A car is a man’s best friend unless it dies on him. There are a number of situations where you need help with your car. However, you don’t always have someone around to help you with a broken-down car. 

Today, we will discuss some common car emergencies and how you can make your way out of them. We’ll be starting with a step-by-step guide on how to change a flat tire to fix the non-functional air conditioning. 

Let’s get into it.

1. Changing a Flat Tire

One of the most common problems that can render any car useless is a flat tire. It can be a major source of inconvenience if you are on a deserted highway with no service station. But it will not be a problem for you anymore. 

Here’s a detailed step-by-step guide on how to change a flat tire. We will summarize for you so you can try to do it within 10 minutes and be on the move again.

Step 1 – Stop the car in a Safe Location

You should not drive a car with a flat tire but it is not like that you cannot move it an inch.

The moment you feel one of your tires has gone flat, steer out of the traffic and stop the car on the shoulder or off the road.

Make sure that the ground is stable enough to support the jack.

Step 2 – Secure the Car 

Before you start changing the tire, you need to make sure that the car is safe to work on. To do that: 

• Engage the e-brake. 
• Put the car in parking gear. 
• Block one of the tires (which is not flat) with a rock or brick. 

Step 3 – Loosen the Lug Nuts

Now, get the toolbox out and get to work. Loosen the lug nuts on the wheel with the flat tire. Be sure to loosen them in a criss-cross pattern. 

Do not take the nuts all the way out. Loosen them enough so that you can easily undo them later. 

Step 4 – Jack the Car Up 

If you have an OEM jack, it would have a diagram on it showing where you are supposed to place the jack under the car. 

If it does not have, look for a reinforced area of the body just behind the door sill. 

Place the jack under it and raise it. Be sure to raise the flat tire at least 4 inches above ground level.

Once the car is on the jack, give it a push to make sure it is safely jacked up.

Step 5 – Change the Wheel

Now, remove the lug nuts and take the wheel off. Install the spare wheel on the hub and tighten the nuts with your hand. 

Lower the jack and use the tools to torque the nuts down until they are sung. 

2. Starting A Car on a Dead Battery 

If you forget to turn the headlamps off or if there is a problem with your car’s electronics, the battery can be drained. You’ll need help starting a car on a dead battery. Here’s how you can do that.

Step 1 – Find a Donor 

Look for another motorist who can donate you some battery energy. Ask them to move their car right in front of yours.

Step 2 – Get Jumper Cables 

Many people carry jumper cables with them and they are even included in the tool kits of some cars. Any piece of wire that can handle the current will be enough. 

Step 3 – Connect the Batteries 

Use the jumper cables to connect the batteries of the two cars. Make sure you connect positive to positive and negative to negative.

Step 4 – Start your Car

With the jumper cables attached, crank your engine until the car comes to life. Keep the engine running for at least half an hour so that the alternator can charge the battery.

3. Electronics Not Working? 

If you are traveling in harsh weather and the climate control dies, you are in big trouble. But most of the time the problem is very simple. It is mostly caused by a blown fuse. 

Blown fuses can deactivate anything from the infotainment system to the anti-lock brakes. 

But fixing a blown fuse is simple. 

Step 1 – Locate the Fuse 

Most of the passenger cars have two fuse boxes. One is in the engine bay and is for the engine and its related features. The other is in the passenger compartment and is for cabin amenities.

After you have found the fuse box, open it and the cover will show you a diagram of the fuses.

Locate the one that is related to the thing malfunctioning.

Step 2 – Check the Fuse

Once you have reached the fuse, you need to make sure that it is actually the fuse that’s bad.

For this, look toward a source of light through the fuse. If the metallic wire in the fuse is intact, the fuse is okay and the problem is somewhere else. 

If the metal is not continuous, the fuse is bad.

Step 3 – Replace the Fuse

The fuse box cover has some extra fuses for emergency use. Replace the blown-out fuse with the right one to make the system work again. 

4. Low on Fuel? 

If you are away from a gas station and the fuel light comes on, the natural response would be to freak out. You might think there’s nothing that can help you in such a situation. 

However, if you stop panicking and do what you are about to read, you might just be able to go some extra miles and get the gas.

• Turn off anything that is not moving the car. The AC system, the infotainment, the high beams everything costs fuel and you need every last drop of it. 
• Drop your car’s RPM. Drive in the highest gear possible so that you can reduce the fuel consumption of the car as best you can.
• If you are on a mountain road, take advantage of the slope but DO NOT turn the engine off. 

We hope these tips can save your day if you happen to be in trouble with your car and no one is there to help you. Lastly, you can also sell a non running car to some of dealers too if you gave up to to fix the car.