Years ago, breakdowns were a more regular occurrence on Irish roads. Too often, we passed car pulled over, with a family sitting on the ditch while smoke and steam poured from the bonnet of the family car.
I have my own childhood memories of family road trips or holidays, long before the modern buzzword of ‘staycation’ was invented. Bundled into the overloaded cars and full of excitement. A car full of ‘Are we there yet?’ and squabbling and happiness. There was no internet booking and a huge uncertainty about which B&B we might stay in. A breakdown or a puncture was a likely scenario and if we didn’t end up pulling over for some malfunction, we always passed one or two other families pouring water into radiators or changing tyres. The roads were tough on cars and the cars themselves were unused to the longer journeys. Head gaskets blew. Radiators leaked and all kinds of mishaps happened on the family road trip.
Cars are much better now. Breakdowns are very much about diagnostics and computers and the classic wrapping stockings round the fan belt is a thing of the past. But the roadside breakdown is still very much part of the ups and downs of motoring, and so it is good to be prepared for that unlikely event. 
The one thing that takes the sting and worry out of any breakdown situation! Many drivers presume that breakdown assistance comes automatically as part of their insurance policy. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Sometimes it’s an optional extra to a policy. It is always a worthwhile and reassuring service to have and our best advice to any customer is to purchase it if you can. There are other options, such as AA roadside assist if the service is not offered by your insurance company.
In the unlikely event that you get stranded on the side of the road, there are a few useful items that will make all the difference in getting you back on the road.
Jump leads and a booster pack. A flat battery can happen for a myriad of reasons. A set of jump leads and a friendly motorist will see that engine purring in no time. There is also the increased availability of the battery booster pack. Once these precious tools were only used by mechanics, but now good, reasonable battery boost packs can be purchased in many retail stores and are worth their weight in gold on a cold winter morning, when the battery needs that extra kick into life.
Tyre repair kit. A flat tyre is a real pain. Hauling out the spare tyre, wrestling with the hub cap, the nuts and the tyre jack etc. is depressing. One of the most ingenious items available for the modern driver is the humble looking tyre repair kit. These can be purchased in many forecourt shops, garages and auto factors. You simply remove the dust cap, and squeeze the solution into the tyre. It will get you home or to a garage. Ingenious! And when we consider that many modern cars often have no spare wheel or space saver wheel, it is an essential tool for some drivers. For anyone who has ever spent a while attempting to remove particularly difficult wheel nuts, it’s a game-changer. This simple item will literally repair a puncture on the side of the road in seconds.
Think safety! If you do break down, it is vital that you keep yourself, your passengers and other road-users safe. Carry two luminous Warning triangles, a high Vis vest, a torch and some blankets and raingear just in case you need them.
Winter. The cold weather can take its toll on cars and a breakdown may be more likely. Carry a good deIcer and a scraper in the car. Skoda can take a great deal of credit for including a winter kit inside their more recent models, but you can be just as prepared as them with your own winter breakdown kit.
Mobile phone and an in-car charger.
An empty fuel carrier. Yes, this still happens! Drivers run out of diesel or petrol, or they have mistakenly topped up with the wrong fuel. An empty can in the car not only makes it easier to get the juice you need to get moving again, the simple act of carrying the can lets other drivers know your predicament and (hopefully) give you the lift you need to the nearest garage. With the growth in Electric cars, we are going to see more people getting caught out with insufficient charge in cars or diminishing battery capacity! While ‘the range’ of the car is the main topic of conversation for all electric car owners, the sad thing is, there is no booster pack available. If you run out of battery charge the only option is to call a tow truck.
The chances of your car breaking down are considerably less than they used to be. The NCT, more frequent car services and advancements in manufacturing, diagnostics and repairs have all contributed to a higher degree of reliability. But it does still happen.
At Peter Hanley Motors we wish you happy safe motoring knowing you are prepared for any eventuality.
Peter Hanley Motors is a registered
member of The Society of the Irish
Motor Industry
