0

Post-Lockdown Car Care Guide: How to Avoid Any Risk

The places with a low rate of infection are seeing lockdown restrictions getting relaxed. Most of us are not using our cars for months or even more due to a prolonged lockdown. The exception is venturing out to buy essential supplies or those who are helping the community or are part of any emergency services. This post-lockdown car care guide will help you get back on the road in no time.

The Post-Lockdown Car Car Guide Basics

If you have taken measures to park your car appropriately during the lockdown phase, chances are your vehicle will do fine. However, for those of you whose vehicle sits idle for months, a few essential tips can help you safely turn on the ignition. 

A simple visual inspection can be helpful before you start to check for any major change in your car. You can check your car for tire pressure loss, major leaks, or any rodent-infested electrical damage.

Engine Oil

Checking underneath the car for any oil spillage or leaks is essential before starting it. You can opt for a dipstick test to check the engine oil level and top it up if need be. Once the engine oil levels are optimum, you can ignite it.

The Transmission Fluid

Checking the brake, transmission fluid levels, and the clutch is a precautionary measure that should be in place. However, unless there is a leak in the system or if you have not undertaken regular servicing of your car, the fluid levels are unlikely to go down.

The brake fluid should meet the minimum level marked. You can seek help from a professional or a mechanic to examine the gear or transmission box and the clutch. If there is no oil leak visible on the floor where you parked the car, chances are these will be fine.

Coolant Level

You can check the coolant level visually and ensure that the levels match the minimum level marked.

The Hoses and Electrical Systems

A thorough checking of the rubber hoses, AC belt, and electrical wires are essential. Hardening or cracking of rubber hoses is common. The belts often tend to slack by losing the tension.

Once you are through with the above checks, you can check for the off-road performance parts. Having all these in place warrants you to take the next step. By using the start button or inserting the key into the barrel, check for the warning lights appearing on the dashboard.

Do Not Crank Repeatedly

Your car’s battery voltage may be low as it is sitting idle for a long time. The low voltage may not be enough to support the starter motor to rotate the crank to ignite the engine. However, you may still see that your wipers, horn, and dashboard lights are working just fine.

Numerous attempts with multiple cranks can lead to your car battery getting drained out. In the case of a manual vehicle, a jumpstart can be the solution. This process includes engaging the second gear and putting a thrust on the clutch while seeking external help to create momentum by pushing the vehicle forward.

The above step can lead your engine to spring back to life. Alternatively, you can use a jumper cable if there is any other car in running condition around you. If all the methods fail, it is advisable to disconnect the battery and take it to the nearest mechanic to charge it externally.

Tires

The tires can become under-inflated (lose air pressure) or deflated as your card has not moved an inch for months. Therefore, there is no question to rule this scenario out of the picture for your post-lockdown car care.

You can identify this by visual examination. It is advisable not to drive the car if any tire is deflated. Replacing the deflated tire with a spare one is a good idea. Driving a car with an under-inflated tire can lead to permanent damage through cuts in cracks. This should be done on all season tires, winter tires, as well as all of your spares.

Avoid Revving or Racing

In a scenario where your car starts after multiple attempts, you should keep it idle for a minute or two before you put a thrust on the pedal. This process helps to get the critical vehicle fluids like transmission oil, engine oil, and coolant to be back in the circulation of the car’s system.

It also helps to avoid any internal damages due to friction. It is especially crucial for a turbocharged car as lack of lubrication often leads to turbo failure.

The Post-Lockdown Car Care Guide for You!

The above-mentioned steps can help you to get your car back to normal. However, it is advisable to take things slow and get the knack of driving back before you put a thrust on the pedal. It is especially crucial as you are out of practice for a long time.

Happy Driving!