Do I have a flat tire?

A car tire should give you at least 70,000 miles of safe driving. This is assuming you don’t run over any nails or otherwise damage your tires.

But what happens when one of your tires unexpectedly goes flat? There are many car maintenance shops around that can fix the problem and get your car back on the road in no time.

But before you call a mechanic, you want to be sure that your tire is deflated and that no other issues are causing problems. Keep reading for everything you need to know about identifying a flat tire.

Signs of a Flat Tire

The first thing you should do is a visual inspection. If you notice that one of your tires appears lower than the others, or if there’s a bulge in the sidewall, then you’re likely dealing with a flat tire.

Press down on your tire with one hand to see if it feels like there’s less pressure than normal. If there is, change your tire as soon as possible.

If you’re ever stuck in the middle of a highway and can’t get out of your car to check on your tires, here are other signs that your tire is flat.

Vibrating Steering Wheel

The vibrations from a flat tire can cause the car to lose its balance, which causes the steering wheel to shake. If you notice this symptom while driving on an uneven road, try switching lanes or slowing down until the shaking stops. If it doesn’t stop after a few minutes, then chances are that one of your tires has gone flat and needs attention.

Thumping Noise

If you hear a loud flapping noise while driving, especially when going over bumps in the road or hitting potholes, then one of your tires is probably flat. When a tire is under-inflated, it will not maintain its shape and the material will slap against the road’s surface instead of rolling smoothly.

Uneven Driving

The most obvious sign you need a tire replacement is when your car leans to one side. When a tire loses its air pressure and can’t support the weight of your vehicle, it will cause that side of your car to sag. The ride will also be bumpier since the remaining wheels are struggling to balance themselves.

Trouble Speeding

You might notice that when you’re driving on flat terrains, the car feels like it’s struggling to pick up speed. Though many car problems can lead to this, there’s one sure sign that it’s a tire problem: the car will be off balance.

If one side of your car is leaning, this will cause an imbalance in how much traction each wheel gets from the road’s surface. The car will have a harder time gripping the road and accelerating because the weight of the car is being distributed unevenly.

Driving With a Flat Tire

If you’re driving with a flat tire, you must be extra cautious. You’ll need to drive slowly and avoid potholes or other obstacles that could cause your car to swerve.

Also, keep a firm grip on the steering wheel at all times. This will help keep you in control of the imbalanced vehicle.

Fix a Flat Tire

A flat tire can be scary, especially when you discover it on the highway. If yours goes down while you’re driving to work one morning, call Dugger Services for emergency roadside assistance. We’ll send someone to meet you on the road and help you get back up and running safely.

Our services are 24/7, so don’t hesitate to contact us at any time of the day or night. We’re here to help!

Car Won't Start - Not the battery

What’s Going On? My Car Won’t Start, but the Battery Is Still Good

Car Won’t Start – Battery Is Fine

There’s nothing worse than car trouble. This is especially true when your car won’t start.

The next time you get in your car on a cold morning and discover that it won’t start, the problem could be any number of things. That’s why it’s important to have a basic understanding of how to troubleshoot the possible issues.

This article can help. Here we take a look at possible reasons your car won’t start but battery is good. The key is to be able to troubleshoot the problem fast so you can get on your way as soon as possible.

Keep reading to learn more.

Make Sure Battery Connections Are Secure

Let’s start by keeping things simple. First, take a moment to make sure your battery connections on each battery post are connected properly. After all, a good battery that’s not connected is no better than a dead battery.

You Might Be Out of Gas

Here’s a simple fact of life: if you’re out of gas, your car isn’t going to start. That’s why you need to check your gas gauge. And if the needle is on empty, you’ll need to have someone bring you a few gallons so you can get to the gas station.

The Starter Is Bad

It’s also possible that your starter is bad. Turn the key in the ignition to see if your engine will crank. If not, there’s a strong possibility that your starter will need to be replaced.

Your Spark Plugs Are Bad

When was the last time you checked your spark plugs? Because when they go bad, you won’t have any luck getting your car to start. Go ahead and pop your hood, remove and clean each plug, then screw them back in place. If this doesn’t do the trick, it’s time to replace them.

The Alternator Is Toast

When you have a good battery but your alternator is dead, your battery won’t charge. It could be a simple matter of a loose or broken alternator belt, so check the belt before investing in a replacement alternator.

Transmission Is in Neutral

This might seem silly, but your car might be in neutral. Get in your car and check the shifter is in park before moving on to the next possibility.

It’s also wouldn’t hurt to check the fuse box for a bad fuse.

Key Fob Battery Is Dead

Most modern cars have key fobs for locking the doors. Keep in mind that key fobs operate on small batteries and those batteries eventually die. That’s why it’s important to keep a spare fob battery in your console in case of emergencies.

Top Reasons a Car Won’t Start But Battery Is Good

Nothing is a bigger headache than a car that won’t start when you’re in a hurry. Fortunately, this guide to troubleshooting when car won’t start but battery is good will help you make a frustrating situation a bit less stressful.

Please contact us today to learn how our battery service can rescue you from being stranded.

The 5 Most Common Roadside Emergencies (and How to Prevent Them)

32 million drivers experienced car breakdowns in 2015, the most recent year we have a quality statistic. What’s interesting is the study found car breakdowns are happening more frequently every year.

That’s not surprising since cars on the road get older every year too. While it used to be uncommon for someone to drive a car older than 8 years, the average age of a car on the road is now 11.8 years old. While new cars can have problems too, the older a car gets the more likely they start developing issues.

And when those issues strike, you get caught on the side of the road. So how can you prepare for the most common roadside emergencies? Here’s how to plan.

A Flat Tire

Whether your tires are old or you hit debris in the road, a flat tire can ruin your road trip.

Always keep your car stocked with a spare, a quality jack, and a tire iron. Take the time to learn to change a tire. Or Call Us. We can help.

A Dead Battery

Battery issues are one of the most common car trouble problems. Keep jumper cables or an emergency jump kit in your car so you can jump your car anywhere. This is another car skill you should learn so you can help other drivers – or yourself!

An Overheating Engine

Your car can seem fine all winter long but your first long trip in the summer can lead to your car overheating. If your car overheats, let it cool down before trying to diagnose the problem.

Then check the coolant levels in the radiator. It’s a good idea to keeps some backup fluids like coolant or oil in your car, but water can do the trick in the pinch if the risk of freezing has passed.

Once the car is cool, and you’ve deemed everything looks in working order, start it up again and keep an eye on the heat. It’s a good idea to get your car checked by a mechanic right away.

You Get Stuck

Snow in winter or mud in spring, there’s a lot that nature can throw at your car. Make sure you always have a fully-stocked emergency kit in your car with flashlights, flares, food, blankets, and water. If you can, stock something that will give your car traction, like sticks and blankets for mud or snow, or kitty litter for icy roads.

Learn the best practices in case you get stuck on the side of the road.

You Lock Yourself Out

You’re not the first and you won’t be the last, lockouts occur all the time. The best way to avoid a lockout is to keep a spare key well hidden on your car. The second best is to have professional roadside service backing you up.

Be Prepared for the Most Common Roadside Emergencies

The most common roadside emergencies can happen to anyone, so make sure your car is ready. And if you truly want to be ready for anything, it helps to know you always have roadside emergency support.

Make sure you’re prepared for everything your car can throw at you. Make sure you have emergency road service.

Contact Dugger’s Albuquerque

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