What do you do if something gets stuck under your car?

 Road hazards are everywhere around you, whether they look like one or not. And believe it or not, damage to the body of your car isn't the only type of damage you could be looking at when you hit the road. Getting something stuck underneath your car can also do expensive damage to your N Charlotte Toyota, which is why our expert service techs are here to explain what to do in this roadside car emergency and how to handle it. 

How common is it to get something stuck under your car?

You may think it's uncommon to get something stuck under your car, but it's not. Our Charlotte auto service center commonly sees things like: 

• Balls or other sports equipment and toys getting stuck under cars
• Debris or trash from the road, like plastic bags, construction debris, or debris left over from an accident 
• A part on the vehicle actually coming loose, like a skid plate or heat protection cover, and dragging on the ground underneath the car 

No matter what it is, it can do damage to the underside of the car and leave you with an expensive repair bill to contend with. That's why in these roadside car emergency scenarios, it's critical to know how to handle things. Here are the steps our Charlotte Toyota service techs recommend taking should something get stuck under your car. 

#1: Pull over and put the car in park. Your first step should be to immediately pull over and put the car in park once you realize what's going on. Pull into a parking lot if you can; if not, find a flat, level spot free of mud and sand and far away from the passing traffic. Put your car in park, pull your emergency brake, and turn on your hazards so other drivers can see your vehicle better. 

#2: Figure out what's under the car and if you can remove it or not. Next, it's time to figure out what's under the car. Be sure to stay far away from passing traffic as you try to ascertain what it is, and try to avoid crawling under the car if you can. We also recommend keeping a flashlight on hand to help you see better, especially if the lighting is dim. 

After you've figured out what it is, you have to figure out if you can remove it or not. If it feels like you're trying to force it out, hold off - you could actually do more harm than good trying to remove it from under your vehicle and damage more parts, especially if the thing in question is a car part that's come loose. For sports balls, try to deflate them before you pull them out to lessen the damage. 

#3: Have your car checked out after the fact. Regardless of whether or not you think there's damage, you should bring your car to Toyota of N Charlotte to be checked out after this roadside emergency. Let our techs inspect the underside of the car, especially if you notice a leak, an odd noise or smell, or anything else that's out of the ordinary. 

Let Toyota of N Charlotte help you recover from this roadside car emergency

Have questions about this common roadside car emergency? Visit Toyota of N Charlotte today at 13429 Statesville Road, just off I-77 at exit 23 in Huntersville. You can also call us seven days a week at (704) 659-2025 or schedule online.