1. soft and flat
   firm only
2. firm, dry and flat
   flat only

Unfortunately, many shoulders on the side of the road aren't really suitable for changing a tire since they're uneven and soft, making the risk of the car falling off the jack quite a bit higher.

1. Press the accelerator hard for five minutes, digging to more solid ground.
   Shift into third gear and gun it.
2. Only use reverse and floor the accelerator.
   Shove sticks, gravel, and other solid objects under the tires for traction.

The problem with being stuck in the mud is the lack of traction to drive out of the rut, so addressing that should help you get out.

1. nothing
   Brake really hard really fast.
2. Roll the windows down and listen for squealing.
   Pull over and check the fluid level.

If the brake pedal doesn't feel spongy or offers no resistance, the brake fluid might still be low, so you should check that immediately just in case.

1. Stop the car.
   Turn the heater on full blast.
2. Keep driving.
   Refill the coolant overflow.

An engine that's about to overheat is a real danger since serious damage could be done, so you need to address the situation instead of just continuing to drive like nothing's happening.

1. Idle the engine.
   Open the hood.
2. Crank the air conditioning.
   Turn off the radio.

When you open the hood, you allow the heat that's been building underneath to escape rapidly, accelerating the cooling process for the engine considerably.

1. Break a window with a rock.
   Push the car to unlock the door.
2. Hit the door really hard.
   Use the blade key instead.

The battery in a keyless setup can die suddenly, and sadly too many people don't realize there's an analog workaround. The blade key, like what older cars had as the only option for unlocking the doors, is usually hidden under a sheath, so you remove that and unlock the doors old school.

1. that you mix it with distilled water only
   coolant spraying out when you open the overflow cap
2. that you don't fill it up to the minimum line
   that too much cold air rushed into the system

A pressurized system means opening the overflow cap could cause the antifreeze to come spraying or shooting out, which could seriously burn you, so you must open it slowly and cautiously, or just wait for the engine to cool down.

1. You don't touch the connections with bare hands.
   It doesn't get too cold.
2. You don't start up the engine for at least 5 minutes.
   The fuse is seated down tightly.

If you don't push a fuse into the slot completely, it can result in intermittent or constant problems.

1. outside temperature
   age of the battery
2. how long the battery has been dead
   all of these

There's no universal amount of time required to get a car battery charged up enough that the engine will fire up, which is why you should keep the cars connected until you get the non-functioning engine started.

1. paddle shifters
   four-wheel drive
2. manual transmission
   traction control

Push-starting a car doesn't work with an automatic transmission, but instead it could cause significant damage to the transmission, so don't try it.

1. Slap duct tape over the hole.
   Carry a can of tire sealant.
2. Shove leaves and twigs in the hole.
   Drive on the flat tire to safety.

Fix a Flat and many other tire sealants are out there. You spray the contents into the tire through the stem and the hole is sealed up enough for you to reach a repair shop.

1. ten turns of the nuts
   less than hand-tight
2. only as tight as you can get them using your fingers, no tools
   tight enough they can't move at all

If you don't tighten the connections completely, even a little bit of movement could cause the battery to not charge enough, or to not connect with the electrical system, and you end up with an engine that won't start later.

1. water
   milk
2. oil
   washer fluid

Ideally, you can mix coolant and water in a half-and-half solution or buy the premixed coolant and water, but in a pinch water can provide enough cooling benefits to get you to a nearby location.

1. bubble gum
   super glue
2. duct tape
   an old sock

Once you've identified the source of the leak, wrap duct tape around that section of the hose tightly, sealing off the leak long enough you can get somewhere safe.

1. 1
   2
2. 3
   0

Someone needs to be sitting behind the wheel of the car while at least one other person pushes the vehicle, otherwise the operation is too unsafe.

1. fuse box
   connections behind the steering wheel
2. the parking brake
   turn signals

Most often, a horn that stops working when it was functioning just fine right before is the result of a burned-out fuse, which you can replace quickly and easily without any tools.

1. flat head screwdriver
   plug kit
2. mallet
   duct tape

You can get a plug kit online or at many automotive stores. It's a great thing to take along if you're going to be in the middle of nowhere, especially if your spare and one of your regular tires are both punctured.

1. Hit the hood really hard toward the front.
   Reach through the grill to trigger the release mechanism.
2. Kick the front fender.
   Pull on the release lever 20 times.

This trick admittedly doesn't work on every car, depending on the design of the grille and hood release mechanism, but if you have heavy-duty wire or a long tool, it can help you work around a frustrating situation.

