The ultimate monsoon car care and safe driving guide
Monsoon is not an exciting time for daily commuters. While
car owners are better off compared to two-wheeler riders, the
rainy season brings with it a whole of lot of woes even for car
owners.
DidYouKnow – Auto accidents increase by over 200%
during rains!
Maintaining your car during monsoon is wearisome and
driving through water clogged roads or driving during a
heavy downpour is not without its hazards.
In this blog post we’ve put together an all-compassing list of
car maintenance and safe driving tips that will come in handy
during monsoon.
Monsoons are pleasant! But they also call for extra attention
to your car and your safety.
MONSOON CAR CARE1. The Tyres
Ensure that the tyres you are driving on are in good condition
The treads must be of good depth (more than 2 mm) or they
are likely to skid on wet roads
Tyres with good tread help in gaining traction on wet roads
Good treads also help in prevention of aquaplaning (though
not to a large extent). Aquaplaning or hydroplaning occurs
when the tyres lose contact with the road due to excess
water. This causes the car to glide over the water. We’ll cover
aquaplaning in detail shortly.
Maintain optimum tyre pressure as recommended by the
manufacturer
Ensure that your spare tyre is in an usable condition
Look out for the tyre wear indicators on the tyres. When
these marks are equal to the tread, you must change the
tyres. Its best to get these checked by trained mechanics or
car service centers
2. Brakes
They are one of the most crucial parts when it comes to
driver and car safety.
Keep your brakes dirt free with regular inspection
Brake pads can wear out with constant use. You may not be
able to inspect the condition of the brake pad on all cars. It’s
best to have the brakes checked at your nearest service
center.
Dry out the brakes by gently applying brakes after passing
through a water clogged road.
Get the brake pads cleaned bi-weekly during monsoon
3. Wipers and washer fluid
A lot of car owners do not pay much attention to the wiper
blades. Worn out rubber on your wiper blades will not only
fail to clear the windshield during rain but will also leave
permanent scratches on your windshield.
Ensure that the wiper is working fine on all the speeds.
Inspect the blades every 6 months for wear/cracking
Clean the blades with a cloth soaked in a mild detergent. You
will see the dirt that is removed from the blades
Ensure your windshield is also washed after your clean your
wiper blades
Check the washer fluid level and have it refilled if needed
4. Car Body Care
Protect the body from rain by applying a good wax polish.
This will protect the paint and will also sheet the water off
quickly when it raining
If there are exposed metal parts due to scratches or dents
have them fixed/touched-up by your service center to
prevent rust formation
Prevent rusting on scratches or exposed metal parts with a
rust-preventing/corrosion-protection spray
Wash the car immediately (or the next day) after wading
through water clogged roads or slush to avoid rusting and
scratches. A high-pressure hose spray is strongly
recommended
5. Lights
H
ave your headlights, taillights and indicator lights checked
and ensure they are working fine since the visibility is low
during heavy rains.
5. Car Doors – Check the beading (in all the doors, boot and
bonnet) and have it replaced in case of damage to prevent
water seeping in.
6. Interiors – In case of water seepage inside the cabin, use
some old mats to dry out the floor. Use a vacuum cleaner to
clean dried slush/mud that get in via our footwear.
TIPS FOR SAFE DRIVING DURING RAINS
1. As much as it looks like fun, do not speed on flooded roads. If
possible, completely avoid roads that are heavily water
clogged
2. Watch out for large vehicles and speeding cars that can
spray your windshield and reduce visibility
3. Use headlights so that other cars can see you and also help
you clearly see the road ahead
4. Double the distance you would normally (remember the 3
second distance) maintain from the car ahead of you.
5. Ensure you rev the engine while driving through a water-
clogged road. This ensures that the water doesn’t get into
the exhaust pipe
6. Beware of aquaplaning
(image source: www.tred.com)
During heavy or persistent rains, a layer of water builds
between the surface of the road and your wheels.
This causes the tyres to lose traction and the vehicle will not
respond to the controls. You may suddenly feel that your
vehicle is loose.
This can sometimes be avoided with well-maintained tyres
To get out of this situation you need to first remain calm
though the experience might be terrifying
Keep the steering wheel steady and take your foot of the
accelerator and the brakes!
Be prepared to take control of the car as you may feel a
sudden jerk once the tyres gain traction
Speeding during heavy rains can also cause aquaplaning
Never use cruise control during heavy rains
7. If you engine stalls after driving through water, do not
attempt to restart! This may cause severe damage to the
engine. It’s best to call for assistance and have the car
examined.
8. Take slow turns when approaching a corner to avoid skidding
9. If the visibility is near zero due to heavy rains, it’s always
better to pullover
10. IF driving in the rain at night, take extra caution because
two-wheelers and dark coloured vehicles are hard to spot
11. Turn on the defroster as soon as you see the windshield
fogging on the inside. Turn the air conditioner for a while and
the mist will disappear
12. It’s always best to stay off roads during torrential rains
Bonus tips for safety
1. Carry a flashlight. That light from your smartphone may not
be sufficient if your vehicle is stuck on dark or poorly lit road
2. Carry a small shovel to help remove the sludge from your
tyres. This can be very handy!
3. Ensure you have an emergency medical kit in your car
4. Keep lists of phone numbers of car towing services/traffic
helpline on your phone. Usually your car dealer or car service
center provides you one. Here’s a list of car towing services
in Bangalore –http://www.justdial.com/Bangalore/Car-Towing-
Services/ct-1020730632 or call us at +91 9972204561 for car
breakdown service
5. Carry some snacks and water in case you are stuck in long
traffic jams
_____________________________________________________________CarServo is the smartest way to connect to car service centers in Bangalore for all your car maintenance needs. You can book a service with a Maruti Service Center, Hyundai Service Center or choose a service center of your choice based on the brand of your car. Our network also includes authorized service centers for Renault, Honda, Chevrolet, Nissan, Datsun, Volkswagen and more.