Every driver has faced a critical situation at least once due to a vehicle malfunction. Let's look at the most common emergency situations and how to avoid the severe consequences associated with them.
The gas pedal is stuck
- You need to stop, you take your foot off the accelerator pedal, but it doesn't go back to normal.
- Look at the road ahead. Place the gear lever in neutral.
- Turn off the ignition (so that the steering wheel does not lock), press the brake.
- Try to move off the road as quickly as possible.
- After stopping, find the cause of the fault. The pedal could have hit the mat and you can easily release it.
If this is not the case, check the accelerator drive. Some parts may be jammed or stuck. A small amount of oil taken from the dipstick to check the engine oil level will help eliminate this problem.
If you are unable to detect or correct the malfunction (e.g. caused by a breakage or loss of the return spring or engine mount), do not start the car. Tow the vehicle to the parking lot.
Brakes have failed
You press the brake pedal, but the car does not slow down. What do I do?
- Press the brake pedal several times quickly.
- If this does not help, turn on the headlights and the alarm system.
- Switch to lower gears one after the other.
- Use the parking brake. At the same time, hold it in an unfixed position so that it can be released if skidding starts.
If the distance available for stopping is short:
- Sound the alarm;
- Try to decelerate the speed by pressing the wheels against the curb;
- Avoid frontal collision. It is better to drive off the road to the side of the road.
If there is a cliff in front, you can turn off the ignition and engage the first gear as a last resort. This may damage the gearbox, but it will help prevent the car from falling down. If the brakes fail on a steep slope, extinguish the speed using snow shafts, bush guards, etc.
Loss of control
By turning the steering wheel, you feel that the car is not responding. Something's wrong with the steering. What to do?
- Warn the other road users by turning on the headlights, alarms, and beeps.
- Brake the brake pedal so as not to cause skidding. After all, you will not be able to eliminate it due to loss of control.
- A steering failure is often preceded by a stiff or, conversely, a slight rotation of the steering wheel. If you notice this, stop immediately and correct the cause of the malfunction.
The wheel tire burst
The steering wheel starts pulling towards the burst tire. What do I do?
- Do not brake.
- Hold the steering wheel tighter, keeping the car in a straight line.
- Smoothly release the accelerator pedal.
- Change to a lower gear.
- When the speed drops, it is easy to apply the brake.
- Stop the car outside the carriageway.
- Do not change the wheel on the roadway.
The hood opens
The visibility of the road ahead is suddenly covered by the hood that opens. What to do?
- Do not brake too hard (you may collide with a car moving behind you).
- Turn on the alarm system.
- Look out through the door window. Use the road markings as a guide.
- Look in the rearview mirror at the distance to the rear-moving car.
- Move your foot from the accelerator pedal to the brake pedal. Smoothly brake, drive off the roadway.
Fire under the hood
You smelled the smoke and saw it or the flames coming from under the hood. What to do?
- Pullover immediately.
- Turn off the ignition.
- Try to shoot down the flames using a fire extinguisher, if not, earth or thick matter.
- Be careful when lifting the hood. Take a cloth to protect your hands from burns when opening the bonnet lock. Tilt your head to the side.
- Do not try to extinguish the flames by increasing the speed. This will only make your position worse.