It is such a hassle when you are driving and suddenly it appears on your dashboard that you need to check your tires. What if there’s no Subaru auto mechanic nearby? A flat tire typically shows up unexpectedly and can happen to anyone at any time. It doesn’t matter if you were already running late or if you’re wearing a cocktail dress. But regardless of the situation, the basic mechanics of changing a tire are the same whether you’re working with a car, truck, van, or SUV. Here are 10 simple steps to change a tire when you’re in the middle of driving.

Find a safe place to pull over

Find a place where the ground is solid and the level is flat to keep your car from rolling. If you’re on the side of the road, pull over as far as possible and avoid stopping near any bend in the road. This reduces visibility for both you and other drivers and if you’re in a dark or scary area, carefully drive to a better spot. 

Use hazard lights and parking brakes

To increase your visibility and to decrease the vehicle’s ability to roll, use your hazard lights and parking brake to keep yourself and your vehicle safe.

Check for materials

The most basic things you need are a jack, a wrench, and a spare tire. These should always be in your vehicle just in case a flat tire occurs. Better also if you have these additional items prepared to make things easier – a flashlight, gloves, mat for kneeling, rain poncho, tire gauge, and your vehicle’s manual. If you are looking for a Subaru auto mechanic who can help you check your needed material for future purposes, you can check the Subaru mechanic near me.

Loosen the lug nuts

If your vehicle has a wheel cover or a hubcap, pry it off. Next is to secure the wrench onto a lug nut and turn it counterclockwise to loosen it. Repeat the process with each lug nut and make sure each one is loose enough to turn by hand.

Lift your vehicle off the ground

Put the jack under the metal portion of your vehicle’s frame. Do not place it where it will have contact with any plastic molding. The best jack placement typically depends on the vehicle so consulting the owner’s manual is the best way to learn proper jack placement. Once properly placed, use the jack to raise the tire you’re changing off the ground and ensure the jack stays perpendicular to the ground at all times.

Remove the lug nuts and the tire

Turn the lug nuts counterclockwise until they are all very loose. Next is to remove them completely. Keep the lug nuts all together in a safe spot as you will need them to secure the replacement tire. With the lug nuts removed, there is nothing keeping your tire attached to the vehicle so securely grip your tire and pull it directly toward your body.

Place the spare tire on the car

Line up your holes in the spare with the lug nut posts and place the spare on the wheelbase. Push the spare as far onto the wheelbase as possible.

Replace the lug nuts

Put the lug nuts on so the spare tire stays put. Do not tighten them yet. It is important to tighten your lug nuts in a way that keeps the tire even.

Lower your vehicle and begin tightening

Using the jack, slowly lower your vehicle until your spare tire starts touching the ground. This holds the tire in place as you begin tightening the lug nuts. Tighten the lug nuts in increments, alternating every other nut. 

Lower your vehicle completely and finish tightening

When the lug nuts feel equally tight, completely lower your vehicle to the ground. After which, you may be able to tighten the lug nuts a little bit further. Continue your tightening in the same incremental order until they no longer budge.

Aftercare includes putting your old tire in the trunk and cleaning up any tools. But the best aftercare is still bringing your car to a Subaru mechanic near me who can check and test any further damages.

Car accidents can happen anytime and no one knows when they will come your way. If this happens, you should be prepared, whether or not you caused the collision. Being prepared will help you protect your ability to make a car insurance claim against an at-fault driver, and help you if another driver falsely blames you for the accident. In these stressful situations, we have prepared a list of what to do and how to deal with first responders, injuries, other drivers, insurance companies, and your auto mechanic like Subaru auto mechanic. 

Immediately after the collision, the first thing you should do, if possible, is to pull over your car to a safe, well-lit place nearby, preferably a public one where others can see both you and the other driver nearby. If the car can cause road hazards, you’ll want to move it, even to a sidewalk. And remember to stay calm and use emergency flashers to alert oncoming cars. If in case you can’t move your car, get yourself and any passengers you have to a safe distance away from the collision.

