Fourteen years into my career as an ASE-certified automotive and diesel technician, I’ve spent thousands of hours both inside a service bay and out on the road responding to breakdowns. If there’s one service I’ve come to respect more with time, it’s Mobile & Roadside Car Repair. Early on, I believed serious issues always required towing. Experience taught me that many of them don’t.

One call from a few years ago changed my perspective permanently. A small business owner’s work truck had stalled in traffic and wouldn’t restart. He assumed the worst — engine failure — because the truck had shut off abruptly and the dash lit up with warning lights. When I arrived, I ran a full diagnostic scan and found a failed crankshaft position sensor. That tiny component had completely disabled the engine. I replaced it on-site, cleared the codes, and the truck fired right up. What he thought would cost several thousand dollars and days of downtime turned into a same-day fix in a parking lot.

That’s the reality of modern vehicles. Small electronic components can create dramatic symptoms.

Another situation last summer involved a family stranded at a gas station after their SUV refused to start. They had already replaced the battery themselves earlier that week. When I tested the charging system, I discovered the alternator wasn’t producing proper voltage, slowly draining the new battery. I’ve seen this mistake often — replacing one part without diagnosing the full system. Installing a new alternator on-site resolved the issue immediately. If they had continued guessing, they might have replaced multiple parts unnecessarily.

In my experience, misdiagnosis is one of the most expensive mistakes drivers make. A no-start condition isn’t always the battery. Overheating doesn’t automatically mean a blown head gasket. A grinding noise isn’t always a destroyed transmission. Roadside repair, when handled by an experienced technician, begins with testing — not assumptions.

I also recall a late evening call on the side of a highway where a diesel pickup had lost power while towing. The driver was understandably stressed, sitting with hazard lights flashing. After checking fuel pressure and scanning for codes, I found a clogged fuel filter restricting flow. Under load, the truck couldn’t get enough fuel and shut down. Replacing the filter on the shoulder restored full performance. That driver avoided a tow and regained confidence within an hour.

Of course, I don’t believe mobile service replaces traditional shops entirely. There are limits. Major internal engine work, complex transmission rebuilds, and structural repairs require proper facilities. I’ve advised customers to tow vehicles when safety or long-term reliability demanded it. Knowing when not to repair roadside is just as important as knowing when you can.

But I strongly recommend mobile repair for many common breakdowns: starters, alternators, brake components, fuel delivery issues, cooling system leaks, sensor failures, electrical faults. With professional-grade diagnostic tools and years of hands-on experience, these repairs can be completed safely and effectively outside a shop.

There’s also something practical about seeing the repair happen in front of you. Customers often appreciate watching the testing process — seeing voltage readings, pressure tests, or worn components firsthand. It removes the mystery and builds understanding.

After more than a decade working on vehicles in every environment imaginable — parking garages, gravel lots, job sites, and highway shoulders — I’ve learned that being stranded doesn’t automatically mean being towed. Many problems can be solved right where the vehicle sits, saving time, money, and a great deal of stress.