Evakuator555when your car breaks down on the road: a guide for drivers

An independent guide for drivers. It is not a towing service and has no connection with the former website on this domain; we do not take orders. In a dangerous situation, call 112.

Breakdowns

Common breakdowns on the road

Most roadside stops happen for a handful of familiar reasons. Many of them do not need a tow truck if you stay calm and do not make things worse. Below are the first steps for common cases, with hints on when it is better not to experiment and to call for help.

If you are not sure what you are doing, it is better to stop and wait for a mechanic than to turn a minor fault into a major one.

— Editor's note

We describe only simple actions that need no tools or repair experience. How components work and how to replace parts are not covered here. If a check does not help or the fault looks serious, call roadside repair or a tow truck.

If on the road…

…the car won't start

The usual culprit is a flat battery: the starter turns slowly or just clicks, and the dashboard dims. Turn off the lights and heating, wait and try again. If that does not work, jump-start the engine from another car with leads or from a jump starter, following the connection order in the manual.

…you get a flat tyre

Do not keep driving on a flat tyre: it ruins the wheel and you lose control. Move to a safe, level spot, place the warning triangle, apply the handbrake and change the wheel only if the car is stable and well away from traffic. On a narrow motorway hard shoulder, calling for help is the safer choice.

…the engine overheats

A temperature needle near the red zone or steam from under the bonnet means stop and switch off the engine. Do not open the coolant expansion tank cap on a hot engine: the pressurised fluid can scald you. Let the car cool and check the level; if coolant keeps disappearing, it is better to continue on a tow truck.

…you run out of fuel

Switch on the hazard lights and leave the lane while the car is still rolling. Fuel can be brought in a can designed for it, or you can ask for roadside assistance. After running dry, the engine may not start at the first attempt; do not overwork the starter.

…the oil pressure light comes on

This is one of the most serious warnings. Stop as soon as you can and switch off the engine. After a few minutes, check the level on the dipstick. If the oil is low or the light stays on after restarting, do not drive on: an engine without lubrication fails quickly.

…the keys are locked inside

Check all the doors and the boot, and think about a spare key at home or with family. Do not try to break into the car yourself: you can damage the lock, the glass and the wiring. If a child or an animal is inside and it is very hot or freezing, call 112.

If the car won't start

  1. Make the spot safe

    Switch on the hazard lights and, unless you are in a car park, place the warning triangle.

  2. Listen to the starter

    Silence, clicking or slow cranking usually points to the battery; brisk cranking without starting points to fuel or ignition.

  3. Reduce the load

    Turn off the lights, heating, music and phone charger, wait a couple of minutes and try again.

  4. Check the fuel

    Look at the gauge and think back to when you last filled up: gauges are sometimes wrong when the tank is nearly empty.

  5. Jump-start

    Use leads and a donor car or a jump starter, connecting them strictly as the owner's manual describes.

  6. Call for help

    If the engine still will not come to life or soon stalls again, contact roadside assistance or book a tow truck.

  • Before a trip

    Simple checks before a long trip: tyres, battery, fluids, lights, brakes and documents, with no DIY repairs involved.

  • Vehicles

    The vehicles used for towing and roadside help: wheel-lift, sliding and tilt-bed flatbeds, crane trucks, on-the-spot repair and tow bars.

  • Safety

    How to behave on the hard shoulder after a forced stop: hazard lights, warning triangle, vest, where people should wait and what not to do.

Sources

  • Vehicle owner's manuals (general provisions)
  • EMERCOM of Russia — leaflets for drivers
  • Russian Road Traffic Regulations (section 7.2)

Traffic rules are quoted from the Russian Road Traffic Regulations as in force on the date of preparation. Rules are revised from time to time and every car has its own quirks, so check the current text of the rules and your vehicle's owner's manual. If you drive outside Russia, check your local rules and emergency number.