Service Spotlights Archives - Ontario Towing Service

Preventative Maintenance To Avoid Breakdowns

Dealing with a vehicle breakdown is a dreadful situation that no one likes to find themselves involved in. Your vehicle may break down unexpectedly, causing panic and chaos. A vehicle breakdown can creep up out of nowhere and can spoil all your driving plans in a second. A major reason for most car breakdowns is that most vehicle owners forget about preventive maintenance, while some are unsure of what needs to be done to keep their vehicle in a decent condition. Therefore, the majority of these vehicle owners end up overlooking basic maintenance. Overlooking the basic maintenance of your vehicle may lead to a vehicle breakdown, especially when you least expect it. Most times, you may even end up waiting on the side of the road for help from a certified towing company. Also Read: Tips For Choosing The Right Towing Company In Ottawa However, you can avoid all this hassle by learning more about basic maintenance and taking preventive measures. These preventative measures will help you minimize the chances of a vehicle breakdown and potentially save you a lot of resources, such as your money and time. This blog post outlines some of the basic preventative maintenance measures you can take to avoid a vehicle breakdown.

Check The Battery

The first step of preventive maintenance is to check your battery. The majority of breakdowns happen due to the vehicle’s battery. Therefore, you should always check your battery before going out to save yourself from the hassle of a vehicle breakdown. Keep in mind that the batteries should be changed every 4-5 years. This will help you avoid jump-starting your battery whenever the weather gets cold. Moreover, when you closely inspect your battery, you may see corrosion on its terminals. Corrosion on your battery terminals is a serious issue, as it can cause the electrical connections to fail. This is also one of the main culprits of a vehicle breakdown. You can clean the corrosion off yourself, but it is always better to get help from a professional mechanic. If the build-up of the corrosion is not much, you can most likely clean it at home by yourself. However, in case there is a lot of corrosion, we highly recommend using the help of a certified mechanic. Regular inspection and cleaning of your battery terminals will ensure that the terminal and connections of your vehicle remain in good working condition. So, be sure to check your vehicle’s battery frequently to keep your car in good condition and avoid vehicle breakdowns. If you ever need battery replacement, certified towing companies like Ontario Towing can provide same-day battery replacement services. Wherever your vehicle is parked, you can get your battery replaced by us.

Check The Coolant Level

Another crucial step in preventative maintenance is to check your vehicle’s coolant level. Your engine will overheat if your vehicle’s coolant level is low; thus, often leading to a vehicle breakdown. Therefore, make sure to check your vehicle’s coolant levels often to maintain your car’s good condition.

Rust Prevention

Another critical step in preventative maintenance is rust prevention. It is important to keep your vehicle rust-free as rust can eat away the metal body of your vehicle and weaken your exhaust system mounts. To avoid rust on your vehicle, we highly recommend washing your vehicle regularly and keeping all the snow and salt off it.

Final Word

If your vehicle breaks down despite following the aforementioned steps, there is no need to worry. There are towing companies that will help you in such times. You can call a certified towing company to come and help get you and your vehicle back on the road.

About Ontario Towing

At Ontario Towing, We provide an extensive range of towing services, ranging from expert flatbed hauling to local and long-distance towing services throughout Ottawa and surrounding areas. We offer reliable tow trucks at affordable rates to ensure secure and satisfied towing and recovery services. We also offer reliable and expert roadside assistance services to our customers in Ottawa, Kanata, Orleans, Gloucester, Barrhaven, and surrounding areas. We have the professionally trained staff and state-of-the-art equipment to deliver nothing but the best. Contact Us now to get the best and most reliable towing and roadside assistance services. Driving in Ottawa just got safer with Ontario Towing’s trusted services. Their newest initiative, Ottawa’s Roadside Assistance, promises even faster response times and specialized care, reaffirming their commitment to keeping Ottawa’s roads worry-free.

Different Types Of Tow Trucks

A vehicle breakdown when you least expect it is challenging and frustrating. Depending on the location where your car has broken down, you might have to call for towing services or roadside assistance. Apart from towing broken down vehicles, tow trucks are used to transport impounded, disabled, improperly parked, and scrapped motor vehicles from one point to another. Tow trucks are also used to recover damaged vehicles in an accident. They safely tow these vehicles from the accident area to a repair workshop. You call these towing companies whenever you are stuck in the middle of the road with a broken car and they help you get your vehicle to the automobile repair center. There are several different types of tow trucks available, and depending on your needs and situation, it is essential to choose one that works for your vehicle.

