Keep Your Alloys Shining

Monsoon Car Care Tips

Ask your mechanic the reason for a fault in your car, and he will give you a dozen possibilities. Your car not starting could be attributed to any number of reasons from a cold battery to a clog in the carburetor.

The phrase "Prevention is better than Cure" is most apt when it comes to car care, and even more so during the rains, when a minor fault could translate into more than just loss of time.

Nobody knows your car better than yourself. It is important that you report the right symptoms to your mechanic. While you are driving your car be alert for:

aUnusual sounds, odours, leaks, smoke, warning lights, gauge readings. 
aChanges in acceleration, engine performance, mileage, fluid levels. 
aProblems in handling, braking, steering, vibrations. 
aScratches, bubbles etc. on the paint 


The Monsoon Car Check : 

The modern car is made up of thousands of parts, any of which are liable to fail. A breakdown at best could mean a little discomfort, and at worst can create a potentially hazardous situation. While a breakdown is far from welcome at any time of the year, the consequences of a minor default can be magnified during the monsoons. A complete checkup and servicing of your car at the onset of the monsoon season is highly advisable. 

Given below are some of the 10 most common causes of breakdowns and accidents, which your pre-monsoon service should definitely check out for:

1. Worn Brake Parts 
2. Bald Tyres or tires with inadequate pressure 
3. Corroded Battery cable terminals 
4. Clogged Filters 
5. Worn Spark Plugs
6. Burned Out Lights
7. Loose Belts & Rotten Hoses 
8. Inadequate fluid levels - oils and coolants
9. Neglected Cooling System. 
10. Windshield Wiper Blades 

Rust :

Your car body is always has a propensity to rust due to the humidity present in the air (especially for those who stay near the coastal areas). The car-paint and finish play the very important role of protecting your car from the elements. Rain contains dirt and pollutants from the air (commonly referred to as acid rain) which can damage the finish on your car. After acid rain falls on your vehicle, the water evaporates, evaporates, leaving a film of acid on the car body. This acid can become so strong that it can "eat" through your car's finish, exposing the body underneath to rust. Some simple precautions you can take against rust: 

a) Do not neglect the daily wash of your car (especially in the monsoons). After a shower wash your car with clean tap water to remove the acid and dirt particles stuck on to your car.)


b) Waxing is a very effective way of protecting your car from the rains. It is highly recommended that you get your car waxed from before the rain starts and then regularly (atleast once a month) during the entire monsoon season.

c) The underside of your car is especially prone to rusting, since it is exposed to the water and dirt thrown by the wheels. There are several rust-protective products available in the market, which can be used on the more rust-prone parts of your car.

d) Keep a regular check - on the metal panels under the doors, around the wheels, in the trunk and the undercarriage of the car, as these parts are more liable to rust.

e) Do not neglect small scratches and nicks on the paint of your car body, since these expose the body to the rain, leaving the areas prone to rusting.


Interiors :

 Wet interiors can mean more than uncomfortable travel and smelly cars. Damp carpets & trims can cause your car-body to rust. As far as possible try to keep the interiors of your car dry. 

It is advisable that to entirely remove the carpets for the monsoons, and make do only with rubber mats & Plastic mats. Keep your clean & fresh. Always clean your car with some good interior cleaners. Use a car air freshener to clear out the smell. Also ensure that the rear wiper and heater are working right. Check and double check all the lights. Place your feet on the pedal and check if you have an adequate grip on the pedal. Your feet might slip if the pedal doesn’t provide adequate slip. Be sure to replace the pedals if you suspect a loose grip. Check the insulation of your car - rubber beadings on the doors and windows. 

If they appear loose or damaged tighten or change them. The condition of the beadings is crucial as they stop the rain from getting into the car, preventing rust and short-circuits.

Another hugely neglected item in a car's kit is safety tools - first-aid, basic medicines, torches, and umbrella etc.

 Windshield Wipers

a.) Cracks in the wipe edge, resulting in streaks on the glass which obscure vision
b.) Prevent the wiper to "lay over" as it changes direction across the glass, resulting in an annoying noise and an inadequate wipe.
c.) Prevent consistent contact with the glass resulting in un wiped regions.

Use plenty of windshield washer solvent, to get rid of stubborn dirt and prevent the windshield from getting scratched. Ensure that the arms of the windshield are properly set, so that there is no gap between the blade and the glass.

Dirty water splattered on your windshield is a common complaint during the monsoons. Mud flaps not only ensure that you do not cause any discomfort to other motorists (especially two-wheelers), but to an extent also protects the underside of your car from dirty water. Ensure that your car has mud flaps on all tyres. 

Car Covers

If your car is always parked outdoors (as most cars are), car-covers can afford protection from the harsh Indian sunlight, accidental scratches that could be caused by anything from dirt particles to naughty children, bird-dropping and - during the monsoon - from acid rain. However it is very important to select the right cover for your car, since a badly designed one will do you more harm than good. 

