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.

Indianapolis Towing & Recovery 317-247-8484

Long Distance Driving Tips for Summer

Posted on June 11, 2019 by Zores

If you have a summer road trip planned, be sure you are prepared to take on the road, safely and efficiently. Continue reading to learn the top tips for driving long distances.

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Road Trip Safety

Long distance driving can come with many risks and dangers. This is especially true since you cannot trust what other drivers around you do on the road. With this in mind, it is wise to review how you can be a safer, better driver when crossing the state borders with friends and family. Whether you are loading up the family for a road trips to the beach, or getting ready for a cross-country visit to Grandma’s house, there are many things you can do to make the drive safer and more convenient, for yourself and your passengers.

Here are some of the most recommended long distance driving tips to consider when planning your summer road trip:

🚗 Diagnostics and Maintenance

Before taking any road trip that requires long distance driving, your first priority is to ensure your vehicle is up for the job. Have your mechanic inspect and service your ride before hitting the road. You do not want to find yourself on the side of the road with an overheating engine or in a storm with broken windshield wipers.

📲 Cartography Basics

It is helpful to both your time and patience to map out your route ahead of time. It also helps to map out secondary routes in case you run into road construction, backups, and perhaps some attractions you want to stop and see. Be sure to download your route on Google maps on your smart phone in case you find yourself without any WIFI or reception. This way, you have your map at all times.

💽 Entertainment

When you set out on a long-distance road trip, there is not much entertainment you can provide yourself as the driver; after all, your priority is the road. However, there are still things you can do to make the trip more comfortable and convenient, and therefore, more efficient. Include coolers with snacks and drinks, music, blankets, pillows, phone and tablet chargers, and a comfortable seat cushion. Also, be sure you have a medical kit and a roadside emergency kit on hand.

Additional Tips:

⛿ Map out gas stations and schedule stops so you never run out of fuel.

⛿ Map out rest stops and take breaks along the way.

⛿ Avoid driving long distances alone.

MOST IMPORTANTLY: Never drive fatigued or under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Long Distance Towing and 24 Hour Roadside Assistance

If you find yourself in a jam while on your road trip, trust Zore’s Towing for help anytime! Call us at 317-247-8484 for prompt, 24 hour towing and roadside assistance in Indianapolis and throughout Central Indiana. 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.

The Benefits of Property Management Towing Services

Posted on May 31, 2019 by Zores

Are you a property owner who is dealing with unauthorized or illegal parking on your commercial complex? Or maybe you want to provide your guests and staff with safe and convenient parking lot and roadside assistance? If so, a property management plan is exactly what you need.

Continue reading to learn what property management towing and roadside assistance services can do for you, and how to get started.

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Property Management Towing and Roadside Assistance

Commercial property owners often have to deal with unregistered, illegally parked, or abandoned vehicles on their private lots. Furthermore, many companies want to have convenient cost-free solutions arranged for their guests, clients, customers, and employees in the case of a roadside emergency.

For these reasons and more, you may want to consider incorporating a property management plan into your company’s daily operations. Check out some of the most common property management towing services you can expect, below.

Primary Property Management Services:

⛔ Parking Lot Violation Tows

⛔ Reserved Parking Tows

⛔ Handicap Parking Tows

⛔ Unauthorized Parking Tows

⛔ Overnight Parking Tows

⛔ Abandoned Vehicle Tows

⛔ Fire Lane Tows

⛔ Collision Tows

⛔ Breakdown Tows

⛔ 24 Hour Tows and Roadside Assistance

Choose Zore’s for Property Management in Indiana

Call Zore’s Towing at 317-247-8484 to learn about our property management towing services and options. Our fully-trained and certified tow truck operators provide a wide range of towing and recovery services for property management purposes, including all-inclusive 24 hour roadside assistance and towing for guests, patrons, and employees at no additional cost to them, as well as, 24/7 towing for parking lot violations like fire lane parking, illegal use of handicap spaces, abandoned vehicles, and more. And when we tow unauthorized vehicles from your lot, THERE IS NEVER AN ADDITIONAL COST TO YOU! Instead, all fees are the vehicle owners’ responsibility.

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.

24 Hour Roadside Assistance in Indianapolis

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How to Test Tire Tread Using a Penny

Posted on February 11, 2019 by Zores

In last month’s blog, we discuss several methods of tire maintenance and care. You learned that colder temperatures cause tires to lose more air, thus requiring them to be inflated more frequently in the winter season. It is important to regularly check tire pressure to ensure that your vehicle is operating as safely and efficiently as possible. Furthermore, it is important that your tires have sufficient tread in order to maintain proper traction and maneuverability on the road. Not sure what good tire tread looks like? Just implement the age-old tire treat penny test!

