Will My Car Overheat in Hot Weather?

Posted on July 19, 2019 by Zores

When the Indiana heat index reaches extremely high temperatures in the summer, many of us start to have concerns about health and safety. As a result, we take certain precautions to ensure we are not at risk of heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and other serious heat-related illnesses and conditions.

However, there is one thing we tend to overlook when it comes to protecting ourselves in hot weather, and that is our vehicles. Not only can the hot summer sun and climate affect the performance and safety of your car, it can also put you in a dangerous position if your vehicles breaks down.

Continue reading to learn what you need to know about driving in hot weather, including what to do if your car overheats or breaks down on a hot summer day.

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Cars and Hot Weather

A car will overheat if it is operated in excessive sun and high temperatures. As the outside temperatures increase, so does the rate at which your car engine produces and retains heat. As a result, engines can quickly become too hot and stop functioning properly. Also, if your car overheats on a hot summer day, you can be subjected to your own set of health and safety risks, especially if you do not have access to water or air conditioning. This is even more dangerous for children and individuals with existing health conditions.

What To Do if it Happens to You

Operating a vehicle that is overheating is extremely dangerous and should never be attempted. Instead, if your car or truck overheats, your first step is find a safe spot to pull over immediately. Once you are safely pulled over to the side of the road, turn off your ignition and wait for your car to cool down enough to check the coolant. If your coolant (antifreeze) is low, top it off with the extra bottle you hopefully carry with you at all times. See our blog, “What to Put in Your Summertime Roadside Emergency Kit” to learn what you should have on hand.

If your car cools down enough to start it back up, do so, but without the AC on. The air conditioning uses a lot of energy, so instead, drive with the windows down until you reach your destination. In fact, it helps to put your heat on max; although very uncomfortable, it will pull heat away from your engine and cool it off. If your car will not cool down, contact a local Indianapolis tow truck for assistance. You do not want to be sitting in a hot car in hot weather for too long, as this is extremely dangerous.

Call an Emergency Tow Truck in Indianapolis

Call Zore’s Towing at 317-247-8484 for prompt, 24 hour towing and roadside assistance in Indianapolis and its surrounding counties. Our licensed towing and recovery division retains an extensive fleet of over 35 tow trucks and wrecker equipment, allowing us to assist drivers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year, rain, snow, or ice. Request a free estimate, anytime.

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3 Things You Should NEVER Do When a Car Engine Overheats

Posted on June 28, 2019 by Zores

An overheating car could be caused by a variety of reasons. It could be a broken radiator, a kinked radiator hose, a faulty thermostat, and maybe even a lack of coolant. There are many more reasons as well. No matter what the cause, if you are ever in a similar situation, there are three major things you should never do while your car is still hot or overheating.

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❶ NEVER Continue Driving

When you first notice that your vehicle is overheating, it is crucial to pull over and stop the car immediately. An overheating car should never be driven. This can be very dangerous. Wait until your car is entirely cooled down before starting the engine again.

❷ Never Check Radiator Fluid

Checking your fluid levels in your radiator when the car is overheating is simply asking for trouble. It can be extremely dangerous. There is a lot of pressure built up beneath the radiator cap. Boiling hot fluids and steam can shoot out at high speeds, potentially burning and injuring anyone in its path. Determine whether or not you are on an inline for accurate fluid readings. If the car is not level, the fluids cannot be level.

❸ Never Use Cold Water

When a car’s engine has overheated, do not put cold water in the vehicle. Not only can this damage the engine block and cause it to crack, it can lead to other severe auto damages and costly repairs. Let a car cool down completely, as mentioned earlier, before tending to an overheated engine.

Causes for Overheating Engine

The most common reason a car overheats is because it is out of coolant! If you use the improper coolant concentration in your vehicle, you can definitely expect it to overheat at some point. It is important to have the proper water-to-coolant ratio for proper cooling operation. Refer to your vehicle’s owner’s manual to learn the proper coolant concentration recommended for your make and model car or truck. If you don’t have your owners’ manual, look online for a replacement copy. You can download one for free by visiting your vehicle’s manufacturer website.

What You SHOULD DO

First and foremost, always be sure to let the engine cool down completely before opening the hood. Now, since the most common reason a car overheats is because it is out of coolant, always keep a bottle of radiator fluid in your trunk so that you can be prepared in the case of an emergency. If you are stuck on the side of the road with no one to call for help, contact a local 24 hour roadside assistance tow truck for help.

