What happened—and what helped
These are actual Rick’s jobs documented on the main website. Pickup locations and repair destinations are identified separately where known. Each situation still requires its own vehicle and access assessment.
BMW stopped near Southport and Fullerton
The completed job
The BMW shut off unexpectedly near Southport and Fullerton and would not restart. Rick’s provided wheel-lift towing for the disabled vehicle. The job record does not identify the mechanical cause, so this example should not be treated as a confirmed battery or starter failure.
What to tell us in a similar situation
A car that stops while driving may need more than a jump start. Tell Rick’s what happened before it stopped, whether it cranks now and whether warning lights appeared. For towing, also describe the drivetrain, key availability and whether the car rolls and steers.
Read about no-start symptoms · Lincoln Park service information
AWD Subaru overheating in Wrigleyville
The completed job
An AWD Subaru Outback overheated near Addison and Southport after a hole developed in a radiator hose connector. Rick’s transported the car using wheel-lift equipment with an appropriate setup for the all-wheel-drive vehicle.
What to tell us in a similar situation
An overheating vehicle and its drivetrain both matter when planning a tow. Report coolant loss or steam, stop driving when safe, and tell Rick’s that the vehicle is AWD before arranging transportation. This completed job does not establish compatibility for every AWD vehicle.
Read the overheating guide · Wrigleyville service information
Work van delivered to a West Ridge repair facility
The completed job
This work van needed battery replacement and alternator repairs and could not stay running reliably. Rick’s transported it to a repair facility on Howard Street in West Ridge. West Ridge is the documented repair destination; the record does not establish the pickup location.
What to tell us in a similar situation
A replacement battery and an alternator repair solve different problems. A jump start or battery replacement alone is not a substitute for repairing a failed charging system. Describe repeated stalling and battery warning lights when discussing help.
Read about mobile battery replacement · West Ridge service information
Coolant line failure on North Hazel Street
The completed job
A coolant line burst near the 4400 block of North Hazel Street in Uptown. Rick’s towed the vehicle because continuing to drive risked further overheating or engine damage.
What to tell us in a similar situation
Tell Rick’s about a visible leak or steam and the exact place where the vehicle is stopped. Do not open a hot cooling system. Once safely parked, arranging appropriate transportation is preferable to continuing the trip with an overheating engine.
See safe next steps for overheating · Uptown service information
Dodge Journey alternator failure in Edgewater
The completed job
An alternator failure left this Dodge Journey unable to continue near Clark and Granville in Edgewater. Rick’s provided wheel-lift towing for the disabled vehicle.
What to tell us in a similar situation
A vehicle may start briefly with help yet still need repairs to stay running. Tell Rick’s whether it stopped while driving, needed repeated jumps, or displayed a battery warning. Those details help frame the service discussion without assuming that every no-start is a battery-only problem.
Compare jump-start help with towing · Edgewater service information
Toyota Camry delivered to a repair facility in Skokie
The completed job
Rick’s transported this Toyota Camry using wheel-lift equipment and delivered it to a repair facility in Skokie. The published job record identifies the destination, not a Skokie pickup or a specific breakdown diagnosis.
What to tell us in a similar situation
For a repair-shop delivery, have the destination address ready along with pickup details. Let Rick’s know about shop access instructions, keys, drivetrain and whether the vehicle rolls and steers. Confirm vehicle compatibility and the proposed destination before the tow.
Read towing pickup requirements · Skokie service information
GMC Terrain: North Park pickup, Lincolnwood delivery
The GMC Terrain would not start near Foster and California even though the battery was reported to be fine. Rick’s transported it to Zeigler Buick GMC of Lincolnwood for warranty diagnosis of an apparent electrical problem.
This was a North Park pickup and a Lincolnwood repair destination. It is an example of why a no-start may call for towing rather than a jump start. See Lincolnwood service information and the no-start symptom guide.
Have a similar breakdown?
Share your location, vehicle details and symptoms. Confirm availability, arrival estimate and price by phone.
Call (312) 451-5785Original job records
Read the full photo log on Rick’s main website for these jobs and more, including a coach bus jump start and vehicle recovery work.
More real services from Rick’s
These owner-provided photos show actual towing, battery assistance and tire service. For these additional photos, job dates, exact pickup locations and causes were not recorded; one Wrigleyville street scene has an identifiable storefront.
Towing requirements · Jump-start assistance · Usable-spare tire changes
For fictional mascot ads, see Bigfoot’s AI-created promotional videos. The service footage below is from actual work.
Watch actual towing and roadside work
Short clips from Rick’s service archive show towing and portable battery equipment. The exact job dates, pickup addresses and causes are not established by these videos.
See more of Rick’s service work
Visit Rick’s YouTube channel for available service videos. Use the written service guides for vehicle-fit and pickup requirements; a video does not establish availability for your vehicle.