To be confident on the road and stay calm even in the event of a car malfunction, you should familiarize yourself with the list of unforeseen car breakdowns and how to fix them before getting behind the wheel.
The weather in Israel is deteriorating again, which means that the likelihood of getting stuck in the middle of the road due to a malfunction in the car increases. Ynet teamed up with volunteers from Yedidim – Siyua Ba-Draheim (Friends Helping on the Roads) and Paz-Yellow to provide some practical tips to help you cope with unexpected breakdowns. These tips, of course, are for “dummies”, but someone may come in handy.
Starter cables for the battery
First of all, stock up on the starter cables needed to “light” a run-down battery.
Remember to turn off your headlights to avoid battery drain. If you are forgetful, put a small note in the “strategic” place to remind you of this (for example, attach it to the key fob with the ignition key). Also, park your car so that you can easily access the battery. When connecting cables, connect the positive terminals first. When disabled, the opposite is true.
Problem with the security device
Did you make a mistake while typing the code? Switch off the engine for a few minutes. This usually helps.
Tire damage
There is no doubt that tire damage ( puncher ) is one of the most common and annoying problems, especially when driving on a highway when it is not easy to pull over to fix the problem.
First, make sure you have all the tools you need to accomplish this task. And first of all – the spare tire, which must be inflated. Yes, some cars do not have it. If you are buying a used car, it is worth checking to see if it has a working spare tire.
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Do not use tire repair spray, as the touch sensors can be damaged by the repair spray chemistry.
Be sure to wear a reflective vest and place a triangular warning triangle 10m from the vehicle when exiting your vehicle on the side of the freeway.
And most importantly, parents of young drivers, teach your children how to change wheels correctly and safely is the best skill in an emergency.
Opening a door lock
In many cars in Israel, doors are automatically locked with an electric drive and opened with remote control. If you have such a car, always keep a spare key with you.
Dashboard indicators
Did the red light on the dashboard come on? Stop the car immediately and check what happened (use an internet search to find out why the light came on). In any case, this means that it is not safe to continue driving.
A yellow light (as opposed to a red one) indicates that you need to visit a car workshop, but for now, you can continue driving. In some cases, a yellow light simply indicates that a particular vehicle system (eg ESP) is activated.
Oil and water
It is best to check the oil level before starting the engine. The same goes for testing the water. It is important to have the right kind of oil and water in the trunk.
Who to contact for help
In an emergency, it is important to know in advance how to call for help, how to contact traffic police and volunteers to help deal with the problem.
Some insurance companies have mobile applications that allow you to immediately report an incident (accident or another emergency).
There are other Israeli mobile apps (such as C-Now) that allow you to immediately call the police, firefighters, municipal inspectors, and other rescue services. The Waze navigation app allows you to ask other drivers for help.