaritan when someone else needs a jump-start.
If you are not sure how to use them, read the instructions in your owner's manual. Be careful when connecting the cables to the battery. Besides the traditional cables, there are also compact cables available that fit into a glovebox.
It's not a bad idea to have a battery booster in your emergency kit. If there isn't another car around, a booster containing its own battery can be easily connected to the posts of your dead battery to give it a jump.
the right tools
Your emergency kit should also contain a few tools that may help when your car breaks down on the road. Don't leave your car at the side of the road for the night -- many roadside fixes can be done with a screwdriver or pair of pliers.Your set of tools should include flathead and Phillips screwdrivers, pliers, an adjustable wrench, a small ratchet and socket set, WD-40, and wire. Even though the repair may be beyond your mechanical ability, a Good Samaritan may stop to help you and need the tools to help fix your vehicle.
full of air
A flat tire is a headache that nobody wants. Always carry a tire pressure gauge in your glovebox and make sure your tires are properly inflated before you go on a trip.If you do happen to get a flat tire, there are a couple of items you should include in your emergency kit that will make fixing the flat quick and easy. A can of foam tire inflator can seal small punctures and help you get back on the road quickly. Make sure the inflator you buy is non-flammable. And even when using the tire inflator, you still need to get your tire repaired as quickly as possible since it's only a temporary fix.
If you need to do a tire repair while you are on the road, you should carry a tire plug kit and an air compressor that's powered by the car's cigarette lighter. Find the leak and use the plug kit to seal it and then refill the tire using the compressor. This repair will last longer than the foam tire inflator.
warning other drivers
Being stranded on the side of a busy road can be dangerous. You need to do as much as you can to make other drivers aware of your presence.In addition to using your car's hazard lights, it's a good idea to keep some flares, a battery-operated flasher or a warning triangle in your emergency kit. Make sure you have matches for flares and that your warning triangle is reflective enough to be seen at night.
shining the light
Now that your car can been seen by others, you want to be able to see what is wrong with your car. Throw a flashlight or spotlight in your kit so you can better see what you are looking at under the hood.Get a specialty flashlight that you can be positioned wherever you need it. Some come with magnets on the side, others are flexible so they can be wrapped around something.
other items
Even though it will probably lose its charge before you need it, a fire extinguisher is a good idea. A car fire could start from a wire that's worn through its insulation.Extra fuses are good to have in case a light goes out. A hose repair kit is ideal for quick repairs of leaky coolant hoses. Also, a cellular phone is a good idea when help is necessary.
Additional items for your kit should be a basic first-aid kit, a few quarters or a calling card for phone calls (if you don't have a cell phone), water, a blanket and some emergency food to give you an extra shot of energy when you need it. High-protein bars are a good choice because they have a long shelf life.
Customize your emergency kit to fit your needs. Some items you may not have any use for and there may be things that you want to have in your vehicle that were not mentioned in this article. Whatever you include, remember, the idea of the emergency kit is to help you get back on the road safely and quickly.
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