3 Tips For Inspecting Your Car Before Having It Towed To An Auto Repair Service
Posted on: 14 October 2017
If your car broke down in your driveway, you may have made arrangements to have it towed to an auto repair shop. If so, use the following tips to inspect your car before having it towed so you can make sure it is ready to go when the truck arrives:
Make Sure the Back Tires Are Fully Inflated
Before the tow truck arrives, walk around the backend of your car to make sure that the tires are fully inflated. Because the front of your car will be raised up when it is attached to the tow truck, the back of the vehicle will be tilted toward the road. If the tires are not fully inflated, you run the risk of having the bumper scrape against the pavement.
If you find that the tires are not inflated and do not have an air compressor handy to inflate them, call and let the auto towing service know. They may be able to send a portable compressor with the driver so that they can fill the tires with air before hooking it up.
Check the Undercarriage
Once you have ensured the tires are inflated, walk around to the front of the car so you can check the undercarriage. Since the tow truck will be attaching to your car in this area, you want to make sure there is no rust present.
If you find any rust, push on the metal with the head of a screwdriver to see how far the oxidation has penetrated. If the screwdriver goes through the metal, the undercarriage may not be stable enough to support the weight of your vehicle while it is being towed. In this case, contact the towing service so they can send a flatbed truck.
See If the Gas Tank Is Full
After checking the condition of your car's body, look and see if the gas tank is full. Because a full gas tank adds weight to one side of the vehicle, a full one could make the car lopsided while it is being towed.
If you find that you have a full tank, you could try to siphon out the excess gas, as long as you have jugs that are approved for holding the flammable liquid. If you do not feel comfortable doing this, tell the tow truck driver so they can make adjustments when hitching up the car so the added weight can be accommodated.
After inspecting your car before it is towed, you may have discovered something that concerns you about its safety while it is being transported. If so, contact the auto towing service to discuss your concerns so they can make adjustments to how they tow the car.
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