
Know when to call a tow truck and when it’s safe to drive to a workshop
I once saw a mom tow her son’s car down a hill. At the stop sign at the bottom of the hill, his car rammed hers pretty hard. Turns out his brakes had stopped working and she was towing him to the garage. Jawellnofine. But it does raise the question of when you can drive your car to be fixed and when you should rather have it towed in. By a tow truck, not your mom.
People are reluctant to have their cars towed. It normally costs you money, unless you are with the AA or your insurance has some kind of deal. Many consider tow truck operators to be vultures, those okes with the thick arms parked next to the road in fancy small-wheeled bakkies with names like ‘Bokkie’ painted on the side. There are stories of exorbitant release fees or cars badly damaged by being towed wrong. While these fears could be valid, let’s assume you have the option of using a reputable operator for free or at a reasonable price.
Know When To Tow
If you feel you can safely get your car to the garage, like for a service or a minor repair, by all means, drive it there. How do you know when it is safe? It is probably easier to look at when it is not a good idea to drive it.
Stopping
Your car should be able to stop on demand, but not on its own. So if your brakes are dodgy, don’t drive. Bad brakes range from not working to working badly or intermittently, making strange noises, pulling your car to one side and so on. The ability to stop your car quickly and efficiently is not negotiable.
Of course, the ability to go from one place to the next is the reason you have a car in the first place. If your car cutting out is the reason you are taking it in, consider towing it. There is an almost 100% likelihood that your car will cut out in an awkward place like in an intersection, or a dangerous place like on a curve on the freeway. Or in that one lonely area where professional lurkers lurk.
Steering, Smoke Or Smells.
If your steering feels funny, jerky, not normal, don’t drive. Like breaking down, steering tends to stop steering at the most awkward of dangerous moments.
Smoking is bad for you, especially when coming from anywhere in your car. At the very least it will mean something is about to fail, at worst catch fire. Ditto funny smells. The smell of hot oil, burning rubber or a strong chemical pong could all mean things are about to go south as well.
Warning Lights
If your oil light or engine temperature light goes on, driving your car can actually turn your problem into expensive damage.
The rule of thumb is if you are not sure, don’t drive it. If you don’t have an obvious connection to a towing service, ask your friendly Group1 Cars dealership for a recommendation. The oke might have thick arms and his bakkie might be called Bokkie, but at least you will know he’s both honest and competent.