Roadside jobs in Nordic Recovery: tyres, batteries, keys

Roadside jobs are the five quick jobs where you fix the car on the spot and the driver drives on: Flat tyre on the E4, Jump-start in the cold, Keys locked in the car, Out of fuel on the country road and Stuck in the snowbank. Any tow truck can do them. Park in front of the car, follow the panel, and when you see "Done! The customer can drive on." the job is paid.

How roadside jobs work

They start like every job: hazard lights, warning triangle and a chat with the driver (see Tow truck recovery: your first rescue). Then you park the truck in front of the car and press E to Park here.

For the tyre, battery, keys and fuel jobs, a Good spot is close to the car: about 1 to 5 metres away, and fairly straight. Your truck is your shield against traffic. If your parking is graded Bad, a passing car may come far too close: "A car whizzed past, very close. Park the truck as a shield!" That costs a little of your safety bonus.

These jobs pay less than towing, but they are short and there is no drive to the workshop. Base pay is 1,100 to 1,900 SEK; the full list is on Call-outs and jobs.

Which buttons do the work?

Roadside jobs use the same six work buttons as towing. Some steps ask you to press several of them in order, and the panel shows which one comes next.

How do you change a flat tyre?

The job is Flat tyre on the E4, and the method is Tyre change.

1. Loosen the wheel nuts: tap Tighten (Space) fast until "All nuts are loose".
2. Jack the car up: hold Up (Q).
3. Swap on the spare wheel: hold Let out (S) until "The spare wheel is on".
4. Tighten the nuts in a star pattern: press the five buttons in the order the panel shows. On a keyboard that is Q, Space, Z, E, S. A wrong button gives "Wrong nut, follow the star pattern!" and the wheel goes on a bit crooked.
5. Lower the jack: hold Down (Z).
6. Give each nut a final tighten: a marker swings across a zone. Press Tighten when the wrench clicks in the zone, once for each of the five nuts. Too early or late: "Too loose. Go again." When all is right: "All five are just right".

Why a star pattern? Tightening across the wheel pulls it on evenly.

How do you jump-start a car?

The job is Jump-start in the cold, and the method is Jump-start.

1. Open the bonnet: press Use (E).
2. Clip the jump cables in the right order: press four buttons in order. On a keyboard that is Q, Z, Space, E. A wrong one gives "Wrong clamp!" and "Sparks! Wrong cable order." When it works: "Cables on, no sparks".
3. Rev the truck and charge the battery: hold Gas (W) steady for about three seconds.
4. Start the car: a gauge swings. Press Use (E) when it is in the zone. Too soon: "It coughs but won't start. Wait for the zone." Then: "The engine's running!"
5. Unclip the cables in reverse order: the same four buttons, backwards. On a keyboard: E, Space, Z, Q.

The game uses the safe order: the plus cable on the flat battery first, and the last clamp on the dead car's metal frame.

How do you open a car with the keys locked inside?

The job is Keys locked in the car, and the method is Unlock.

1. Pump the air wedge into the door gap: hold Let out (S).
2. Guide the tool to the lock button: press Use (E) when the tool is over the lock button. You need three good presses. A miss gives "The tool slipped" and leaves a scratch in the paint, which the customer notices.
3. Pull up the lock button: press Up (Q). "Click! The door is open."
4. Let the air out of the wedge: hold Down (Z).

How do you bring fuel to a car?

The job is Out of fuel on the country road, and the method is Fuel.

1. Fetch the can from the bed: press Use (E).
2. Pour in the diesel, slow and steady: hold Gas (W) for about four seconds. "The tank has twenty litres".
3. Pump up the fuel: tap Tighten (Space).
4. Start the car: press Use (E) when the gauge is in the zone.

How do you winch a car out of a snowbank?

The job is Stuck in the snowbank, and the method is Winch free. Your truck stays on the road as an anchor, and you only need a winch, so even the small pickups can do it.

1. Park. This one is easy to park for: a good spot can be a few metres off to the side and at an angle.
2. Unroll the winch cable to the car: hold Let out (S).
3. Hook onto the tow loop: press Use (E) when the hook is in the zone.
4. Winch the car out of the snowbank: hold Gas (W). The packed snow holds the wheels hard at first, so watch the Cable pull gauge and ease off when it turns red. Then the car breaks free and comes easily.
5. Unhook: press Use (E). "Free! The car is back on the road."

With Bad parking the car slides sideways out of the bank, which costs you a little progress and part of your safety bonus.

Tips for roadside jobs

• Park close and straight, in front of the car. That shields you and the driver.
• In sequence steps, read the next button in the panel before you press. A wrong press costs a little each time.
• In timing steps, wait for the marker. Most misses just mean waiting for the next pass, but a slip with the lock tool scratches the car.
• Roadside jobs are a great way to earn money with a small truck. See Advanced tips.

See also

• Call-outs and jobs: when each roadside job comes most often.
• Heavy and tricky recoveries: the big towing jobs.
• Controls: every key, controller and touch button.
• Glossary: jack, jump cables, air wedge and other words.
• Fix a flat for real: play Nordic Recovery.

• About Nordic Recovery
• All game guides