Flatbed Tow Truck

This is one of the most widely and commonly used types of towing vehicles in the world. A flatbed truck has a long empty bed with a flat top. They have hydraulics that move the flatbed upwards and downwards. What makes flatbed trucks easy to use is that you can simply drive your vehicle up the ramp, or have it pulled up. They are mostly used to transport damaged vehicles. One of the best things about flatbed tow trucks is that it keeps cars entirely off the ground. Flatbed towing is more like carrying the vehicle than towing it. They are also called tilt trays, slide, and rollback trucks.

Boom Tow Truck

A boom truck is equipped with a hydraulic arm that is called the boom. It uses that hydraulic arm to tow vehicles. This boom reaches out past the end of the vehicle, and grabs the vehicle that needs to be towed. Heavy-duty boom trucks are like a smaller version of cranes. Some boom trucks have a fixed boom whereas some have adjustable and moveable hydraulic arms. Older boom tow trucks used the traditional hook and chain method to tow a vehicle. But now the latest boom trucks use a belt and slings to tow vehicles which is a bit safer method.

Wheel-lift Tow Truck

A wheel-lift tow truck uses a mechanism similar to the hook and chain method. The only difference is that they use a metal yoke instead of a chain which minimizes the risk of damaging the vehicle. The metal yoke goes under the front wheels of the vehicle and lifts the vehicle. The truck tows the car while the back wheels remain on the ground. Since no chain is in place, there is much less chance the front bumper will get damaged.

Integrated Tow Truck

An integrated truck uses two mechanisms. When a boom and wheel-lift are combined we get an integrated tow truck. Integrated trucks are used for small purposes where a full boom truck may not be necessary. They are also called self-loaders because the integrated trucks can control the interior of the vehicle. This way operators can tow the vehicle without even exiting the tow truck. Integrated trucks can also be used for heavy-duty towing, as the arms of these trucks are heavily embedded into the core of the vehicle, which makes them more capable and stable.

Final Word

Tow trucks can be classified into different categories depending upon their sizes, power, function, and capacity. Now that you have a better understanding of what the different tow truck types are, you can decide which one you may need. If you ever need a tow truck you need to explain the whole situation clearly and ask for the towing truck that fits your needs.

About Ontario Towing

Ontario Towing is known for its professionalism in providing the best roadside assistance services. We have experienced staff who work day and night to ensure customer safety and ease. For more information visit our website or contact us today. Ontario Towing, an Ottawa-based firm, excels in premium towing, car lockout, and adept roadside assistance. Their wide-ranging solutions, from on-the-spot tire services to gas deliveries, consistently serve Ottawa and its surrounding territories.

6 Reasons You Need Roadside Assistance For Your Vehicle

Vehicle breakdowns and other similar issues can occur unexpectedly. Becoming stranded on the road due to a vehicle breakdown can be stressful. This is why it is important to make sure that you have an emergency contact number of a trusted roadside assistance company near you. Roadside assistance offers various services such as jump-starting, repairing flat tires, dead batteries, empty gas tanks, towing, and more. Many people often ignore the importance of such roadside assistance, but there are many reasons for which you need it. This blog post mentions some important reasons why you should get roadside assistance for your car.

What Is Roadside Assistance?

Roadside assistance is the provision of services available to you in the case of a car breakdown on the road. It includes services for flat tires, dead batteries, vehicle towing, jump-starting, and more. Other services might also include car lock-out and winching.

Reasons For You To Get Roadside Assistance

Roadside assistance brings about tremendous ease and comfort when you are stuck on a highway with no other help nearby. Some benefits of hiring a roadside assistance service are as follows:

Prompt Rescue

Most reliable roadside assistance services, such as Ontario Towing, give instant recovery services and roadside assistance. This is especially helpful when you are on a highway, as highway patrol sometimes takes forever to reach your point. Roadside assistance service providers are equipped with the latest tools and technology to track your exact location and reach the spot in no time.

Safety

Roadside assistance services provide you with a safe environment as they come to rescue you on time. Car breakdowns can happen anywhere. Having a roadside assistance company on call is the safest way to get out of any situation quickly.

Budget-Friendly

Roadside assistance services can save you from the hassle of searching for the right mechanic in a short time. Roadside assistance is a cost-effective way of getting the services that you need for your vehicle. You will be saved from overpaying and untrustworthy mechanics that might take advantage of your situation and charge you more.

The Right Expertise

Most mechanics on the road are non-professionals who don’t understand the vehicle’s structure and end up doing something more problematic. You should never hand over your car to them as they are always looking for such customers from whom they can make some money. A professional roadside assistance service will provide you with the right expertise for your situation and send the best mechanics to you. Giving you the satisfaction that your vehicle is in the right hands.

