Help · Roadside & how-to

Free help. Even if you never come in.

Flat tire, dead battery, a light you’ve never seen before. Short, practical guides from the shop for the stuff that ruins your day, with video walkthroughs on the way.

Happening right now?

Tap what’s going on.

HELP-00Warning lightsRed means stop soon and safely. Amber means book a visit. Green or blue is just information.HELP-01Flat tireGet well off the road, hazards on, parking brake on. Loosen the lug nuts before you jack the car up, and keep a donut spare under 50 mph.HELP-02Dead batteryRed to dead (+), red to good (+), black to good (−), last black to bare metal on the dead car, away from the battery.HELP-04OverheatingAC off, heat on full hot with the fan on high, pull over and shut it off. Don’t open the radiator cap until it has cooled for at least 30 minutes.HELP-05Stuck in snowStraighten the wheels, clear snow from the tires and tailpipe, then use gentle throttle. Spinning the tires just digs deeper.

Not safe, or not sure? Call 603-818-3121. If you’re in danger or anyone’s hurt, call 911 first.

Dashboard decoder

What’s that light?

Amber · SoonCan also flash

Check engine

Can I keep driving?: Steady: yes, for now. Flashing: slow down and call us.
What it means: The engine computer stored a fault code. It can be anything from a loose gas cap to an active misfire.
What to do: Tighten the gas cap. If it’s steady, book a scan soon. If it’s flashing, avoid hard acceleration and get it checked right away to protect the catalytic converter.

Check engine diagnostics

All 10 warning lights

The library

Every guide.

HELP-00 · Know your car1 min

Dashboard warning lights, decoded

Tap the light on your dash to see what it means, how serious it is, and whether you can keep driving.

HELP-01 · Roadside20 min

Flat tire? Here’s how to handle it safely.

How to get off the road, put on the spare (or use the inflator kit), and what to do next.

HELP-02 · Roadside10 min

How to jump-start a car (the safe way)

The right cable order, what to do if it still won’t start, and how to tell if the battery is the real problem.

HELP-03 · How-to5 min

Key fob dead? Swap the battery in five minutes.

Which battery it takes, how to open it, and how to start the car even when the fob is dead.

HELP-04 · Roadside2 min

Temperature gauge in the red? Do this right now.

The 60 seconds that can save your engine, and why you should never open a hot radiator cap.

HELP-05 · Roadside5 min

Stuck in snow? How to get out, and what to keep in the car.

Rocking it free without wrecking the transmission, staying safe if you’re stranded, and a winter kit checklist.

HELP-06 · Know your car5 min

Tire pressure light on? What it means and what to do.

Steady vs. flashing, why it always comes on the first cold morning, and the right pressure for your car.

HELP-07 · Roadside5 min

After a fender bender: a calm, step-by-step checklist

What to do at the scene, what to photograph, and the hidden damage worth checking afterward.

NOTE-01 · Garage note5 min

The New Hampshire winter prep checklist

Ten things to check before the first nor’easter, and which ones you can do yourself.

NOTE-02 · Garage note4 min

Road salt is eating your car. Here’s how to slow it down.

Why brake lines, exhaust hangers and subframes rot first in New England, and the cheap habits that help.

NOTE-03 · Garage note5 min

What your check engine light is actually telling you

Steady vs. flashing, what a code really means, and when it’s safe to keep driving.

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