Emergencies can occur suddenly without warning. If you are prepared to deal with such emergencies you can keep a dangerous situation from becoming a tragedy.

What Actions Can You Take When Your Brakes Fail?

All new cars have a dual service brake system while some cars operate with separate systems for the front and back wheels. Total failure of both systems at once is very unlikely, although partial or temporary brake failure does happen occasionally.

• In Case of Brake Failure

When brake failure occurs the foot brake may have no resistance. The brake pedal may sink to the floor and the brake warning light may come on. Here’s what to do when that happens:

1. Rapidly pumping the brake pedal in so doing may build up pressure in the brake-filled lines providing some braking force. 
2. Shift down to a lower gear to slow the movement of the car.
3. If pumping the brakes doesn’t work, use the parking brake alternately apply and release brake pressure for a smooth stop. Applying the parking brake too abruptly may lock the rear wheels and send the car into a spin.
4. If you still have little or no brake control look for a place to steer against the curb. Scraping the tires against the curb can help reduce speed. 
5. Other ways to slow the car would be to steer into an open area, steering onto an uphill road, and turning the ignition to the off position.
6. If you can’t avoid a collision steer so that you sideswipe an object rather than hit it head-on. Steer into bushes or scrape along a guardrail or parked cars rather than move toward pedestrians or occupied vehicles. 
7. If your car has power brakes, engine failure or a broken drive belt may cause brake malfunction. If that’s the case, your brakes will still work but you’ll have to press harder on the pedal.

• Other Brake Problems

If you apply your brakes hard for a long time you could overheat them and cause “brake fade,” a kind of temporary brake failure, to help prevent this shift to a lower gear before starting down the slope. You can also pull off the road to let your brakes cool.

Driving at normal speeds through deep puddles or on flooded roadways can make your brakes wet and lead to temporary brake failure. To dry your brakes, drive slowly with your left foot gently on the brake pedal. The friction will produce heat that will dry the brakes.

How Can You Respond to Engine Failures?

Engine failure occurs more often than any other kind of car failure due to a broken timing gear, a fuel system problem, lack of fuel, an electrical system malfunction, or problems caused by extreme heat or cold.

• If Your Car’s Engine Stalls

If your car’s engine stalls (stop suddenly) while you are driving, check traffic around you and determine the best point to leave the roadway. Signal, then steer off the road or to the curb as quickly as possible keeping in mind that the brakes and steering will still work but will be much harder to operate. Use firm, steady pressure on the brakes and once you are off the roadway, shift to Neutral, and try to restart the engine. 

If the engine won’t start make sure your flashers are on and raise the hood. Place warning triangles 100 feet in front and behind your car. Put your emergency flashers on and wait for help.

• If You Flood the Engine

If you operate an older car with a carburetor and pump the accelerator pedal too much when trying to start your car, too much gas and not enough air may be supplied to the engine. The result is a flooded engine that won’t start. When your engine is flooded you can often smell gas. 

To start a flooded engine, press the accelerator pedal all the way to the floor and hold it there. At the same time, turn the ignition switch on and hold it for 5 to 10 seconds and release it all the way back then switch the ignition switch back on again and it should start. 

• If the Engine Overheats

Your engine may overheat for various reasons: driving in slow moving traffic during hot weather with the air conditioning running, driving up long, steep hills, a loose or broken fan belt, a broken water pump or hose, not having enough coolant or antifreeze in the cooling system, a stuck or broken thermostat or a clogged radiator.

When engine temperature is too high, the temperature gauge or warning light on your instrument panel indicates that the engine is overheating. If your engine overheats, follow these steps: 

1. Turn off all accessories, especially the air conditioner, and turn on the heater to draw heat from the engine.  
2. If the temperature gauge continues to show hot or the warning light stays on, signal and pull off the road. Raise the hood, let the engine cool, and get professional help.
3. If there is no stream or smoke coming from the engine, carefully open the hood and look for such problems as a broken hose or belt. 
4. When the engine has cooled completely, check the fluid level in the radiator overflow tank. If the fluid level is low, you need to add coolant. Start the engine, and let it run at idle speed as you add the coolant.  

• If the Engine is Wet

If you drive through water your car’s engine may get wet and start to sputter and stall. If your engine gets wet and stalls, steer off the road and turn off the ignition. Wait a few minutes, keeping the hood closed to let the heat of the engine compartment dry out the moisture. Then try to restart the engine. If it doesn’t start, the engine may need more time to dry, try speeding up the process by raising the hood. 

What Actions Can You Take When Your Steering Fails?

Two kinds of steering failure are possible: power-assist failure and total steering failure. 

• If Power Steering Fails

When power steering fails, your steer wheel suddenly becomes very difficult to turn. If your car’s power steering fails, grip the steering wheel firmly and turn it with more force. Check surrounding traffic, signal, and when it’s safe to do so, steer off the road and stop. Have a mechanic check your steering system as soon as you possibly can. 

• Total Steering Failure

Sudden and total steering failure is a rare occurrence. If a breakdown in either the steering or suspension systems does happen your ability to control your car will be drastically reduced. 

In case of total steering failure, bring the car to a stop as quickly and safely as you can by using the parking brake not the foot brake. Stepping on the foot brake might cause your car to pull sharply to one side. Just as when responding to brake failure, keep hold of the parking brake handle to avoid locking the rear wheels and going into a spin then downshift.