Third Coast Auto Group Official Blog
What should I do if my car dies while driving?
By Product Expert | Posted in FAQs, Safety, Tips and Tricks on Thursday, September 26th, 2019 at 4:25 pm
It can be a pretty frightening moment when your car starts having trouble out on the street. But in general, any serious incidents can be avoided if you stay calm (which can be easier said than done) and follow clear steps like the ones below. Read on to find out what to do if your car dies while you’re out on the road.
What to Do if Your Car Stops Running When You’re on the Road
If you’re driving along and everything in your vehicle suddenly goes dark, both figuratively and literally, your priority should be safety.
- First, get to the side of the road. Your power steering is likely gone, and brakes as well. So you can still pull over, but it will just be a little more difficult. Try to move out of the way of other drivers and get to a spot on the shoulder. If you are having trouble slowing down, move to a safe area and use the emergency brake.
- Try to restart. If this works, use the power to get to the nearest repair shop. Even if it seems like your car is functioning normally again, something is clearly very wrong due to it having died while driving. It’s in your best interest to get this checked out.
- Activate your emergency flashers. Turning on your flashers helps notify other drivers that something is wrong while also increasing the visibility of your vehicle. Do this as soon as you can so that other drivers can understand the situation and avoid (or assist) you.
- Call for help. Eventually your vehicle will need to get out of this situation. The most reliable, but potentially expensive, solution is to call a repair shop and get towed there. If your vehicle is covered under services such as roadside assistance, call the number provided by your automaker to take advantage of this coverage.
Curious why it stopped working? Check Out: Common Reasons Your Car Could Stop Running Whole Driving