24 Hour Roadside Assistance in Indianapolis

Call Zore’s Towing at 317-247-8484 for 24 hour roadside assistance and towing services in Indianapolis and throughout Central Indiana. Our friendly staff is waiting by the phones, ready to help you get back on the road, safe and sound. We operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year, so you can always count on us. Request a free estimate, today.

What You Need to Know About State Trailer Laws

Posted on June 19, 2019 by Zores

If you have a trailer that you use to tow a boat, it is very important to stay fully informed of the local and state laws governing towing trailers at all times. Not only do these ordinances have a tendency to change without notice, leaving you in the dark on what’s acceptable practice and what’s not, if neglected, such laws also can pose several legal penalties and repercussions. It is also important to remember that these laws are also meant to protect you and other drivers on the road, as well as your towed assets.

Continue reading to learn what you need to know about Indiana trailer laws, including what to do when you need emergency trailer tow truck assistance.

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Trailer Widths and Wide-Load Permits

All states have a limit on boat trailer widths, but not all require a wide-load permit. Most states maintain the rule that if your trailer is less than 102 inches (8’6”) wide, a driver is not obligated under law to obtain a wide-load permit. On the other hand, there are a few states that do require a wide-load permit, regardless of whether or not a trailer meets these set limits. If a trailer is larger than these measurements, or has a wider beam than what is allowed in a particular state, a wide-load permit is required.

Here in Indiana, drivers must have a wide-load permit if their trailer exceeds 102 inches in width. When it comes to linking cargoes, the maximum length of 2 or more vehicles, including any cargo, is 60 feet. The maximum length for 3 or more vehicles including cargo is 65 feet. The maximum load size in length is 3 feet past the front and 4 feet past the rear.

Interstate Travel and Wide-Load Permits

Although Indiana has their rules on boat trailer width restrictions, they may not match up with all the other states. For instance, in New York, the limit is 96 inches, compared to Indiana’s 102 inch rule. So if you are planning on taking a long-distance road trip with your boat trailer, be sure you have a wide-load permit for each state that you intend on passing though. You will need a separate permit for each state. If you fail to do this, you may be stopped by law enforcement and forced to change your trailer setup to adhere to each state law.

Indiana Trailer Dimension Laws:

Total Length – 65 feet
Trailer Length – 40 feet
Trailer Width – 102 inches
Trailer Height – 13 feet 6 inches

Trailer Brakes and Weight

The laws governing trailer brakes and weight vary from state to state. So again, if you plan on traveling through several states, you must be familiar with each state’s laws regarding these trailer systems. For instance, in Kentucky, boat trailer brakes are not required by law, but the trailer must be able to come to a complete stop within 40 feet on a level surface. In North Dakota, boat trailer brakes are not required by law unless the boat trailer does not have safety brakes. Here in Indiana, a boat trailer that weighs at least 3 tons must be equipped with brakes.

Indiana Trailer Hitch and Signal Laws

Here in Indiana, it is required by law for all trailers to be equipped with double safety chains. As for trailer lighting laws, a trailer has to have at least 1 rear-mounted red taillight that is clearly visible from up to 500 feet away. Furthermore, trailers must also have 2 or more rear-mounted white taillights that are mounted between 20 inches and 72 inches from the ground. These lights must be clearly visible from a distance of 50 feet and correctly wired so the headlights illuminate simultaneously with them.

⚠ This is not a comprehensive list of the United States Trailer Laws and Regulations. To learn more about Indiana state trailer laws and regulations, see Indiana Code Title 9. Motor Vehicles § 9-20-9-8.

Questions About Towing and Trailers?

Call Zore’s Inc. at 317-247-8484 for friendly 24 hour towing assistance and advice in Central Indiana. We open a family-owned and operated business for 90 years, so you can trust us for prompt and professional service. We are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and 365 days a year, so our certified tow truck operators can be there for you anytime, any day! Request free estimates, anytime.

Do You Need Roadside Assistance Insurance?

Posted on April 23, 2019 by Zores

Whether for yourself or for your teenage drivers, roadside insurance is something that many car owners think about. You never know when you will find yourself stranded on the side of the road in need of automotive repair or intervention. But is insurance coverage for roadside assistance service really necessary? After all, there are roadside assistance companies that operate on a 24 hour basis in virtually all counties in the state.

Continue reading to learn what you need to know about roadside insurance coverage, including what it is, what it does, and whether or not you need it in Indiana.

