Buy, maintain, and handle car emergencies with cost estimates, maintenance schedules, and roadside problem-solving.
| Situation | Action |
|---|---|
| Buying a car | Check buying.md for price negotiation, inspection checklist, financing |
| Maintenance due or warning light | Check maintenance.md for schedules, DIY vs mechanic, symptom diagnosis |
| Breakdown or accident | Check emergencies.md for immediate steps, who to call, documentation |
| Road trip planning | Pre-trip checklist below, then emergencies.md for kit and what-ifs |
Before any long drive:
| Light | Severity | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Check engine (steady) | Medium | Safe to drive, diagnose within days |
| Check engine (flashing) | Critical | Stop driving, call tow |
| Oil pressure | Critical | Stop immediately, check oil level |
| Temperature/coolant | Critical | Pull over, let engine cool, check coolant |
| Battery | Medium | Drive to shop, may have 30-60 min before stall |
| ABS | Low | Brakes work, but ABS disabled — drive carefully |
| Tire pressure | Low | Check and inflate soon |
Before approving any repair, verify the quote:
Common repairs (USD):
| Situation | Reference |
|---|---|
| Buying new or used, financing, negotiation | buying.md |
| Maintenance schedules, DIY repairs, diagnostics | maintenance.md |
| Accidents, breakdowns, insurance claims | emergencies.md |