Continue reading to learn how to use a penny to determine the condition of your tire’s tread.

Tire Tread Inspections

You can surely find a penny anywhere. If not in your home, certainly in your cup holder, glove box, pocket or purse, or even on the street! What we mean to convey is, pennies are not hard to come by, making them the perfect and most convenient automotive tool you can have on hand. So how can a penny give you vital information about the quality and condition of your tires? The answer has to do with the size of a penny. But before you can understand this, you must first learn how to implement the tire tread penny test.

Tire Tread Penny Test:

Vertically insert a penny in between two grooves of your tire so that the penny’s face is looking straight ahead.

Inspect Lincoln’s head position. If you can see Lincoln’s face, your tread is low, and you likely need new tires. If you cannot see the President’s head, your tire tread is still in good condition.

Consequences of Low Tire Tread

If you discover that your tire tread is low, it is wise to start thinking about tire replacement. Otherwise, you can be putting yourself and the mechanical operations of your vehicle, at risk. Not only do low tread tires have little traction on the road, they also cause slow or unpredictable braking operations. In wet conditions, low tire tread can cause your vehicle to spin out of control, or veer off the road. Furthermore, low tread causes reduced fuel efficiency, costing you more money in gasoline.

Need Emergency Tire Assistance?

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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.

Top 4 Signs of a Faulty Alternator

Posted on January 11, 2019 by Zores

As a local company that provides 24 hour roadside assistance, we get a lot of calls for jump starts. And on several occasions, what seems to be a dead battery issue is actual an alternator one. Our customer’s discover that their vehicle doesn’t need a jump start, but rather, a tow to the nearest auto shop for alternator repair.

Symptoms of a failing alternator often disguise themselves as something else, which is why it is important to always consult a professional for all of your automotive maintenance, repair, and recovery needs. If you suspect that your vehicle is having problems with its ignition, electrical systems, or battery, it could very well all be a result of a faulty alternator.

Continue reading to learn the top 4 signs of a failing alternator, as well as, how to contact us for emergency roadside assistance.

❶ Dead Battery

When an alternator is not functioning properly, it will quickly drain all of the battery capacity. As a result, the battery will die every time you drive your vehicle. This leads many people to mistakenly believe an alternator issue is a dead battery one. If this sounds like your car, you may think you need a jump start, when really you need your alternator repaired or replaced.

❷ Electrical Malfunctions

One of the most common signs that a car alternator is failing is electrical malfunctioning. This applies to lights, power seats and windows, stereos, navigation systems, and any other components powered by electricity. If you notice that your power seats are moving too slowly, your lights are dimmed or flickering, or your radio shuts off and on, it could be due to a failing alternator. An illuminated check engine, ALT,” or a battery icon indicator is another tell-tale sign.

❸ Strange Sounds

If your car makes strange noises while idling or driving, be sure to listen closely for sounds that indicate an alternator problem. If you hear squealing, grinding, or growl-like noises, it could be due to a faulty alternator. Most often, these sounds are caused by loosened or over-stretched serpentine belts, which cannot provide sufficient charge.

❹ Stalling Engine

If an alternator is not working properly, the fuel injection cannot not get the amount of electrical power needed to operate the engine, causing a vehicle to shut off instantly in the middle of driving. If this has happened to you more than once, you may be in need of alternator repair or replacement.

How to Get in Touch With Us

Indianapolis Towing & Roadside Assistance 317-247-8484

Call Zore’s Towing at 317-247-8484 for safe and affordable Indianapolis tow truck and roadside services you can trust. Our licensed and insured towing operators provide punctual and prompt tow truck services, 24 hours a day and 7 days a week! We also provide numerous community services, roadside assistance services, wrecker and recovery services, and much more. Call 317-247-8484 to request a free estimate, anytime!

What To Do if You Drive into a Ditch

Posted on December 27, 2018 by Zores

If you drive into a ditch, there is a specific set of guidelines you should follow, regardless of your location or the time of day. Continue reading to learn the first 4 tasks to cover after driving into a ditch, including how to get out safely.

First and Foremost: SAFETY

Your first priority should always be safety. This is especially true for busy streets and highways. First, take a look at yourself and your passengers to confirm whether or not injuries were incurred during the slide off. If someone is hurt, including yourself, contact 911 emergency services immediately.