1. Accelerate hard.
   Stop the engine immediately.
2. Check the oil level when you get to where you're going.
   nothing

The oil light is an indication of oil pressure loss, which could mean very soon the engine will seize. Pull over to the first safe spot and turn off the engine immediately, then check the oil level.

1. using a hammer
   with rubbing alcohol
2. with a needle
   with a plastic bag

Salt, small pebbles, dirt and other debris can clog the nozzle at any time so the washer fluid won't spray out or will only come out of one nozzle, but sticking a needle in the nozzle will clear it out.

1. Tighten the nut.
   Spray it with WD40.
2. Turn the wiper speed all the way up.
   Hit it with a hammer.

Having a socket set or even a crescent wrench when you head out on a trip is a good idea since they'll allow you to tighten essential hardware like this.

1. your mouth
   bicycle pump
2. ball pump
   air compressor

While you can inflate a car tire with a bicycle or ball pump, the process would be a slow one. There are air compressors that just plug into the power outlet in your car.

1. Mix alcohol with bread.
   Pour water into another gas tank, pushing the fuel out.
2. Siphon it out.
   Use a plunger to create suction.

You can buy siphon kits at auto stores, or make one yourself using a hose or surgical tubing. Just be cautious to not swallow any gas.

1. duct tape
   electrical tape
2. zip ties
   fishing line

You don't want to carry wimpy zip ties in your car, but instead you should go for the really heavy-duty kind, since they can take the rough forces your suspension endured until it broke.

1. You just leave it running.
   before you connect the cables
2. after you connect the cables to it, before you connect them to the other car
   after you make all the cable connections

The danger is when you connect the cables to the live battery, if the clamps on the other end touch, they can cause sparks to fly and might even electrocute you, so set everything up with the engine shut off.

1. It can blow the vehicle off the jack.
   Honking horns will distract you.
2. A driver might swerve and hit you.
   The passing vehicles will mesmerize you.

If possible, you should pull all the way off the road and shoulder, possibly into a parking lot or gas station where traffic isn't an issue.

1. It evaporates the oil quicker.
   It bleeds heat out of the cooling system faster.
2. It makes the coolant flow faster.
   It actually won't help.

The central heating core, which provides heat for the car's heater, is powered by coolant that's flowed out of the engine, so running the heater helps dissipate heat from the cooling system faster.

1. pressing the blades hard against the glass for one minute each
   heating them up with a hair dryer/lighter
2. wiping the blades with a soft cloth
   pouring rubbing alcohol on the blades

Preferably you use a microfiber cloth for this job, since that won't leave behind lint or other debris, removing dirt and grime from the blades and eliminating some or all of the streaking problem.

1. bubble gum
   duct tape
2. a cotton T-shirt
   patches

Automotive stores sell gas tank patches, which are super sticky and will seal up a hole in your gas tank. Hopefully you still have enough fuel to reach a gas station after you plug the leak.

1. 1st
   2nd
2. 3rd
   4th

As the car rolls down the hill, slowly release the clutch pedal, and eventually the engine will fire up provided there's no other major issues.

1. Kick the tire.
   Hit the lug nuts with a hammer.
2. Stomp on the end of the tire iron.
   Spray them with water.

Usually, lug nuts aren't truly secure if you can remove them by hand using a tire iron, so this is a necessary step before you raise the car using the jack.

1. You guess.
   Look at the owner's manual.
2. You must trace the wiring back.
   Check the diagram on the inside of the fuse box

You should always check the owner's manual. Fuse boxes are not standardized, and not all cars have diagrams on the inside lid.

1. Pour water in the gas tank.
   Disconnect the fuel pressure sensor.
2. Remove the oil fill cap, then start up the engine.
   Adjust the throttle cable.

Those symptoms usually point to a bad fuel pump, so unplugging the sensor will indicate to the ECU that it needs to have the pump run at full pressure, temporarily fixing the issue until you get to a shop.

1. Remove the clamps from the car that was jumped first.
   Remove the positive clamps first.
2. Remove both negative clamps first.
   Take the clamps off in any order.

Because of the risk of electrocution and making sparks fly, you always remove the negative clamps first, then remove the positive clamps.

1. negative on the car being jumped
   negative on the car doing the jumping
2. positive on the car being jumped
   none of them

While you might be able to jump start a car not grounding the negative cable for the dead battery without incident, you're running a risk of damaging the cars and injuring yourself.