Should I ring insurance company?

DesperateDan

Hi folks newbie driver don't know how any of this works (or anything about cars in general) what should I do here?

Noticed car making funky sounds the other day and was suddenly super bumpy when driving sh*tty country roads. Google says it's probably shock absorbers.

Well tonight I was doing 60kmph and hit a small bump which blew out the tyre. Car is currently parked relatively in the middle of nowhere. I'm off to Dublin for a party

Car also needs NCT 1st of Jan I think. It's a 06 Opel Corsa.

So with all that info do I a) ring insurance company (Liberty) to get it towed somewhere (where?!). Or b) basically leave it there til after Xmas and try and get cheapo garage to have a look?

Isambard

Never mind google, he's not a mechanic.
Assuming you've Recovery on your policy call them and get them to recover it to your cheapo garage. It sounds to me like you had a damaged tyre , which would make the car feel funny, and it finally let go.

DesperateDan

Thanks! How does the actual recovery work though? I ring garage to ask if he's free (he tells me he can't look at it til January or whatever) and the Insurance company tows it to the garage? Also, will it affect the insurance premium?

Alanstrainor

Why not put the spare tyre on and drive it to a tyre fitters and get a new one? Cheapest and easiest solution surely. Calling recovery for this is overkill imo. I would be surprised if that model Corsa didn't have a spare as standard.

DesperateDan

It has a spare I think (which I don't actually know how to change ) , but seeing as something else is definitely gone in the front tyres (springs, shock absorber, something - i.e before it blew tonight I was going to drop it in soon anyway) I thought if it can be towed and looked at while the tyre is sorted all in one would be the best option

exaisle

DesperateDan wrote: »

It has a spare I think (which I don't actually know how to change ) ,

Well it's about time that you did. You can't bank on always being able to phone somebody for help.

DesperateDan

exaisle wrote:

Well it's about time that you did. You can't bank on always being able to phone somebody for help.

Probably, but my situation (no fatherly type figure in my life around) means I really have no one to teach me. And afaik they don't do lessons in this anywhere. I could probably pick it up on Youtube but haven't had a need to until today!

Also there is still something else wrong with the car that even someone with some mechanical knowledge would probably find tricky to fix so I guess even if I could change tyres faster than Lewis Hamilton I'd still have a problem on my hands.

martyc5674

DesperateDan wrote: »

Probably, but my situation (no fatherly type figure in my life around) means I really have no one to teach me. And afaik they don't do lessons in this anywhere. I could probably pick it up on Youtube but haven't had a need to until today!

Also there is still something else wrong with the car that even someone with some mechanical knowledge would probably find tricky to fix so I guess even if I could change tyres faster than Lewis Hamilton I'd still have a problem on my hands.

Just change the wheel... as was mentioned above it was possibly the damaged Tyre giving you the rumbling.
I think your looking for a solution to a problem that doesn’t exist.

Yawns

you most likely have all the tools needed to solve your problem in the boot of the car.

Old Perry

DesperateDan wrote: »

so I guess even if I could change tyres faster than Lewis Hamilton I'd still have a problem on my hands.

You're gas Craic. If u don't want to drive it to garage pick a mechanics in your area, call insurance and they will arrange to have it towed to the garage you choose, probably double check with garage it's okay to drop it off there.

Old Perry

DesperateDan wrote: »

so I guess even if I could change tyres faster than Lewis Hamilton I'd still have a problem on my hands.

You're gas Craic. If u don't want to drive it to garage pick a mechanics in your area, call insurance and they will arrange to have it towed to the garage you choose, probably double check with garage it's okay to drop it off there.

Edit. I'd say it's a long time since Lewis had to change his own tyres

exaisle

DesperateDan wrote: »

Probably, but my situation (no fatherly type figure in my life around) means I really have no one to teach me. And afaik they don't do lessons in this anywhere. I could probably pick it up on Youtube but haven't had a need to until today!

Also there is still something else wrong with the car that even someone with some mechanical knowledge would probably find tricky to fix so I guess even if I could change tyres faster than Lewis Hamilton I'd still have a problem on my hands.

Get your finger out and learn and stop expecting others to run around after you. I assume you're an adult, so start behaving like one and being responsible for yourself.

Google "How to change a tyre youtube". Your car will be just like that one.

dar83

Millennials these days....

:pac:

Armadillo

Just in case DesperateDan is not trolling here:

I would loosen the nuts a smidge before putting jack underneath car though.

Toyotafanboi

Let's keep it useful lads.

Stoolbend

To be fair we don't know why the tyre blew out. It could be a broken coil spring or something that burst the tyre.

If you've roadside assistance with your insurance use it.

If it's just the wheel that needs changing they'll do that for you. If not they'll recover it to your local mechanic.

zoe 3619

If you have breakdown assist included on your policy availing of it wont affect your no claims bonus.Mine offers transportation to any garage within 50 miles,or an hour of a mechanics time to get me sorted at the side of the road.So,read through your policy and you could either move the car or have someone change the wheel for you.
Having said that,changing a wheel is pretty basic,and you will need to learn.

khaldrogo

DesperateDan wrote:

........Google says it's probably shock absorbers.

Ffs

jimbis

Either put the spare on (or bring someone with you that can),
Ring insurance and get them to recover it,
Or give me a shout and ill drop out and put a new tyre on it and check for other problems.

Isambard

call recovery, they'll change the wheel and teach you how to do it next time,

We all had to learn, it's quite easy once you know how.

DesperateDan

Thanks guys, will ring insurance to check on roadside assistance then, then garage. That video was pretty cool it looks easy enough to change a tyre. If insurance or garage aren't happy I will definitely have a go at changing myself

DesperateDan

jimbis wrote:

Either put the spare on (or bring someone with you that can), Ring insurance and get them to recover it, Or give me a shout and ill drop out and put a new tyre on it and check for other problems.

Thanks Jimbis that is very kind, the fact I don't know anyone that is very good with cars makes me just want to get a bloody new one on PCP, which is ridiculous I know!

Sue Pa Key Pa

DesperateDan wrote: »

Thanks guys, will ring insurance to check on roadside assistance then, then garage. That video was pretty cool it looks easy enough to change a tyre. If insurance or garage aren't happy I will definitely have a go at changing myself

Most roadside assistance will give you up to 1 your to try and fix the problem, or remove it to your home or nearest reputable garage, whichever is more practical.

Cee-Jay-Cee

DesperateDan wrote: »

Hi folks newbie driver don't know how any of this works (or anything about cars in general) what should I do here?

Noticed car making funky sounds the other day and was suddenly super bumpy when driving sh*tty country roads. Google says it's probably shock absorbers.

Well tonight I was doing 60kmph and hit a small bump which blew out the tyre. Car is currently parked relatively in the middle of nowhere. I'm off to Dublin for a party

Car also needs NCT 1st of Jan I think. It's a 06 Opel Corsa.

So with all that info do I a) ring insurance company (Liberty) to get it towed somewhere (where?!). Or b) basically leave it there til after Xmas and try and get cheapo garage to have a look?

There is no where so remote in this country that a car is safe to be left till after Christmas. Its almost guaranteed that the car will either (a) be stolen (b) Broken into a vandalised or (c) burnt out.

Are you really going to call your insurance to arrange recovery for a puncture????? Put the spare wheel on it, if its still lumpy to drive then call your insurance and arrange to get it towed.

I'm assuming from your username that you are male? If so, man up and learn the stupidly simply job of changing a wheel. My wife has changed a wheel on her car on the roadside, its not a hard job to do.