Peace Of Mind

Apart from having your problems solved sooner, you get peace of mind with the roadside assistance providers. You know that you have hired someone who knows how to do their job. Roadside service providers often have to do a lot of work for other customers as well. So, they won’t waste their time pretending to do something with your car. They’ll figure out what is wrong with your car and repair it as soon as possible.

Numerous Services

A major drawback of relying on a local mechanic is that they don’t offer different vehicle solutions. Most of them are experts in a particular problem. However, roadside assistance provides a set of services. This saves you the time and effort from having to search for relevant services as roadside assistance providers can help you with almost any problem.

About Ontario Towing

Ontario Towing is known for its professionalism in providing the best roadside assistance services. We are currently serving our customers in Ottawa and surrounding areas. Contact us for more information. Ontario Towing, nestled in Ottawa, specializes in elite towing, timely car lockout resolutions, and unparalleled roadside support. Their expansive offerings, from immediate tire services to broad-ranging tows, make them indispensable for Ottawa and its adjacent locales.

6 Reasons Why Your New Car Battery Keeps Dying

If you leave your car sit for a few months it should come as no surprise that it may not turn on when you go to start it. This could be the result of a dead battery. However, you can still face the same issue even if you have a brand new car or you are driving your car regularly. Thus, you end up with no choice except to contact the nearest emergency roadside assistance company to solve the issue. The question arises what exactly might be causing your battery to die in the first place? There could be many reasons why your car battery is drained. You can contact local car boosting service providers for assistance. But knowing what exactly is causing the problem will help you avoid a car breakdown on a cold winter morning in Ontario. Here is a list of some of the common reasons for a depleted battery.

You Leave Your Headlights On

Getting off work, the only thing going through your mind is reaching home and relaxing after a long day. So you forget to turn your headlights off or close the door properly before leaving your car. When you try to start the car in the morning, you find that your battery has died. That’s because once the engine is off, all the electronics in your car are charged by the battery. Something as small as a dome light can drain your battery preventing your car from starting the next morning. A simple way to solve this problem is to make sure that your battery is charged.

Something Is Causing A ‘Parasitic Draw’

A turned on accessory can cause your battery to die. But what if all the accessories are off and you still cannot start your engine? This could mean that you have a faulty wire in your car that is depleting your battery without any apparent problem. This is called a parasitic draw. In a running car an alternator charges your battery but when the car is turned off your battery is not being charged. This can be fixed by jumpstarting your car. You can contact your local car boosting service to repair the faulty wiring to avoid experiencing the same problem again.

Loose Battery Connections

A disconnected battery means your car won’t start. The batteries connectors can jostle loose sometimes or terminals might corrode. This will either cause the engine to shut down completely or the battery won’t fully transmit power. To solve this problem tighten your connectors. However, corrosion related problems require you to clean the battery regularly. Doing this will ensure that your battery is charged properly.

Harsh Weather Conditions

Freezing cold winters and the boiling heat of summer can cause problems with your car’s battery. New batteries are more resistant to extreme temperatures. But sometimes even a new battery can succumb to extreme temperature changes. This will either weaken the overall performance or cause it to die completely. If you notice that your battery is experiencing a performance issue, you can contact your nearest car service provider to help you diagnose and solve the problem.

Battery Is Not Charging

You can’t rely on your battery to start your engine if its alternator is not functioning properly. Your battery needs an alternator to keep it charged up. If your alternator isn’t working, it can’t power your battery effectively. You might be able to save some money by replacing a small part of the alternator called the diode. But if the problem continues to resurface then you might have to replace your battery completely.

Frequent Short Trips

The alternator charges the battery while your engine is running. But if you drive short distances frequently, then the alternator won’t have enough time to properly charge the battery. This will eventually shorten the battery’s lifespan in the long run. Taking longer trips will allow the battery to reach its maximum charging capacity.

Things To Keep In Mind

While exiting your car, always make sure to turn off all accessories and lock the car doors. Check your battery connectors regularly to make sure they aren’t loose. If you continue to experience problems with your car’s battery, call your local car service provider.

About Ontario Towing Service

At Ontario Towing, we provide fast and efficient emergency battery jump start and dead battery replacement services around the clock throughout Ottawa and the surrounding region. Visit our website to learn more about us or contact us for personalized service. Centrally based in Ottawa, Ontario Towing stands out with cost-effective, expert towing and roadside assistance. Our suite, from flatbeds to far-reaching hauls, underscores our commitment to vehicle security and unparalleled service in the capital’s realm.