| Roadside Emergencies - Coping With Poor Traction |
From "Car Care Workshop"
episode DCC-102 |
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Getting stuck in mud, snow or ice is a frustrating experience. When it happens, be patient, and carefully assess the situation. Get out of the vehicle and check the source of the problem. Remember that in front-wheel-drive vehicles, the front wheels will be the ones that spin. If you're stuck on ice or snow, avoid spinning the tires, as the friction will melt the surface or pack the snow, making the situation worse. Placing cat litter or sand under the wheels may help you gain traction. A particularly effective traction aid is a strip of asphalt roof-shingle material (figure A). Place the strip rough-side up under the tire that's losing traction. In a pinch, you could use a floormat. If you get stuck in mud, placing gravel or tree branches under the spinning tire may help you out. If you're stuck in sand, you may need to dig yourself free. If you don't have a shovel, a wheel cover can serve as one.
RESOURCES :
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Trouble-Free Car Care
Author: Dan Ramsey
ISBN: 0028635833
Alpha Books
How Cars Work
Author: Tom Newton
ISBN: 0966862309
Publisher: Black Apple Press
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