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What to Do if Your Car Breaks Down

A broken down car with its hood open. Heffner Toyota Roadside Assistance Service in Kitchener, ON

Heffner Toyota Breakdown Tips and Roadside Assistance in Kitchener, ON

When your car suffers an unexpected breakdown, the best thing to do is switch on your hazard lights, pull safely off the road, activate your parking brake, and give Heffner Toyota’s Roadside Assistance service a call at 1-888-TOYOTA-8 (1-888-869-6828). We offer 24/7 support for stranded drivers, and you can count on our Toyota Gold-Certified service technicians to get you back up and running in no time. Keep reading as the experts at Heffner Toyota walk you through our 8-step guide to managing vehicle breakdowns, and share which essentials you need in your car (first aid kit, bottled water, charging cables, tools, granola bars, and a blanket) to wait out an automotive breakdown when it happens.

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8-Step Guide to Managing Vehicle Breakdowns

It can happen to anyone: you’re driving to work, and suddenly your car jerks, lets out a medley of frightening clunks, bangs, and grinding sounds, and starts losing speed. Don’t worry; just follow Heffner Toyota’s 8-Step Guide to Managing Vehicle Breakdowns and call our Roadside Assistance service toll-free at 1-888-TOYOTA-8 (1-888-869-6828) for 24/7 support!

  1. Switch on Hazard Lights
  2. Pull off the Road
  3. Engage Parking Brake
  4. Climb Out on the Passenger’s Side if Leaving the Vehicle
  5. Make Yourself Visible to Other Drivers (e.g. Open Car Hood)
  6. Identify Where You Are via Signs or Landmarks
  7. Have Vehicle Model & Registration Ready
  8. Call for Roadside Assistance

Vehicle Breakdown Preparation Guide

How well you handle a vehicle breakdown is decided before you even get in the car. Rather than wait for Roadside Assistance shivering in the cold with a broken heater, a phone battery in the red, and no light source, Heffner Toyota has outlined some of the top things you can prepare to improve your situation during a worst-case scenario:

  1. Keep Up with your Vehicle’s Maintenance Schedule
  2. Prepare an Emergency Kit with First-Aid Essentials, a Flashlight, High-Vis Vests, Bottled Water, Granola Bars, Charging Cables, a Power Bank, Tools, and a Blanket
  3. Carry a Spare Tire and Frequently Check its Air Pressure
  4. Keep Your Roadside Assistance Provider’s Phone Number Easily Accessible

Get 24/7 Roadside Assistance at Heffner Toyota

From buying and servicing your next car, to 24/7 Roadside Assistance and Collision Repair, the team at Heffner Toyota is here to support you at every stage of your automotive journey. Get in touch for more information about roadside assistance support, post-collision care, Toyota parts, general repairs, and maintenance advice.