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Roadside Assistance Insurance

Roadside assistance insurance coverage is just that; insurance coverage for roadside repairs and support. As a beneficiary, you would have a separate insurance policy for such services, or it can be supplemental to your existing policy. Either way, it is coverage that you must pay extra for on top of your existing cost of coverage.

So how much does roadside assistance coverage generally cost? The answer is not so straightforward. The cost of such coverage depends on various factors, namely the extent of coverage you choose. Other factors include your insurance carrier, driving history, make and model car, age, and more. Check with your insurance carrier to learn your options for roadside assistance coverage and pricing.

Benefits

The most obvious benefit of having roadside assistance insurance is the fact that you will never have to worry about being stranded in your car in the middle of nowhere. It also provides peace of mind knowing that you and your loved ones are protected and supported at all times when on the road, regardless of time or day. Such assistance will help when you lock your keys in the car, run out of gas, get a flat tire, get stuck in a ditch, wreck and need a tow, and much more.

But Do You Need It?

The question of whether or not you need roadside assistance coverage all depends on your personal lifestyle and preferences. If you are frequently traveling long distances, or have a time-restricted schedule, a roadside assistance plan might make financial sense. Also, if you have teen drivers, a policy like this can give you great peace of mind. But for most others, a roadside assistance policy is not always cost-effective. It may be financially wiser to simply outsource Indianapolis roadside assistance services in the rare times that you need it.

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Top 3 Ways to Drive Safer This Winter

Posted on January 31, 2019 by Zores

If you want to avoid roadside emergencies and car accidents this winter, it is wise to prepare yourself with the right knowledge for driving safer in inclement weather. Continue reading to learn the top 3 recommended actions and considerations for being a safer driver in snow, ice, sleet, hail, fog, and all other harsh elements we might face through the season.

❶ Have a Winter Emergency Roadside Kit

Whether it is winter, summer, spring, or fall, it is wise to have a roadside emergency kit in your vehicle at all times. These kits can come in anything from 30-piece kits, to 70-piece kits, and larger. The right kit for you depends on the size of your vehicle, your town’s geography, and your driving practices. Such kits should include basic materials like a spare tire, gloves, tire jack, jumper cables, road triangles, torque wrench, tire pressure gauge, flashlight, and a blanket. More thorough kits might include a screwdriver set, sockets, electrical tape, emergency flares, hazard flags, reflective gear, AA batteries, fire extinguisher, pliers, utility knife, and even a small medical kit.

❷ Pay Close Attention to Your Tires

When temperatures are cold or below freezing, your tires lose pressure more quickly. As a result, tires lose proper connection to the road surface. With a loss of traction, you put yourself at risk of losing control of your vehicle in icy or wet conditions. Before each drive, always check that your tires are fully inflated. At least once per month, be sure to measure the tire pressure too. Check the tag within the driver’s-side doorjamb or your owner’s manual for recommended tire pressure for your make and model car. Also with tires, be sure there is plenty of tread left. Use the “penny test” to see if you are ready to replace your tires: insert the penny in between your tire tread, and if Lincoln’s head is higher than the tread, you need new tires soon.

❸ Take Care of Your Car Battery

Just like your tires, your car battery is also affected by cold weather and temperatures. An extended period of freezing cold weather will pull the voltage from car batteries, and eventually prevent the car from starting altogether. To make matters worse, cold temperatures also thicken automotive fluid, which makes your vehicle’s components (like the battery) work harder, thus using up more power. To avoid this problem, be sure you stay on top of routine battery maintenance, as well as all your other factory scheduled measures, such as fluid changes and tune-ups. Read our blog, “The Do’s and Don’ts to Automotive Battery Maintenance” to learn what you need to know about taking care of your car battery all year long.

How to Get 24 Hour Roadside Assistance Anywhere in Central Indiana

Indianapolis Roadside Assistance 317-247-8484 — Indianapolis Towing and Roadside Assistance 317-247-8484

Call Zore’s Towing at 317-247-8484 for 24 hour roadside assistance and towing services in Indianapolis and throughout Central Indiana. Our friendly staff is waiting by the phones, ready to help you get back on the road, safe and sound. We operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year, so you can always count on us. Request a free estimate, today.

Why Choose Zore’s Towing for All Your Roadside Needs

Posted on November 29, 2018 by Zores

Here at Zore’s Towing, our family owned and operated company has proudly served the Central Indiana communities with safe and efficient towing and recovery services at the most competitive prices. Learn why you should choose us for all of your towing and roadside needs!

