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| Saturday, March 25, 2000 |
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THE temperature has already started to rise. You should be keeping an eye on your temperature gauge on the dash board. You may have noticed that the car warms up faster in the morning. There is no dew on the car. These are sure signs that summer is coming.Any day now, the warm air is going to turn hot and dusty. Air conditioning will be in great demand. Now is the time to check the functioning and effectiveness of the AC. Make sure now that the AC is operative. As the outside temperature goes up, effectiveness of the AC will drop. This may make you believe that there is something wrong with the AC. Not necessarily so. On a warm day, the temperature inside the car can go up to 60°C. It’s like a hot dry sauna bath. The AC has to cool this air and then recycle it in the cabin. This is going to take much longer in summer than it does today. |
| If windows in a parked car are left open
by about 2-3 cm, it allows the hot air trapped inside to
escape. This is of some help to the AC too and also the
plastic components in the car. The dash board, steering
column, steering wheel and the door handles can go mushy
with the heat. As the hot air expands, it warps the
plastic. The result will be ill-fitted parts that are
ugly. A warped dash board is a real eyesore and there is
little you can do about it. And you are obliged to look
at it all the time. Another vital part of your car that should be working to 100% efficiency is the cooling system— the radiator, water pump, fan, fan belt, coolant. Believe it or not, the fan belt is one of the most vital components in your engine. An overheated engine can seize. A loose belt will not cool to full efficiency and you could damage the engine. The AC compressor drive belt is just as vital for the AC to function fully. If you can’t say confidently "I changed the drive belts last year," go and change both belts now. This is also a good time to top up the coolant. Drain the present coolant. Flush out the radiator and refill it.All this is a wasted exercise if the radiator cap is loose. Pay close attention to this detail. Your radiator works under pressure, if the radiator cap is loose, pressure is not maintained and the cooling becomes ineffective. Changing drive belts, coolant, radiator cap are very simple, fast and inexpensive preventive measures. It will ensure trouble-free motoring throughout the summer and the coming monsoon. Also top up the AC gas. R-134-A is the only eco-friendly gas available in the market. Only the new breed of cars is using it. The other cars, older models, use the harmful-to-ozone gas and there is little you can do about it other than change your car if you really care! Happy motoring! |
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