DOT inspections are an essential part of “keepin’ on truckin’” in Mesa, and many truck drivers and vehicle operators are required to have them on a regular basis thanks to a Mesa law passed last year. While requirements were more narrow in the past, now every vehicle with a combined weight over 10,000 lbs. must have a DOT inspection completed. What are the basics of DOT inspections in Mesa?

What Is a Commercial Vehicle?

Commercial vehicles, even if they are contractor vehicles and not trucks, must have a DOT number and physical card and receive DOT inspections. What counts as a commercial vehicle in Mesa? A vehicle that is operated in interstate commerce to move property or passengers when the car:

Has a gross combined weight rating or gross vehicle weight rating, or gross combined weight or gross vehicle weight of 10,0001 lbs. or more.
Is designed or used to transport 8 or more passengers (including the driver) for pay.
Is designed or used to transport 15 or more passengers (including the driver) without compensation.
It is used to transport hazardous materials in a quantity that requires a placard.

How Do DOT Inspections Work?

Mesa has a Preventative Maintenance Program (PM Program) that requires all commercial vehicles are regularly inspected, repaired and maintained every 25,000 miles or 12 months. Mesa Towing Services is here to help! The state of Mesa outlines the exact standards of maintenance, and we understand how to complete them and fill all of the necessary paperwork. Some of the elements of the inspection include:

Alignment
Suspension
Steering
Mirrors
Glazing
Brake and Clutch Pedal
Tanks and Pressure Valves
Horn
Windshield Wipers
We are happy to help you maintain your truck or commercial vehicle and keep it in excellent condition. We can perform a broad range of maintenance to prepare you for DOT inspections for Mesa vehicles, including:

The North American Standard Inspection, which looks at basic documents, the seatbelt, exhaust system, steering wheel, rims, wheels, headlights, taillights, and fuel system
The Walk-Around Inspection that also checks underneath the vehicle
The Driver-Only Inspection that examines the operator’s license, daily log, and medical certifications

We at Mesa Towing Services strongly promote as well as urge secure driving. We additionally know that in some cases things fail as well as you might require roadside assistance in the future. When you require aid with your vehicle while on the road, Mesa Towing Services uses fast & trusted towing and also roadside assistance-- anywhere in the Mesa, Gilbert, Chandler, Tempe, Phoenix, Queen Creek, Apache Junction. We will respond right away on a 24/7 basis, so provide us a phone call right now at (480) 351-4360 if you require towing or any roadside assistance

Summer is here, and many drivers are turning on their air conditioner for the first time only to find lukewarm air blowing back at them. Having an air conditioning problem in your vehicle is annoying, to say the least, but there are many ways to troubleshoot the problem and pinpoint exactly what is going wrong. What are the best ways to troubleshoot an air conditioning problem in your car?

Finding Your Air Conditioning Problem

First, start your car and kick on the air conditioner to the highest setting. Feel the air and see if it is warm, cool or cold. If the air is warm or cool, but not as icy-cold as you would associate with an air conditioner, you could be having a problem with airflow. Replacing the air filter could be a quick fix to this issue. A lack of coldness can also be caused by a failed hose or component, damaged evaporator, vacuum leak, failed switch or fuse, Freon leak or failed blower motor. We can pinpoint the exact cause and develop the right solution.

Check the Compressor

Is your air conditioning compressor running? If the compressor is not working correctly, that could be the source of your air conditioning problem. Mesa Towing Services can check the compressor to see if the clutch is engaging properly. If the clutch fails to engage, the compressor might need to be replaced or refilled with refrigerant. We will also check the wiring that leads to the compressor. In some cases, the wiring is damaged or in need of a replacement for the air conditioning problem to be resolved.

Look for Leaks

Did you know that your air conditioning system can leak? Mesa Towing Services can use a special leak detection technique to find any flaws in your system. Using a special dye, we can identify cracks or pinholes that are virtually invisible to the naked eye. Once we find the leak, we can repair the area and restore your AC system to good condition. If there are no leaks, we can also continue troubleshooting.

We at Mesa Towing Services strongly promote as well as urge secure driving. We additionally know that in some cases things fail as well as you might require roadside assistance in the future. When you require aid with your vehicle while on the road, Mesa Towing Services uses fast & trusted towing and also roadside assistance-- anywhere in the Mesa, Gilbert, Chandler, Tempe, Phoenix, Queen Creek, Apache Junction. We will respond right away on a 24/7 basis, so provide us a phone call right now at (480) 351-4360 if you require towing or any roadside assistance

Replacing tires regularly is important to your safety as a driver, but this task can be easy to overlook if you aren’t sure exactly what to look for! Don’t wait until you experience a flat or blowout to realize you need new tires. Look for these three signs to help you determine whether it’s time to change them out.