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Towing, Recovery & Roadside Service

It’s simple; we are your simple, hassle-free solution to affordable towing and recovery services in Indianapolis, and throughout Central Indiana! With more than 90 years in business, you can trust our pledge to provide safe and efficient service at a fair price. Our certified and experienced drivers carry out a wide range of professional towing services, including light to heavy-duty tow truck service, property management, roadside assistance, towed car searches, emergency towing, long-distance towing, heavy equipment transport, and much more.

More Precision & Faster Response Times

On top of a full fleet of advanced tow trucks and wrecker equipment, we only employ state-certified wrecker operators who work around the clock, providing roadside protection 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year; even on national holidays! This means that Zore’s Towing is your roadside security team for emergency vehicle assistance at all times. Best of all, all of our tow trucks are radio-dispatched from a live representative, and even equipped with the latest GPS technologies, all of which ensures accuracy and improves response times.

A Hoosier Family You Can Trust

As a member of the community ourselves, we are committed to providing the quality and security you come to expect from a local towing service. In fact, we are active in our surrounding neighborhoods in many ways. Not only are we involved with several community services, including city and state training and safety programs, as well as, local community sponsorships and causes throughout Central Indiana, we are also partnered with various fire departments and 9 different law enforcement departments for the purpose of providing traffic incident management (TIM) services, controlled rolls, water recovery, wrecker service, and more. We also work closely with the Hoosier Helper Tool, and have even won prestigious awards for our respected credentials, achievements, and service.

Contact Us Anytime!

Indianapolis Towing & Roadside Assistance 317-247-8484

Call Zore’s Towing at 317-247-8484, today. On every call, you can expect a prompt hello and a warm greeting from a pleasant company representative who is ready to assist you. Our friendly staff is waiting by the phones, ready to help you get back on the road, safe and sound. Request a free estimate, anytime!

What Should I Do If My Trailer Starts To Sway?

Posted on April 19, 2018 by Zores

Regardless of experience, a driver can encounter a loss of control over their trailer at any time. Whether from a sudden and unexpected gust of wind or a simple steering wheel over-correction, a swaying trailer is a very scary situation that can cause serious accidents on the road. Fortunately, there is a particular course of action you can take if you are ever faced with a fishtailing trailer; furthermore, there are products available on the market that can help prevent trailer swaying altogether.

Continue reading to learn some common causes of trailer swaying, how you can prevent it, and how to stop it when it’s happening to you.

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Common Causes of Trailer Swaying

If your trailer is connected to a hitch that is located behind the rear axle of your vehicle, it is capable of swaying. Since the hitch is essentially the acting pivot point between the centers of gravity of the trailer and vehicle, any sudden force can send it into a swaying motion if it is stronger than the road tire friction for the drive wheels on your towing vehicle. This can lead to your vehicle to spin out of control or tip over. The same can happen to your trailer.

Additional Causes:

🗸 Crosswinds
🗸 Descending Hills
🗸 Incorrect Braking
🗸 Fast-Passing Large Truck Drafts
🗸 Over-Corrected Steering
🗸 Improperly Loaded Trailer
🗸 Unbalanced Trailer Weight
🗸 Exceeding the Towing Weight of the Hitch

What To Do if Your Trailer Begins to Sway

According to this National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), you should immediately engage your manual brake control override with your hands in the case that your trailer begins to sway. If you apply the towing vehicle or trailer brakes, it will only make the swaying worse, as will speeding up. Attempting to control the movement by turning the steering wheel can make it much worse as well.

Here’s What You Should Do:

➀ Slowly remove your foot from the accelerator to gradually reduce your speed.

➁ Hold on to the steering wheel to keep it straight.

➂ Wait for your vehicle to slow down and for the trailer to reduce swaying motion.

➃ Pull over to a safe spot and re-organize your cargo with more weight at the front.

➄ Continue driving, but at a reduced speed.

➅ Have your hitch inspected for defects and consider having it replaced with a weight distribution model.

➆ Consider having your brake control system upgraded too.

Indianapolis Towing and Roadside Assistance

Indianapolis Towing and Roadside Assistance 317-247-8484

Call Zore’s Towing at 317-247-8484 for prompt and professional towing and roadside assistance, regardless of time or day. Since 1927, we have a provided a wide range of roadside assistance services in Indianapolis and throughout Central Indiana. And for the past 90 years, we have earned a reputation for trusted service at a fair price! Our licensed towing and recovery division retains an extensive fleet of over 35 tow trucks and wrecker equipment, allowing us to assist drivers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year, rain, snow, sleet, or ice.