Some precautions that you should take when using car-covers are: 
1).If the cover is too loose, the wind may constantly cause it to rub against the body, and scratch the paint.
2).If the car is not clean, the dirt particles on the car can scratch the paint while putting and removing the car cover.
3).Many times makeshift covers are used, which are actually nothing but crude plastic sheets. While these may keep the rain off your car, it traps the moisture between the cover and the body, which can cause damage to the car-paint. 
4).While removing or putting the cover, roll it on or off the car rather than dragging it over the body, to prevent the cover from scratching the car paint. 

While buying your car-cover:

a.) Make sure that the cover has a bottom locking system to hold the bottom of the cover tightly. This will help prevent wind movement of the cover and thieves from taking a casual peek. 
b.) While the cover material should be water-resistant, it should also be "breathable", so that it allows air to circulate, preventing condensation.

Tyres :

Seeing that your tyres are in proper condition is a very important part of preparing your car for the monsoon. Two aspects to be kept in mind while checking your tyres are: the tread, and the tyre pressure. 

The "tread" is very important for your tyre to be able to grip the road properly. Completely smooth and "bald" tyres create a vacuum between the tyre and the ground. The grooves in the tyre allow circulation of air, preventing formation of the vacuum, and allowing for a proper grip of the road. The grooves allow water to slip out, and prevent a layer from being formed between the tyre and the ground. The ideal tread depth should be at least 1 cm.Thus while you need to ensure that your tyres are in proper condition at all times, it is absolutely essential to do so during the monsoons, when the roads are wet.

Incorrect pressure can cause tyres to wear out much faster and the car to consume more fuel. Most importantly, however, tyres with incorrect pressure could create hazardous driving conditions, causing blowouts, skidding and handling problems. 

Take these simple precautions while filling air in your tyres: 

a) Strictly follow the pressures recommended by the vehicle manufacturers. Never inflate a tyre beyond its maximum rating.
b) You could use your own portable pressure gauge which is small, convenient and fairly accurate.
c) The air-pressure should be ideally checked when tyres are cold (i.e. less than 2 kilometers of driving), since tyres that have been driven for sometime build up heat inside, and will show incorrect pressure. 
d) Check your tyre-pressure at least once every fortnight. 

Brakes :

Your car brakes along with the tyres are the two most important checks of your pre-monsoon service. The brake-fluid is hygroscopic (absorbs water). Presence of moisture in the fluid can substantially lower its boiling point, which can lead to improper functioning of the brakes. The best indication of the condition of your brakes is the "play" or "feel" of the pedal. 
The brakes pedal should be hard, and travel should be restricted to a maximum of 50%. If the travel is excessive it means that the brake fluid has worn out or there are air-bubbles in the fluid. Thus either the entire fluid either needs to be replaced or the air in the system will have to be removed.
Another indication of the condition of your brakes is unusual noises. When you pump the brake pedal, friction from the brake lining causes heat. Under extreme conditions this can damage the pads and/or lining, brake drums and rotors. A metallic grinding sound indicates your brake pads are worn through. Metal-to-metal contact will damage drums or rotors. 
If your car pulls to one side when you brake, it indicates worn or uneven brake linings or a leak in one of brake lines. Brakes that are out of adjustment or have contaminated fluid can cause brakes to drag. 

The following checks should be made during your pre-monsoon service: 

Master Cylinder - The brake fluid is stored in the master cylinder, which should be checked regularly to ensure proper fluid level. 
Brake Lines - are the steel tubes, which connect the master cylinder to all the four wheels. Brake lines should be inspected for rust, which can lead to leaks. If the lines are damaged they should be replaced.
Brake Hoses - run from the brake lines to the brake calipers and wheel cylinders. The hoses should be checked for brittleness and cracks, which could also lead to brake-failure.
Linings and Pads - The pads and brake shoe linings should be checked periodically for uneven or excess wear, glazing, or saturation from brake fluid or grease. 
Calipers and Wheel Cylinders - Brakes are activated by brake fluid pressure from the master cylinder pushing a piston located in the caliper or wheel cylinder against the pad or shoe. A leak can cause erratic braking or brake failure. 
Bearings and Seals - Wheel bearings should be inspected and lubricated periodically. Worn wheel bearings, can cause erratic braking, and should be replaced. 

Conclusion:

The toughest time for driving cars in India, is during the monsoon season, especially in the city. Even if we follow all rules, regulations and tips, there is always an element of risk involved in driving and maintenance of vehicles. The above tips should allow you to at least minimize that.

But always ensure to use your best judgment at all times, and remember, better be safe than sorry!

We have covered several ideas for safer driving and maintenance of car. Still, there can always be more ideas for safer driving and maintenance of cars. We welcome our readers to share their experience on how they handled their car in past and present monsoon seasons.