3 Signs You Need New Tires:

The Tread is Fading

One of the easiest ways to look at your tires and see without further clarification that they need replacing is to look at the tread. If you look at your tires and see they are smooth rather than consisting of deep ridges (tread), you need new tires.

Without tread, you won’t have traction, which is the tire’s ability to grip the road. That means your bald tires are prone to tire failure even in good driving conditions. In bad weather, however, you’ll be under increased risk for hydroplaning or sliding on ice and snow. You need tread to turn, brake, and to drive safely in general.

The legal requirement is that your tires must be at 2/32” to drive on public roads. They are considered bald at 0/32”. You can test your tread depth with a tread depth gauge. If you don’t have one of those handy, try using a penny by placing it in your tread with Lincoln’s head facing down – if you can see all of Lincoln’s head – you need new tires!

The Tires are Old

On average, tires can last about 6-10 years. After such time, the rubber starts to get old and brittle and deteriorate. It loses its flexibility, and its vulnerability will increase. That’s when you begin to see damage similar to that in the picture below, where the inner wires are visible. Tires that look like this should never be driven, as they pose a risk to your safety and that of other drivers sharing the road with you.

Check the age of your tires by looking at the date code on the tire. By the rim, you’ll see a four-digit number. The first two digits will represent the week the tire was made, and the second two will signify the year. For example, 0419 would mean the tires were manufactured in the fourth week of 2019. When your tires are five or six years old, start having them inspected annually to keep up with their maintenance.

Air is Leaking Out

You’ll realize this is an issue when you have to keep putting more air into your tires between uses. It can become a hazard to keep driving on your tires while filling the air between trips because the cause is likely not something to ignore. Determine the cause of the leak before you decide whether the tires are still usable. A weak seal between the tire and rim is one of the most common causes for this issue, and it can cause a blowout if not handled properly. If solutions that involve patching or “Fix-a-Flat” aren’t helping, this is a likely sign that you need new tires.

We at Mesa Towing Services strongly promote as well as urge secure driving. We additionally know that in some cases things fail as well as you might require roadside assistance in the future. When you require aid with your vehicle while on the road, Mesa Towing Services uses fast & trusted towing and also roadside assistance-- anywhere in the Mesa, Gilbert, Chandler, Tempe, Phoenix, Queen Creek, Apache Junction. We will respond right away on a 24/7 basis, so provide us a phone call right now at (480) 351-4360 if you require towing or any roadside assistance

We’ve all been there, and it’s never fun. You wake up for work one morning and head out to the car, turn the key in the ignition and it won’t start. Maybe you had this problem yesterday, or maybe it came out of nowhere. The one thing that’s certain is that the first step to fixing the problem is learning about what is causing it. Here are some possible reasons as to why your car won’t start.

Your Battery is Dead

The very first thing you should check in this situation is your car’s battery. After enough driving experience, you’ll find that this is the culprit most of the time that your car won’t start – and that can be a good thing. Maybe you left your lights on overnight by mistake, and the battery was drained as a result. In any case, if this is the reason your car won’t start, the good news is that it doesn’t always point to an expensive underlying issue. Jump your car battery with the help of a friend and some jumper cables, or with the standalone instrument, you can purchase at most auto repair shops and carry with you for such a time that you’d need it.

Sometimes your battery may be dead because of a faulty wire, corrosion or because it needs to be replaced. If you have this issue often, get it checked out by an expert to make sure there isn’t an underlying issue.

Alternator Problems

The alternator’s purpose is to charge the car’s battery while it’s running, and this piece of equipment is a major component in the charging system of most cars, to exclude hybrids. The alternator doesn’t require much maintenance and can last for up to 10-15 years without the need for repairs, so it’s likely you haven’t had to worry about yours until now.

If your issue involves the alternator, you may notice that your battery ends up depleted over time, rather than all at once. That is because, once your alternator stops working, your car can still run on leftover charge until it’s used up. If the alternator is the problem, you’ll likely see the battery icon light up on your dash. If that light lingers after your start-up attempt, consult a mechanic, who can help pinpoint the issue.

Broken Starter

Your car’s starter is an electrical motor connected to the battery that makes your car start when you turn the ignition. It sets the engine in motion, and that’s its whole job. If the starter is broken, you’ll know when you hear a clicking noise when you try to start your car. You may hear loud clicking or other noises when trying to start your car, signifying that it’s trying, but something is keeping it from cranking properly.

We at Mesa Towing Services strongly promote as well as urge secure driving. We additionally know that in some cases things fail as well as you might require roadside assistance in the future. When you require aid with your vehicle while on the road, Mesa Towing Services uses fast & trusted towing and also roadside assistance-- anywhere in the Mesa, Gilbert, Chandler, Tempe, Phoenix, Queen Creek, Apache Junction. We will respond right away on a 24/7 basis, so provide us a phone call right now at (480) 351-4360 if you require towing or any roadside assistance