In the scenic city of Ottawa, where urban streets meet picturesque trails, driving is both a necessity and a pleasure. However, a sudden vehicle breakdown can quickly turn a serene drive into a stressful ordeal. By adhering to a few essential maintenance tips, you can minimize the risk of unexpected breakdowns and the ensuing call to a tow truck. Here’s how to ensure that your journeys in and around Ottawa remain smooth.
The Importance of Regular Check-ups
Just as regular health check-ups can prevent major ailments, periodic vehicle inspections can help identify and address potential issues before they escalate. Tire Tales: Keeping them Inflated and Inspected Tires are your vehicle’s only contact point with the road. Ensuring they’re in top condition is vital, especially considering Ottawa’s varying terrains and weather conditions.- Pressure Point: Check tire pressure monthly. Over or under-inflated tires can affect fuel efficiency, handling, and overall tire lifespan.
- Tread Lightly: Inspect the tread depth. If it’s too shallow, it might be time for replacements to ensure adequate grip, especially during Ottawa’s icy winters.
Fluid Mechanics: Keeping Your Vehicle Hydrated
Ottawa’s temperature fluctuations can be hard on your vehicle. Regularly checking and replenishing essential fluids can prevent many common issues.- Oil’s Well: Change engine oil at intervals recommended by your vehicle manufacturer. Clean oil ensures engine longevity and optimum performance.
- Cool Runnings: Ensure the coolant level is adequate, especially before summer’s heat hits.
- Wipe Away Worries: With unpredictable rain and snow in Ottawa, keep your windshield washer fluid topped up for clear vision.
Battery Basics: Ensuring Continuous Power A dead battery is one of the most common reasons for breakdowns, especially in Ottawa’s cold climate.
- Charge Check: Periodically test your battery’s charge. If it’s consistently low, it might be nearing its end.
- Corrosion Cautions: Inspect battery terminals for corrosion. Clean them regularly to ensure a proper connection.
Braking Down Brake Issues Ensuring your vehicle’s braking system is in prime condition is crucial for safety on Ottawa’s roads.
- Feeling the Fade: If your brakes feel spongy or if the car pulls to one side when braking, it’s time for an inspection.
- Listen Closely: A high-pitched squeal when braking typically indicates worn-out brake pads.
Belt & Hose Health: Keep Them Tight and Right
Belt and hose failures can lead to a host of engine problems.- Crack Check: Regularly inspect belts and hoses for signs of wear, such as cracks or fraying. Replace them at the first sign of deterioration.
- Stay Secure: Ensure belts are snug and not slipping, which can lead to overheating and battery issues.
Lights On: Keeping Visibility Optimal
Driving in Ottawa, with its early winter sunsets, requires ensuring your vehicle’s lights are always functional.- Bright Idea: Regularly check all lights – headlights, taillights, brake lights, and turn signals. Replace dim or burnt-out bulbs promptly.
- Clear Sight: Clean your headlights. Overtime, they can become foggy, reducing visibility.
Towing a vehicle may seem easy but it is actually a very difficult and challenging task. It often appears simple because of the powerful and huge tow trucks that most towing companies use but the real task is to safely load the vehicle on the tow truck without damaging the vehicle.
Towing can quickly turn into a dangerous task especially if you are not working with a professional towing company.
Just like others, you would never want your vehicle to get damaged during the process of loading, and you will also not want to hurt yourself while your car is being unloaded or towed.
Towing another vehicle or a huge object is not something that everyone can do and therefore should be left in the hands of professional towing companies.
This is because 
For a burgeoning off-roader getting stuck is quite common. From an off-chamber obstacle of uselessly spinning tires in the air to a gravitational pull towards a muddy or sloppy pit, you face several dangerous situations while off-roading. No matter how careful you are, physics, and limitations of friction will surely get you at some point.
Getting stuck in the mud or sand can be quite frustrating. Fortunately, there are several ways you can get out of the situation. The easiest and safest way is to call your roadside assistance provider. Ontario Towing is always ready to lend a helping hand whenever you are stuck or need any type of emergency roadside assistance.
However, in some areas getting professional roadside assistance is practically impossible. Don’t worry, there are still many ways through which you can get your car unstuck on your own. The following blog enlists some of the ways you can try to get your car out of the mud, snow, or stand.
Has your car been sheltering in your driveway for months due to one reason or another? Whether you were too busy to take your car out or didn’t have anywhere to go, it is important to understand that your vehicle can develop a bunch of costly issues if you don’t exercise its motors every now and then.
Experts say that even if you don’t have anywhere to go, you should drive your car for at least 20 minutes each week. This will help keep its battery charged and prevent rust from building up on the brakes and calipers from seizing up.
Some of the most typical problems that your car could develop if you were to leave it unattended for a few months include:
One thing you can never be certain about is the ever-changing Canadian weather. Especially during winter, when bright, sunny morning skies can turn into nights of snowstorms. Highways and roads are usually covered in inches of snow or frost during the bitter weather conditions of winter. These slippery roads reduce the friction between your vehicle’s tires and the road’s surface, which can cause your car or truck to go off-road.
Vehicles that become stuck in the snow, mud, sand, or a ditch after going off-road is a common occurrence. Even experienced drivers can be caught off guard under such extreme driving conditions. A single mistake can lead to dangerous situations that can cause injuries or fatalities. This is especially true when you are driving on poorly lit roads with multiple twists and turns.
In this situation, contacting a local car 
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.
When your vehicle breaks down during your journey, and you cannot move it any further, the situation is worrisome. Calling a nearby towing company can help you get back on the road safely. Once you have contacted the professionals, there is no need to worry. Some of the reasons why you can relax after contacting the towing experts are discussed below.
You get in your car hurriedly because you are late to get somewhere. You turn your keys only to discover that your car is not starting. This can be quite a frustrating situation when you want to go somewhere but can’t. It is even worse when you are far from your home, or somewhere in the middle of the road.
There can be many reasons why your car won’t start. This blog post will address those issues and guide you on how you can fix them. If you ever find yourself in such a situation, you can always contact 
Most of us have experienced a car blowout or a flat tire at some point in our lives. A vehicle blowout is a highly unfortunate event that no one would ever want to deal with. It can happen to you in the middle of the road anywhere, at any time. When it happens, call an emergency mobile tire service for immediate assistance.
Although there’s no guaranteed method to prevent a vehicle tire burst; still, it’s essential to know about the possible causes of an automobile blowout. The following are some of the common reasons for a flat tire that might help you avoid this issue in the future: