The initial joy of monsoon fades away the moment you decide to go for a drive in your car. The slushy, water-logged roads and long traffic jams not only stress daily commuters, they also take a toll on your vehicle. A careless attitude could result in trouble when you are travelling.
Sanjay Rout of Cuttack remembers a horrific experience he had on a rainy day when he was driving to Bhubaneswar from Rayagada. “All of sudden it started raining heavily while I was driving down Daspalla valley. Unfortunately, my wipers were not working. Visibility was poor. It was difficult for me to drive. The rain subsided 30 minutes later. I was tense all through the drive, though the distance was short. That day I said to myself that I would have my car thoroughly checked before the onset of the monsoon.”
Driving blues are many for the man behind the steering wheel. Poor visibility, slippery roads, potholes turning bigger in the rainy season, water logging, mud sticking to the car’s underbody causing corrosion and brakes jamming are among the difficulties he could face. Sunday POST has compiled tips that will help you take care of your car in the rainy season. We also tell you how you can keep yourself safe while driving in the rain.
Tyre care
Make sure that the tyres of your car are in excellent condition before the monsoon arrives. A senior service engineer of Tata Motors, automobile division, said, “Last year, one of our customers met with an accident on National Highway 203. It was raining heavily and his car skidded when he applied the brakes. His tyres were not in good condition. The tread depth of the tyres was thin. Such tyres invariably skid over slippery surfaces due to aquaplaning. Do check the tread depth before going on a long drive. Check the tyre inflation regularly as tyres tend to lose air pressure quite a bit in the rainy season. Regular check-ups will not only ensure better driving comfort but also good tyre life and a safe drive for you and your family.”
Wiper care
Wipers are essential in rainy seasons. A service supervisor at a Maruti showroom, said, “Wiper blades have a tendency to wear out quite fast while driving in heavy rain. Do get the wiper blades checked as the monsoon begins. Also, do check that the wipers are functioning properly at all speeds. Keep the wiper washer bottle topped up and, if you want, you can add a mild detergent to keep the windshield glass clean so that you do not face any problem while on a drive.”
Brake care
Brakes are one of the most crucial parts of a car. Many a time when we go through a water-logged road, our brakes don’t function as we expect. Anirudh Rout, supervisor, maintenance department of Nexa, said, “The first thing to remember is to drive slow during rain, especially when you are going through a water-logged road. You should regularly clean, and replace if needed, the brake pads. Do get the brake fluid levels checked. Brake lines should be checked too to ensure there is no air or water ingress. Ensure there is adequate brake pedal play for optimum brake operation before you start your drive.”
“Monsoon is a time for car breakdowns, brake failures and, worst of all, accidents caused by low visibility. While it is absolutely essential to have motor insurance, make sure you know before time what the exclusions and inclusions are,” he added.
Colour care
Ambika Prasad Mishra of Automates, said, “Do not let rainwater intrude into your car. It will adversely affect your car’s paint. While it is difficult driving in rainy conditions, using wax polish will help form a thin, protective layer on your car’s paint. The wax will not only protect the paint but also allow water to roll off easily. Greasing all the door hinges is also necessary. Use anti-corrosion spray on exposed metal areas. Get the rubber lining on doors checked as the monsoon arrives. If you see any loose or weak electrical connections inside the car, patch them up. Make sure external wires are insulated. Also, ensure that all the fuses are working fine and do carry some extra fuses. Never forget to keep your parking lights and brake lights on while driving on a rainy day.”
A senior supervisor, Chevrolet, said, “Sometime, water flows into the cabin area of your car and damages the carpets and flooring. It is better to use fabric mats instead of rubber mats. Use a vacuum cleaner to clean the car regularly so that there is no bad odour and in case your seats get wet, keep the windows open to prevent fungus. You should never drape your car in humid conditions, as it will automatically cause rusting. When you’re parking your vehicle, a well-ventilated space is preferable, such as stilt parking. Damp basements or enclosed humid areas will make the car rust deeper. Moisture will take a toll on the car, so you must do what you can to avoid it. While parking in a hilly area, always use parking brakes, even more so during the monsoon. Hand brake is a must while on gradients as it ensures that the car is still. Roads in hilly areas tend to become soft and this simple step will ensure the safety of the vehicle during parking in such areas.”
Vehicle care
A maintenance engineer at the Volkswagen showroom in Bhubaneswar, suggests a mandatory pre-monsoon check of the vehicle by qualified mechanics. “The tread grooves should be a minimum of 1.016 cm in all the tyres and always replace them if you find cuts in the side walls of tyres. In the monsoon, you need to check the brake liners and ensure proper functioning of the system,” he said, adding, “Ensure wipers, head lights and tail lamps are in working condition.”
Binny Alexander, a service engineer (Head) with Audi in Bhubaneswar, said, “Potholes can damage the rims and tyres. They can also cause suspension damage leading to ball joint breakage or blown up wheel struts. Alignment is the adjustment of a car’s suspension – the system that connects the car to its wheels. The car’s suspension is designed to absorb impact and provide a smooth ride, but there’s a limit to how much it can handle. Potholes on the road can lead to suspension problems, including misalignment, fracture ball joints, and impair the shock absorber and struts. It is difficult to specifically diagnose suspension damage, so it’s better to have an experienced service engineer inspect the system if you think there any such problems in your car.”
SOYONG,OP