Breakdowns: Are You Equipped?

According to the UK's Automobile Association, the top 10 causes for breakdowns are as follows:

1: Flat or Faulty Battery
2: Lost Vehicle Keys
3: Flat/Damaged tyre and wheels
4: Alternator Faults
5: Starter Motor Faults
6: Distributor Cap problems
7: Fuel Problems
8: Clutch Cables
9: Spark Plugs
10: High Tension Leads

To carry a kit to cover every aspect of these problems you needless to say would need an AA breakdown vehicle. This article is your basic, simple list of the types of products you should have to hand if you find yourself making a long journey.<

First things first, you have broken down! Try to get your vehicle off the road and get those hazard warning lights working especially if you are causing an obstruction. Also put your sidelights on if dark or visibility is poor.

Make sure you have your mobile phone with you and a vehicle breakdown service telephone number. If reporting a problem, be in a position to state your approximate location.

If you are on the motorway, it is advisable to use an emergency telephone on your side of the carriageway in preference to your mobile phone, there are reference numbers on all telephones and marker posts to direct the responder to your vehicle.

If there is a danger of your vehicle being hit by other traffic, get all your other passengers out of the car and into a place of safety, don't split up. Assess whether it is safe to do a repair or whether to get professional help. If you have a reflective jacket or waistcoat, use it.

If you have a warning triangle or other permitted warning device put it behind your vehicle, only if safe to do so, at least 45 metres (50 yards) on the same side of the road. (Remember to pick it up afterwards!)

It is also a good idea to carry a pad of paper and a pen and also a camera so that in the event of an accident, you can easily draw the position of vehicles and record any damage with photographs.

Avoiding Breaking Down

Prevention is always better than cure, so here are some simple tips. Have your vehicle serviced regularly. Do not run the vehicle on low fuel, top up when about half full. Check your levels of oil, water, fluids, wiper blades, lights & screenwash at regular intervals and certainly before a long journey. Check tyre condition and pressures, not forgetting the spare!.

Know where your basic toolkit, medical kit and your jack and wheel removal tools are, also make sure you know where the key or removal tool for locking wheel nuts are are, you may not know what to do with these, but a good Samaritan who may stop to help will be frustrated if you don’t carry any! Don't forget a map, it's essential as you cannot rely on the Sat Nav if you have no power!

Top 10 Causes of a Breakdown

1: Flat/Faulty Battery
Most common problems are bad terminal and clamp connections, or by loss of voltage often caused by by constant use on short journeys without regular recharging

2: Lost Keys
Always carry a spare set with you, not left in the car, you may just find yourself locked out!

3: Flat/ Damaged Tyre & Wheels
Know your correct tyre pressures for different speeds & loads, adjust accordingly. When checking tread depth, look for uneven wear possibly caused by wheels being out of alignment. Check rims for damage as this could cause slow air leaks.

4: Alternator Faults
Battery problems and dimming headlights when the engine is on low revs can indicate this problem. A red warning light coming on plus a rise in the engine temperature may indicate a broken belt. STOP the vehicle!

5: Starter Motor
Usually quite robust but sometimes can stick. Can sometimes be cleared by "rocking" the car in 2nd gear to move it from a dead spot

6: Distributor Cap
Moisture and dirt are the culprits here. A small crack probably invisible to the eye can also be enough to allow high ignition voltage to seep away, especially in damp conditions. Damp repellent spray such as WD40 may cure, but only temporarily.

7: Fuel Problems
Running out of fuel is very common, as mentioned do not let your tank get much below half full. Around 100,000 motorists a year put the wrong fuel in their car, petrol in diesel engines & vice versa. The car would have to be recovered to a garage and the fuel drained out and disposed of. If it is not your vehicle make sure you know what fuel it uses. You could put a label on your key fob as this is often used to open the tank.

8: Clutch Cables
The clutch cable is under high stress. Abrasion will weaken the wire strands until they break. A temporary repair may be done but replace at the first signs of wear to be safe.

9: Spark Plugs
Never run your spark plugs over the recommended service interval, they need to be able to perform well especially in damp, cold conditions.

10: HT Leads
Moisture and grime are once again the culprits that can attack cracks in the insulation reducing the engine voltage. Damp repellent sprays such as WD40 can act as a temporary barrier repair but do not provide a permanent solution.

Conclusion and Checklist

I hope this of use to someone, if it helps one person it has been worthwhile. I had to learn the hard way!

Here is a checklist of important items with links to items we think are really important to have, Print this guide and take it with you the next time you are setting off on a long journey!

1: Mobile Phone.
2: Breakdown Assistance 'Phone Number.
3: Reflective Jacket/Waistcoat.
4: Warning Triangle.
5: Toolkit.
6: Jack.
7: Wheel Removal Tools.
8: Terminal Cleaner.
9: Charging Batteries.
10: Tyre Pressures & Depth Gauges.
11: Running out of Fuel.
12: WD40 / Lubricant.
13: Spare Vehicle Keys.
14: Reliable Torch - (Wind-up or LED powered model).
15: Mounted Fire Extinguisher.

This article provided by UK Tool supplier, Workshopping.co.uk.