Minimize irreparable or overly costly damage to your vehicle by learning to recognize these important warning signs.
Today’s vehicles are arguably some of the most reliable, and certainly the safest, to ever run the road. That said, not even the best-made cars and trucks are immune to mechanical issues or failures at some point. Roadside emergencies are still (and will continue to remain) a problem as long as there are cars on the road. There are few things as sphincter-tightening and panicky as copious smoke or a strange noise suddenly emanating from what otherwise seemed to be your happily humming hooptie.
Knowing the degree of severity of a roadside mechanical failure can help you confidently decide what needs to be done. Can you limp your ride into a mechanic, gas station, or rest stop for a safer shut-off, or do you need to pull over to the shoulder and shut your car down immediately in order to prevent more costly and even (gasp!) permanent, irreparable damage?
Check out these top vehicle issues that mean you need to pull over pronto, shut your vehicle off, and call for help.
1. Fire
Okay, so this may seem like a no-brainer (and really, it is a no-brainer), but in an effort to be thorough, it’s definitely worth mentioning.
Obviously, fire is one of the most serious and damaging snafus that can happen while driving -- and how you handle it is imperative when it comes to protecting yourself and any passengers you may have.
So, if you see fire, pull over ASAP. Try to stay calm and pull over to the shoulder or another safe location. Try to avoid an area with flammable materials, like low-hanging branches or long, dry grass.
Shut the engine off immediately and pull the key out of the ignition. As calmly as possible, quickly get everyone out of the vehicle and move at least 100 feet away from the car to a safe location.
Do not waste time or try to go back in order to collect personal items. Call emergency services, and as hard as it might be to watch your ride incinerating, do not, under any circumstances try to put the flames out yourself. Leave that to the pros.
2. Smoke
Smoke billowing out of your vehicle is another pretty obvious and major concern. If not quickly attended to, smoke can usually lead to fire.
If you see smoke, turn on your hazard lights and pull over to a safe location as soon as you can. Turn off your engine and allow it to cool down.
Now is a good time to use your detective skills to try to figure out where the smoke might be coming from. Is it coming from the tires, engine, or somewhere else? Pop the hood and have a look to see if there might be any obvious signs of damage or leaks.
If you can’t figure out the source of the smoke, don’t restart your car but do call for assistance. You really don’t want to try to drive home if you can help it, since that’s likely to further the damage that’s causing smoke in the first place.
3. Steam
Similar to, but different from smoke, is steam. This usually indicates a problem with your engine cooling system.
Most likely, pressurized coolant is leaking onto your hot radiator, your radiator is blocked, or your water pump is no longer working properly. Whatever the case, you need to take quick action.
Once you’ve put your hazard lights on and pulled over to a safe location, shut the engine off and pop your hood. Let things cool down for at least 15 minutes before poking around in there.
Check your coolant level and assess for any visible leaks or damaged or loose hoses. If you can’t identify the source of the leak, or if you don’t have the tools to fix it on hand, call for a tow or roadside assistance to come help you.
4. Red Dashboard Warning Lights
Your dashboard will light up with different warning lights for a variety of reasons. In general, yellow or orange lights indicate that you’ve got an issue that needs to be handled soon, but not immediately. Red warning lights, on the other hand, mean you have a dire situation and need to take prompt action.
Pull over immediately and shut your car off if you see any of the following:
Engine Temperature Warning Light.
This means that your engine is getting too hot and is about to overheat. An overheated engine is usually due to an issue in the cooling system, like a bad water pump or coolant leak. Do not drive your car if the engine is overheating.
Brake Warning Light.
This can mean a couple of things. Maybe you accidentally left your parking brake engaged. In that case, it’s a pretty quick fix. However, if it’s not that, you may have a serious problem with your brakes.
Since brakes are vital to the safe operation of your vehicle, pull over and call a tow truck. Don’t try to continue driving to your home or a mechanic. Most auto shops hate it when clients come crashing through the front window because of a brake failure.
Oil Pressure Warning Light
This light means you either don’t have enough oil pressure to be distributed through the engine properly or you have an insufficient amount of oil in the engine. Stop driving immediately in order to prevent your engine from completely seizing. If you’ve ever had to replace your car’s engine, you know how painful and expensive it can be.
5. Loud or Unexpected Noises
One minute you’re driving along in blissful peace and then suddenly…you hear a distinctive or loud bang, pop, grinding, or dragging noise emanating from somewhere around your car.
This usually means you have a problem, and you should safely and quickly pull over to assess the situation.
Here are some examples:
- A loud pop that causes your car to strongly pull to one side usually means you’ve got a flat tire.
- A dragging sound coming from underneath your car could be part of your exhaust or muffler that’s let go or you’ve caught some kind of debris in your undercarriage that needs to be removed.
- Strange noises emanating from under the hood of your car are usually signs of an engine problem.
Any grinding noise when applying your brakes means you’re way overdue for replacing your brake pads and/or shoes.
6. Strange Smells
As with the situation above, anytime you’re driving along and a strange chemical or burning smell suddenly fills your nostrils, it’s best to pull over, shut your car off, and have a look.
An unpleasant, pungent, or acrid smell can mean several things. It could be fuel leakage, burnt tire treads, a cooling system problem, transmission trouble, or a serious electrical issue that may lead to fire.
In any case, if the smell is determined to be coming from your car and not some other unfortunate motorist close by, your next step is most likely calling for a tow truck.
7. Sudden Handling Changes
If you’re driving along and all of a sudden, you notice a significant change in your car’s handling, it’s best to pull over as soon as possible and see what’s up.
You might feel through the steering wheel that your vehicle is strongly pulling to one side, which can indicate a flat tire or a suspension issue. Maybe you feel a strange vibration at higher speeds that’s accompanied by a burning smell. This is most likely a stuck brake caliper that needs to be fixed.
While it can be tempting to keep driving and ‘see what happens’ when your car starts acting up, the best practice is to find a safe place to pull over, investigate the issue and, if necessary, call for help. Would you rather pay for a towing trip to the shop or an ambulance ride to the hospital?