Steps You Should Take When Your Car Engine Stalls
Your car's engine can stall out anywhere at any time, putting you in a stressful and unsafe situation. You could be on your way to work, going to an important event like a wedding or going out of town for a vacation or fun weekend. If your vehicle starts acting strange by jerking, buckling or revving without incident, it will stall and probably shut off. Although this experience is terrifying, it's important to remain calm and smart so that you can figure out a solution. The following steps will come in handy.
Pull over
Making a rash decision when you realise that your car is misbehaving can be dangerous – you can easily get into an accident. Often, when an engine stalls, the brake and steering power goes out too. So, if the vehicle hasn't come to a halt, consider pulling over to the roadside. Don't forget to be cautious to avoid hitting other road users as you try to pull over. Then you can signal others for help. For instance, you can hang a paper or white cloth to tell others that you are in trouble and that they shouldn't drive near you. Don't forget to turn on the hazards until you get assistance.
Understand why the vehicles stall
Understanding the reasons why stalling occurs can help you have an easy time. This may happen if the vacuum lines are dislodged, leading to a system leakage, have faulty sensors and electrical components or the engine has cracked. These issues can occur whether the engine is old or new, so do not rule out any cause without verifying.
Although it's good to know why the engine stalled, do not try to fix the issue. This isn't the right time to put your mechanical skills into test. It would be better to let professionals handle the issue. Moreover, trying to repair a vehicle on the road with all the traffic is dangerous.
Call for help
Now you need to contact your towing company so that they can assist you. Be sure to contact a company you have worked with. However, if you are far from home, do an online search to find the best towing services in the area. The company you choose will probably send a team of specialists and a tow truck as well. A tow truck will come in handy if your vehicle cannot be restarted. The service providers will probably ask certain questions to ensure you answer them honestly so they can know how to handle the problem.
