Monsoon maintenance
H. Kishie Singh

THE next couple of months, according to weather pundits, are going to be extremely wet. Hence, the driving conditions will also change drastically.

Your car needs special attention. Needless to say, tyres, wipers, washing fluid and brakes should be in A-1 condition. Without good tyres, you can’t have traction; without wipers and washing fluid, you can’t see clearly, without brakes, you can’t stop. With any of these items not in order, the car won’t be considered road worthy, and you will be endangering not only your life, but also that of every other road user’s. So think about that.

In the days gone by, cars with distributors gave a lot of trouble when the humidity was high. Cars today have no distributors in the old word sense. But they do have an intricate and complex electrical system. They should be kept clean and dry. There are a number of silicon-based waterproofing sprays available in the market. They can be easily sprayed into the vital parts of the electrical components to keep them free from moisture. This shall ensure their proper functioning.

Remember Teflon? It was first introduced in non-stick frying pans. The Teflon-coated pans revolutionised cooking for million of housewives.

Teflon coating is now available for your car. A good polish and treatment for your car will leave a protective coat plus give a better gloss and sheen to the paintwork. There are other products from Teflon to protect your plastic i.e. rear-view mirror, rubber parts, tyres, and the interior.

If you intend keeping the car for a number of years, the under body — wheel arches, mudguards, floorboard, door interiors, sills — can also be protected with the help of Teflon. Again, this comes as a spray and can be easily applied to the rust-prone areas of the car.

Teflon is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as one of the slipperiest substances on earth.

Some car owners have fitted extra lights and this, definitely, means exposed wires. Fix them up with insulating tape. An exposed wire is an invitation to a shot-circuit.

Replace all cracked or broken lenses on the light clusters. Check battery terminals. Apply petroleum jelly, not grease, on the terminals. This means removing the cables and cleaning the battery terminals before applying the jelly and slipping back the cable head. The jelly helps to make a better contact while avoiding corrosion.

It is possible for a car to aquaplane even with good tyres. Worn-out tyres are an invitation to disaster. Aquaplaning occurs when a sheet of water comes in between the tyre and the road. The sipes (the zig-zag pattern on the tyres) are unable to clear the water from the tyres at high speed, and this makes one lose control of the vehicle.

At all times during a heavy downpour, reduce speed. After passing through standing water, pump your brakes to dry them out. Brakes lose all their efficiency when wet. Braking distance increases by three to four times. Maintain a safe distance. At times like this, put on your headlights — on low beam. It is important to see and be seen.

During the rains, I usually take the carpets out of my car. They get wet, retain moisture and end up rotting and rusting the floorboard. Rubber mats, which can be easily cleaned and dried, are good for the wet slushy season. In case taking out the carpet is a big chore, put some newspapers on the carpet, then the rubber mats. The newspapers can be changed easily and often.

Learn to operate the airflow control knobs on your dashboard. Directing the air towards the car interior properly, will keep the windscreen and other glass area clear.

If you don’t have A/C or heater, you will be obliged to drive with the windows slightly open.

The next few months are going to test your car and driving skills. Be prepared.

Happy motoring!