What to do if your car breaks down? I have an idea.

On Friday I was driving home from work and I had this weird feeling that the car was about to die on me. This is probably because a week earlier I ran out of gas and had to coast to a parking lot near my house. You're probably thinking to yourself that I am somewhat irresponsible to run out of gas - people don't do that anymore do they?  All the newfangled digital readouts in today's cars should help us avoid all that, right?

Well, I have a 2000 Jeep and, yes, it tells me when to get gas.  Unfortunately, on the day I ran out of gas, the fancy computer told me I had 42 miles left in the tank.  What's a guy to do?

So, that lingering feeling on Friday reminded me of my own past break downs (high school and college when I had absolutely no money) and the break downs of others (when a number of nice people hop out and help push the car to safety).  And, as you might, expect an idea popped into the noggin.  As you may know, this is my affliction.  Ideas, brilliant or pedestrian, drop like acorns in my head.

So, here's the idea.  Yell at me if you've heard of it already or if, whoops, it already exists!

Let's say I am driving along listening to the Eagles "Hotel California" and KACHUNK, the car stops dead. Let's also say its 10:00 at night and you are a few blocks from a gas station.  Can you really push the car that far?  Even with help, that's a lot of pushing.

In my mind, the solution is a small, battery or solar powered motor that safely propels you out of traffic and into a friendly neighborhood station.  It also has to be independent of the car's system so as to not be afflicted by the same disease that stopped the car in the first place.  This motor could be installed by the auto companies, but would more likely be an aftermarket device (auto companies may not want to admit the possibility of a breakdown, right?).

Would you buy an aftermarket motor for the rare moment when you breakdown?  How often has this happened to you?

How would this work?  Originally I had a vision of someone still having to get out of the car and pushing with one hand on the wheel and one on the door jam (old school).  In this case, the motor would only gently help the car move, removing the bulk of the burden for a single pusher.  But then I thought that this idea is silly.  If you are going to add a motor, shouldn't it at least allow you to stay in the car and drive like normal? Even if you could only go 5 mph?

Don't sail boats have these?

So here's a problem.  Sometimes, without the motor running, the steering seizes up.  This is what happened when I ran out of gas.  What do you do then?

What's your solution?

If anyone calls into Car Talk next week, will you ask Tom and Ray what they think?  

P.S.  Yes, that is my actual plate pictured above - if you live in Southern California and see me on the road, please say hello - especially if I am broken down.  :-)

 

Comments

[Chip Thompson]

This is a good idea.
The power steering stopped because the pump stopped. There could be a wheel powered by a hydraulic pump (same as the steering pump) that would be powered by a battery backup. This same pump could run the steering at least 50% of it. This wheel would drop down from the frame of the car with -you got it- a hydraulic piston strong enough to lift the auto to change a flat if needed.

[Tim Tyrell-Smith]

Hey Chip - Nice additions and appreciate the technical aspects! Tim