If no one is hurt, put your parking brake on to prevent further sliding or movement. Do not step out of your car until you are sure there is not oncoming traffic. In fact, it is wise to get out of the passenger door (or whichever door does not face the street).

Sometimes, you do not need to get out of the car if it can simply be driven back onto the road. But for larger and steeper ditches, driving out might present more of a challenge. In this case, move onto the next guideline below.

Second: Change the Load Weight

If your car is not driving out of the ditch, you may need to alter the load weight. This means changing around your cargo to allow better inertia. If you do not have much cargo, then this may not be a necessary step. If you do have cargo, take out as much as you can, and then try to drive out of the ditch, Lighter weight sometimes helps give a vehicle the boost it needs. On the other hand, if you are stuck in snow or mud, more weight is better.

Third: Improve Traction

Things like rock, gravel, sand, and dirt can make your tires spin in place, rather than spring you from the ditch. If this is your problem, try adding some extra traction behind each tire. Use anything that can work, including floor mats, wood boards, cardboard, paper, and even clothing. For front wheel drive vehicles, place the items in the front of the tires.

Fourth: Call for Roadside Assistance

If none of the above methods work for you, your best option is to call a 24 hour roadside assistance service for prompt and professional towing recovery. They have the resources to pull your car out of a ditch, safely and conveniently.

Who to Trust for Dependable 24 Hour Roadside Assistance

Indianapolis Towing & Roadside Assistance 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.

Types of Customers We Serve at Zore’s Towing

Posted on December 10, 2018 by Zores

Here at Zore’s Towing, we serve a wide range of customers with our extensive fleet of tow trucks and recovery vehicles. Continue below to view all the different types of customers we serve, and see just where you fit on the list!

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👫 Single Customers

Whether you are a vehicle owner, renter, leaser, or somewhere in between, Zore’s Towing provides individual towing and recovery services for anyone in the state. When you have a car accident, we can provide the towing and clearance services in a moment’s notice. If you need to transport a vehicle or large commodity across the city or state, we have the fleet to manage your cargo safely. We also provide 24 hour roadside assistance for flat tires, lockouts, no fuel, and more!

🚚 Commercial Accounts

Commercial accounts are another big part of who we serve here at Zore’s Towing. Such clientele primarily includes large commercial trucking companies who require 24 hour roadside assistance for breakdowns, emergencies, recoveries, and more. We know how impactful it can be having a commercial truck out of service, which is why we promptly manage such cases with your bottom line in mind!

🏢 Private Property Customers

Anyone who owns private real estate, whether commercial or residential, does not want abandoned vehicles or illegally parked cars on their premises. This is where Zore’s Towing can help. We are on call, 24 hours a day and 7 days a week, to assist private property owners with unwanted vehicle removal. We retain comprehensive knowledge of all local and state statutes and legal requirements, allowing us to provide safe and secure property management services.

🚓 Government Contracts

Zore’s Towing retains comprehensive knowledge of all evidentiary and local government requirements. This allows us to work alongside various fire and law enforcement departments and government agencies to provide vehicle impound and transportation services, city and state training and safety programs, traffic incident management (TIM) services, controlled rolls, water recovery, wrecker service, and more. We are also involved with several community services and work closely with the Hoosier Helper Tool.

🚙 Automotive Repair Shops

It is common practice for auto repair shops to get customers who need to have their car towed to their lot. In such cases, many automotive shops choose Zore’s Towing for their on-call towing account. With a wide fleet of tow trucks available 24 hours a day, we are always prepared to get your customer’s vehicles to you as soon as possible, regardless of their car’s condition or location. We serve all of Indianapolis, as well as, all areas within Central Indiana.

🏆 Motor Clubs

Another valued towing client includes Motor Clubs. All those fancy cars you see at shows and exhibits are not usually driven to their destination. In order to retain the aesthetic and mechanical integrity of specialty cars, careful transportation is required. Here at Zore’s Towing, local motor clubs know that we retain the proper fleet of flatbed tow trucks to safely transport exotic and high-valued vehicles, safely and efficiently.

Your Indiana Towing and Recovery Service

Indianapolis Towing & Roadside Assistance 317-247-8484

Call Zore’s Inc. at 317-247-8484 for friendly 24 hour towing and recovery in 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.

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!

Zore’s Towing Indianapolis 317-247-8484

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!