Secure the Kids, Pets or PWDS

After a car accident, you can be easily distracted and make mistakes. Even so, do not leave young children, pets, disabled adults, or non-ambulatory elders in a hot, locked car after the accident. Just as you would not leave them in the car to run into a store or other business, don’t leave the engine off with them in a hot car while you deal with the accident details. In addition, if children traveling with you during the crash are young enough to be in car seats, don’t remove them from the car seats after the accident. They might have injuries that you don’t see so just let the responders remove them from their car seats to assess them for injuries. 

Call 9/11 or Law Enforcement

Check to see if you or anyone in your vehicle at the time of the accident has injuries. Call fire and rescue or an ambulance if someone shows even minor harm from the accident. Get medical help for yourself or others right away especially if the injured are children, elders, or incapacitated people. If you do not know your location, you may ask someone nearby. Identify other information also aside from your name like prepare to provide the city, street name, and house number you’re closest to and don’t hang up before the dispatcher says you can. It is crucial to document the accident with a police report in case you’re sued by the other driver. Lastly, make sure you’ve taught your children how and when to call 9/11 if they need to.

Collecting the right information

Don’t forget to collect some important information even after you have to take so many steps to secure yourself, your loved ones, and the vehicle. Consistently keeping your documents in order is essential. It is also important to know which car mechanic to go to in time of emergency. You can check the Subaru mechanic near me for trusted car repairs.

Have your car checked at Subaru auto mechanic

After you have settled all the legal and medical requirements, it’s time to give your car a check-up. You can visit a Subaru mechanic near me to let the car experts check your car. Subaru Clinic is the best for regular maintenance services for your car as we are committed to providing same-day mechanical repair services, outstanding customer service, and full satisfaction to our customers.

Winter has come, isn’t it? And the worst feeling? It’s when your car simply won’t warm up on a winter’s morning. It could be a big hassle especially when you are preparing to go to work. You can check the Subaru mechanic near me for emergency car repairs.

How does the heating work?

Heating in the car is supplied by hot coolant that circulates through the engine. A small amount of coolant is diverted into a hose that eventually reaches a heat exchanger or heater core. Cold air from the outside or recirculated air from inside is directed through that heater core until it becomes warm and blasts through your vents, making the cabin nice and toasty. If your heater is not working, there’s a load of things that could be causing the problem. It might be because of one of the following:

• Low Coolant Level

If your car’s cooling system is not completely filled then this would be the culprit to no heating although a weak or leaky radiator can often be the issue. Check your coolant levels per your manufacturer’s guide to see if your car’s radiator is full. 

• Air Pockets

Air pockets are another common culprit in the heater core or hose that can interfere with the flow of coolant. You can check if the coolant is circulating through the heater core by feeling both heater hoses. The inlet and outlet return hoses should feel hot when the engine is at normal operating temperature and the heater is on. If you are a new driver and not quite familiar with the terms mentioned, you can contact a Subaru mechanic near me and they will definitely help you.

• Open Thermostat

Another problem can be the thermostat or one that’s too cold for the system. Most modern cars need a thermostat that is 87-90 degree celsius and it’s quite straightforward to check if the thermostat is open. Start a cold engine and feel the upper radiator hose. You should not be able to feel any warm coolant moving inside the hose until the engine starts to get warm.

• Blocked Heater Core

When debris fills up in the oolong system, it can plug the heater core and block the flow of coolant. The only fix is to replace the heater core itself. But it can be avoided by flushing and refilling the cooling systems with a mixture of water and antifreeze. If you are unsure of what type of water, you can go to a Subaru auto mechanic.

• Weak Water Pump

A weak water pump can also cause the problem. If your heating isn’t working this could definitely be a possibility. A pump with corroded impeller blades or one that doesn’t turn fast enough because of a slipping drive belt will certainly leave you in the cold.

• Faulty Heater Control Valve

On modern vehicles, vacuum-operated heater-control valves are normally open, unless a vacuum is applied. This allows coolant to circulate through the heater core, even when the heater isn’t being used. A Subaru auto mechanic can check this problem with your car and can tell you if it needs replacement or repair.