How is a Towing Service Going to Tow My Vehicle?

Posted on March 8, 2018 by Zores

Continue reading to learn what will likely happen when a tow truck service arrives to haul your vehicle away.

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When you are in need of a tow truck, it is likely that the only thing you can concentrate on is finding a reputable company that can respond quickly to your call; it is unlikely to think about how the tow truck will actually connect and haul away your vehicle. But this consideration may be something of interest depending on the type of car you have.

For instance, larger vehicles may require a flatbed truck, while standard models generally need nothing more than a traditional rig. Appositely, there are various types of wrecker equipment used in the industry, and to make matters better, most companies retain a diverse selection of tow trucks within their own fleets. Accommodating different make and model vehicles is easily achievable in our current industry, including other motorized crafts like boats, tractors, and even airplanes.

Standard Towing Versus Heavy Duty

There are a few different versions of traditional rigs used to tow standard vehicles, from one armed booms and wheel lifts, to roll back designs. Such versions are evident when you see cars raised at the bumper by a hook connected to a boom arm, or a rig pulling a vehicle using a wheel lift.

For heavy towing jobs, a twin, swivel wrecker bed is usually the go-to rig. Twin, swivel wrecker beds are great for heavy-duty towing applications because they give rigs the ability to simultaneously pull in two separate angles, which allow for improved mobility and safety.

Modern wreckers are designed with heavy steel cables and an electrically motorized pulley system, as well as, one or more hydraulic boom arms that operate using hydraulic cylinders, which are fed by a pump in the truck’s engine. These rigs are a very similar, but improved, version of earlier boom arm PTO wrecker models.

If your car is stuck in a ditch or requires lifting for recovery, you can expect a modern rig with a hydraulic wheel lift to come to your assistance. For simple side-of-the-road tows, you can expect a standard, one armed boom and wheel lift truck.

Indianapolis Towing and Roadside Assistance

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Why is My Car Engine Overheating?

Posted on December 15, 2017 by Zores

You’re driving, you see the temperature gauge going up, and you start to panic. This is sound familiar? An overheated engine can be foreseen, but it can also be unexpected. That is because there are several reasons that can cause a car engine to overheat. But overall, the reason why a car engine overheats is because something has obstructed that the cooling system’s ability to absorb, transfer, and dispel heat. Continue reading for a closer look at the common causes of overheating car engines.

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⚙ Improper Coolant

⚙ Cooling System Leaks

If your cooling system has only, it will also cause your car to overheat. Common spots for leaks include hoses, radiator, thermostat housing, head gasket, heater core, water pump, cylinder heads and block, automatic transmission oil cooler, and freeze plugs.

⚙ Obstructed Coolant Lines

When the flow of radiator fluid is obstructed, it can’t do its job. Things like rust, sediment, and dirt can block cooling system lines entirely, or decrease their flow. This of course eliminates the vehicle’s ability to control the temperature of the engine. The solution to this problem would be a routine coolant flush and fill.

⚙ Faulty Thermostat

If your car has a bad thermostat, it can prevent the flow of coolant. The thermostat is a heat-sensitive valve that opens and closes in response to the temperature of the engine. If it gets stuck in the closed position, the cooling is blocked from passing through and doing its job.

⚙ Defective Radiator

When a radiator is not working properly, it can also cause a car engine to the heat. That is because the radiator is where coolant temperature is reduced. When the radiator is defective, and cannot cool down the fluid, thus causing the engine to get too hot. Leaks and clock for the most common radiator problems.

Additional Causes:

➙ Faulty Water Pump
➙ Loose Fan Belt
➙ Broken Fan Belt
➙ Defective Radiator Fan
➙ Worn Hoses
➙ Burst Hoses
➙ Low Coolant

Unexpected Car Engine Troubles?

Zore’s Towing Indianapolis 317-247-8484

Call Zore’s Towing at 317-247-8484 for affordably-priced 24 hour emergency roadside assistance in Indianapolis and its surrounding counties. We offer 24 hour service, 7 days a week and 365 days a year. Regardless of your roadside assistance needs, we are fully-equipped and always on-duty to help. Choose from fuel delivery, lockout service, jump starts, and more. Call 317-247-8484 when you need fast Indianapolis roadside assistance you can trust!