4 Things You Should Always Carry in Your Car

No matter how scrupulously you look after your vehicle, mechanical or electrical problems can and do occur on the road. Ideally, you've prepared for this contingency by carrying both a phone and some sort of roadside assistance coverage. However, you might find yourself unable to summon emergency help.



If you get into a situation where you must address a serious car issue yourself, you'll feel relieved that you brought the right tools and equipment along. Consider throwing the following four emergency assistance items into your car before you set off on your next extended road trip.

1. Tire Changing Tools

A tire can give out on you at the most inconvenient times. With any luck, a low or flat tire may stem from a small leak, meaning that you can re-inflate and maintain the new tire pressure long enough to drive to an auto shop. In the worst-case scenario, a blowout may completely destroy the tire, requiring you to change it.

Even if you know how to change a tire, that knowledge won't help you if you don't carry the means to do so. A full-sized tire rated for your vehicle makes the best possible replacement because you can drive on it normally, instead of keeping your speed down as you must do with a smaller, donut-style spare tire.

Don't forget your other critical tire-changing tools. You'll want to carry a portable air pump, a wrench that fits the wheel's nuts, wheel wedges to keep the car from rolling as you work, and a manual jack to lift the wheel off the ground and hold it in that position.

2. Emergency Battery Assistance

Batteries can fail due to everything from corrosion and extreme weather to simple age-related deterioration. You might even accidentally discharge your battery by leaving your lights or other electrical components on while parked. If the charge has simply wound down, your battery may just need a jump start.

Since you can't count on a passing driver to carry the necessary jumper cables, you must keep your own car equipped with them. As a general rule, you want the longest cables you can afford to make jump-starts easier. You should also select the lowest available gauge to ensure that the cables will convey sufficient power.

If you carry a portable jumper pack, you won't need another driver's assistance at all. These units contain a battery and a set of jumper cables that can start a dead battery. However, you should ask your auto shop to change a dead battery as soon as possible to avoid placing destructive stress on your alternator.

3. A Fire Extinguisher

Few events can cause more alarm for travelers than the sight of flames spilling out of their car's engine bay. Common causes of engine fires include an overheated engine or catalytic converter, a collision, fuel leaks, electrical shorts, and poor maintenance that allows small mechanical failures to go uncorrected.

If you can put out a small engine fire immediately, you can prevent it from turning into a major fire that destroys the entire vehicle and/or causes catastrophic burn injuries. Purchase a portable fire extinguisher that uses dry chemicals. This type of extinguisher can safely put out fires involving both electricity and flammable fluids.

Of course, you want to avoid engine fires if at all possible, whether you carry an extinguisher or not. Schedule regular preventative maintenance checks for your vehicle to keep little problems in your engine, electrical system, and other components from sparking a fire.

4. Replacement Fluids

Your car needs the right levels of engine oil, coolant, and other fluids to permit normal function and protect against damage. Unfortunately, something as simple as a leaky hose can allow these fluids to drain out.

Ask your mechanic which, and how much, of these fluids you might want to keep in your vehicle in case of emergency. Even if you can't stop the leak, refilling the fluids might buy the time you need to drive to the nearest repair shop. 

Powers Transmissions Complete Car Care can address many of the underlying issues that lead to roadside emergencies. Contact us today.