What's Wrong with my vehicle?

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We're making this blog post, just to make it a little easier for you to troubleshoot a basic diagnosis with what may possibly be wrong with your vehicle.  Chances are it's one of the following common problems that our customers run into.  And since you'll be waiting around for a tow truck, no matter which company you decide to use around Elizabeth, NJ, you'll need to advise our driver and phone operator with what is wrong.  We like knowing what the scene of the circumstances are, this way we can give you the most professional towing or roadside assistance service possible.

Click to Call Now - [908] 360-2090

Possible Reasons That You Need Towing or Roadside Assistance:

Tire Check

One of the most frequent phone calls that we get are from folks who have damaged tires.  Without the proper care or understanding of what can arise when a tire is damaged, can be all the difference of preventing an accident or not. 

So one thing that you may already be aware of is that if your car was manufactured in the last 20 years, you'll notice that there is a tire pressure gauge (indicator light) within the dashboard.  Nearly every care has one these days, but some don't.  

If your vehicle isn't handling well on the road, meaning you're swerving or the steering wheel  is moving in a 'back and forth' motion, then you should check your indicator light.  If you do not have a light then you'll need to get out of your car and check the tire pressure. You can do this by using a tire pressure meter.  If not available then you'll have to use your eyes and ears to listen for any air leaks or visually look for a flat tire.

If you've driven over a pothole or an object such as a piece of wood or rock, then you must be conscious of how your car drives.  If you've heard any loud pops after impact, then safely pull over and inspect your tires furthermore.

That's about it on the tires.  A lot of our calls come from people who haven't evaluated the situation thoroughly.  Call us for tire changes, nail in tires and tire pumps.  

Dead Battery

Our second most common service call would be that of a dead battery.  Sometimes all it takes is a cold New Jersey winter for a battery to lose juice.  However most often it's simply due to the fact that we either leave our headlights, fog lights or interior lights on.   

In order to figure out why your vehicle is not starting, you'll want to run this simple diagnostic test. 

1- Make sure your headlights are turned in the off position
2- Check to see if your interior lights turn on.  If on, are they dimming?
3- Does your stereo turn on?
4- What does your horn sound like? Does it even honk?
5- When you turn your keys in the ignition does it make any clicky sounds and does the electric seem jittery?

If you've answered yes to any of these, then chances are you is that you only have a dead battery.  Although, typically one of the most inconvenient occurrences that will arise with your vehicle, it is also the cheapest.    

Call us today if you need a jumpstart.  Our technicians can also test the life of your battery and we help you make suggestions on where to go.  Some of our drivers will also do a new battery install if needed.

​Engine Not Starting

Okay, so let's say that you get into your vehicle and your engine doesn't start, but because you read this blog post, you've already ran a dead battery troubleshoot.  All of your battery power is on, but when you turn the ignition it has a similar clicking sound. The ignition either has no juice, or it's sputtering its way to start.

This problem can be one of two things:
1) You may have blown an electrical fuse. 
2) You may just need to have your spark plug replaced. 

Unless you know a lot "about cars" or are a mechanic, I'd leave this job to the professionals. For more information on vehicle electrical issues, take a look at our friends at Manchester Auto Repair Services, for mechanical diagnostic information, including, how much is a diagnostic test UK?  

Other Frequent Problems

Do you smell a funky burning odor? Is your engine smoking? Well then, this could be caused by two reasons.  1) You may not have enough engine coolant in the plastic bottle connected to the radiator.  2) Your thermostat may be "sticking."  This means that not enough water is transferring to the radiator to the engine. 

If you've been in an accident you'll want to pull the car over to a safe area (if possible).  One thing that oftentimes happens is after the vehicle has forceful impact, the fluid cylinders will crack.  From a safe location, you'll want to see what, if any fluids are leaking. Depending on what is leaking, you may need to call a towing professional. The good news is that you're safe, but in order to prevent any further damage to your vehicle, don't try to push the engine to it's limits. Depending on which fluid it is, may be crucial to the integrity of your cars future. 

Call Elizabeth Tow Truck Today For Any Towing or Roadside Recovery Needs

Elizabeth Tow Truck provides a full array of towing and road side assistance services.  Our technicians can arrive at your location in a timely manner. Our response times vary during high traffic times, but generally, we can get to your location within 30 minutes from the time of initial service call.  Every day we're striving to improve our business within the Elizabeth, New Jersey area, so don't hesitate in leaving us a review on Google, Yelp or Facebook.  We're always looking to hear from our current and past customers. 

Just remember that our prices are always accurate.  We may not be a cheap towing company, but we do provide professional and quality services.  Though our prices are in line with our local competition.  So just know that if you're shopping for affordable tow services, then you've found a great company to work with! We look forward to working with you in the future. 

Thanks for visiting our blog.  Be safe! 

Click to Call Now - [908] 360-2090