Introduction
A vehicle breakdown is when a vehicle stops working properly and needs to be repaired. If your vehicle experiences a breakdown, it means there is a mechanical or electrical failure that prevents the vehicle from being operated safely. This can make it difficult or even impossible to operate the vehicle and can be dangerous for you and other drivers on the road.
There are many other reasons for breakdowns and how to avoid them
- One of the most common reasons for truck breakdowns is a battery fault – especially in the winter. If your battery is having issues, it may prevent you from starting your truck.
- The battery powers the starter motor, which then starts the engine. The alternator recharges the battery as the engine runs.
- Flat batteries are often caused by leaving the lights on when the engine is off. But battery problems can also be caused by taking lots of short journeys or having a poor electrical connection.
As you leave your vehicle, be sure to turn off all the lights and electrical components to avoid running down the battery
- Punctures can often seem like such a pain, similar to flat batteries. They’re commonly caused by sharp objects, but other reasons can include:
- The valve on the tire (where air is pumped in and let out) can fail or get damaged.
- If the tire hits a curb.
- After a collision, the tire and rim of the truck separated.
- Worn tire tread, even if still legal, can cause problems with a truck’s performance, especially in adverse weather conditions.
- Changing a flat tire
- Replacing a flat tire with a spare is normally straightforward. If you have a jack or other wheel removal tools, make sure they’re in good condition and easy to get to.
- Check the Transmission Fluid If the check engine light is on, then there is a good chance the transmission fluid is low and needs to be refilled. You can check the fluid level yourself by checking the dipstick located on the side of the transmission.
- Check the Tire Pressure The last thing you want is to have a flat tire in the middle of the night. You can avoid this by checking the tire pressure at least once a week.
- Check the Brakes If your truck has a brake light on the dash, then it’s time to have the brakes checked. You can also check the brakes by doing a visual inspection of the pads and shoes for wear. following these tips, you can help ensure that your truck is ready to go when you need it.
- A few simple checks can help to prevent a breakdown from happening:
- Check your tire tread depth and pressure regularly – including your spare wheel.
- If you spot uneven tire wear, your wheels might be misaligned. Get a tire center or garage to check.
- If you’re driving with heavy loads, adjust your tyre pressure to cope.
- Avoid driving over potholes or through puddles that could hide a pothole or damaged road surface.
- Most modern diesel vehicles are equipped with Selective Catalyst Reduction (SCR) systems which help to lower harmful nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions from the exhaust.
- AdBlue is an additive that helps with this process. It’s sometimes called urea or Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF), and it needs to be kept topped up in order for the SCR system to work properly.
- This is a part of the exhaust system on diesel engine vehicles. It traps fine particles of soot and burns them off into less-harmful gas (a process called regeneration).
- The Diesel Particular Filter should look after itself, but it may get blocked up if you do lots of short journeys.
How to prevent a clogged DPF
- A weekly run up the motorway should stop it from blocking.
- If it does get overloaded, a warning light will come on the dashboard.
- If the warning light’s on, you’ll need to drive at motorway speeds for a decent period to clear it.
- Full instructions should be in the vehicle handbook.
Too little or too much oil in your truck’s engine can be just as detrimental as having the wrong oil entirely. You may think that having more oil than necessary would be better for your truck engine, but that’s not the case. In fact, it could end up causing just as much damage as not enough oil.
- Regularly check your engine oil using the dipstick.
- The level should be between the two lines.
- The amount of oil between the bottom and top line of the dipstick is usually 1 litre.
- Although starter motors are usually tough and robust, they do fail eventually.
- As long as you get your car serviced regularly, any potential faults should be picked up before they cause you any problems.
Wrong fuel
If you accidentally put the wrong kind of fuel in your truck, don’t start the engine. Just push your truck to a safe place and call our Fuel Assist team.
How to avoid using the wrong fuel
- It’s an easy mistake to make, so double-check the pump nozzle before you pull the trigger:
- Green for petrol
- Black for diesel
- The diesel nozzle is also larger, so it can be harder to miss-fill a petrol vehicle.
8) Overheating
- Overheating can be a top cause of breakdowns. If your temperature warning light’s on, there could be problem with the engine or with the cooling system.
- If there’s steam coming from your engine or the temperature warning light’s on, pull over in the nearest safe spot.
How to avoid overheating
- Make sure you regularly check and top up your coolant. You can also check your truck’s cooling fan at the same time.
- Check for leaks if you notice the coolant level has dropped. Modern cooling systems shouldn’t really need topping-up between services, so it’s best to get a garage to check it out.
- Fleetable can help reduce truck breakdowns by providing a number of features and services that can help keep trucks on the road and running smoothly. These include:
- Maintenance reminders – Fleetable can send maintenance reminders to drivers and fleet managers to help ensure that trucks are regularly serviced and repaired, helping to avoid breakdowns.
- Fault reporting – Fleetable’s fault reporting system allows drivers to report any issues with their truck, which can then be addressed by fleet managers. This can help to avoid breakdowns caused by faults that are not immediately apparent.
- GPS tracking – Fleetable’s GPS tracking system can help fleet managers to monitor the location and status of their trucks at all times. This can be useful for identifying potential breakdowns before they occur, and for dispatching assistance if a breakdown does occur.
- Driver monitoring – Fleetable’s driver monitoring system can help to identify risky driving behavior that could lead to a breakdown. This can include speeding, harsh braking, and other dangerous behaviors.
- Truck diagnostics – Fleetable’s truck diagnostics system can provide fleet managers with detailed information about the health of their trucks. This can help to identify potential problems before they cause a breakdown.
- We also provide support to our customers.
- Our services are provided to the customer at a very reasonable cost.
There are a few things you can do to help reduce the chance of a truck breakdown and ensure the safety of the vehicle and the Driver. Keep your truck well-maintained. This includes regular oil changes, tire rotations, and other scheduled maintenance. Inspect your truck before each trip. This includes checking the engine, tires, brakes, lights, and other systems. Drive safely and defensively. This means following the speed limit, avoiding sudden starts and stops, and being aware of other drivers. If you do experience a breakdown, call for help right away. Do not attempt to fix the problem yourself.
Acknowledge
We acknowledge that we have taken reference from
https://www.theaa.com/breakdown-cover/advice/top-ten-breakdown-causes
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