With districts in India still marked red, orange and green zones, life isn’t back to the old normal yet. It will take a while to resume smooth operations.
Outdoor activities are still limited. With malls, restaurants and cinema halls shut and workplaces keeping the number of employees to a minimum, most people are still housebound. Which also means that people are not driving their cars around. However, if a vehicle has been parked for too long, it could lead to a dead battery, punctured tyres, and damaged electronic systems.
Here’s how to maintain your car
Leave wipers up
“People who do not have a parking space in their building can protect their vehicles by putting a cover on it to protect the paint. Don’t engage the handbrake. Instead, put the car in gear and put stones near the tyres so that the car does not roll. Keep the interior clean, as any leftover in the car can give out a rotten smell and attract insects,” says Mayuresh Manjrekar, founder, Auto Launder Car Care.
Whenever you park your car out in the sun, put your wipers up, away from the windshield as it can melt and stick to the windshield. Also, when you use the wiper, first, use water and then only clean with a wiper to avoid swirl marks on the glass.
Battery health
To avoid battery failure, start your car every alternate day. To prevent dead battery, remove the battery terminal if possible. Nowadays, there are many electrically operated systems in cars which are directly connected with the battery, and there is a considerable chance that these systems can get damaged if the battery gets weak. Also, move your car from its actual parked place. If the car is parked at one place for a long time, then it may get a flat tyre as it is resting all its weight on them. So move your car forward and reverse at least once a week to maintain its life and keep the tyres rolling.
Protect that paint
Naveen Soni, senior vice-president, sales and services, Toyota Kirloskar Motor, says, “Remove all flammable materials kept inside the car like a fire extinguisher, aerosol can, cigar lighters, matchbox etc. Avoid parking below a tree or near any factory or smoke area to avoid any tragedy, and also avoid parking near garbage to prevent rats and snakes.
“Putting a body cover will prevent the car from dents, scratches and protect your wiper blade from any damage. Always fold both mirrors. Never leave the stereo faceplate in the car or any valuable item. Start the engine and idle it up for 10-15 minutes, switching on and off all electrical accessories like AC, audio, headlamps in regular intervals. This will automatically charge up the battery.”
Things to keep in mind