Getting your car going after lockdown
As more South Africans get ready to step out with the easing of the Covid-19 lockdown, their vehicles - after spending some time off duty - are not.
These are the findings from a survey conducted by a vehicle insurance company, which found that 52 per cent of respondents had to jump-start their vehicles because their battery had run down and 27 per cent didn’t need to jump-start theirs because they intermittently drove it.
It’s imperative to check your vehicle before you take to the road, especially if you haven?t been driving it that often,? says Ricardo Coetzee, head of Auto & General Insurance.
Battery issues, low tyre pressure, and flat spots, difficulty starting, and brakes that stick are some of the more common issues, so it?s a good idea to do a thorough check before returning to life’s fast lane.
Coetzee provided the following level three-vehicle checklist:
BATTERY: If the battery is low, dim lights, engine turning slowly, battery warning light illuminating, but the vehicle can still start, start it and let it idle for a while, drive a good couple of blocks or use it to run a few essential errands.
Low battery symptoms should gradually disappear if the battery is charging correctly. If it doesn’t, it’s wise to have the battery, then the alternator and electrical system checked.
If the battery is run down, you can jump-start the vehicle using another vehicle or jump-start power pack.
Steps to safely jump-start a vehicle:
1. Park the vehicle with the strong battery close enough to the one with the weak battery for jumper cables to reach both batteries, but make sure that the vehicles don’t touch. Turn off the car with the strong battery.
2. Connect the positive (red / yellow) cable to the positive (+) terminal of the weak battery. Connect the other end of this cable to the positive terminal of the strong battery.
3. Connect the negative (black) cable to the negative (-) terminal of the strong battery. Connect the other end of the negative cable to a clean metal part of the engine in the car with the weak battery. Bolts and brackets will do. It’s important not to connect this end of the negative cable to the negative terminal of the weak battery, as this could lead to the battery exploding.
4. Start the car with the strong battery and let it idle for about 5 minutes before attempting to start the other car. If it doesn’t start, check that all cables are secure and try again. If it does, let it run for 15 to 20 seconds before disconnecting any cables just to make sure that it doesn’t stall.
5. Disconnect the cables in reverse order negative cable from the weak battery car, negative cable from the strong battery car, positive cable from the strong battery car, then the positive cable from the weak battery car.
6. Take special care during the entire process to not have the cable clamps touch each other, moving engine parts or any other parts not listed in this jump-start guide.
TYRES:Â Be sure to check tyre pressure (when the tyres are cool).
Tyres typically deflate faster when the vehicle isn?t used regularly.
Inflate tyres to the recommended pressure.? Check for flat spots.
These develop at the point of contact between the tyre and the surface when the vehicle is left in the same spot for extended periods of time and tend to be more severe in vehicles that were parked with underinflated tyres.
Symptoms include a visible flattening of one side of the tyre, vibrations and unusual tyre noise as the flat spot impacts the road surface.
It could be temporary, where symptoms disappear after correctly inflating the tyres and driving a couple of kilometers, or more permanent, in which case the tyre should be professionally inspected.
Check for uneven wear, such as inconsistent tread pattern or bald spots, even after being back on the road for a while, as tyres that haven’t worked for a while are more susceptible to this.
OTHER PARTS:
Sticky brakes ? brakes may be a bit sticky after sitting in the same position for a while. It’s normally not a major problem, so just be sure to go easy on the brakes at first.
This should gradually eliminate any small ridges and build-up that may have formed on the brakes and get them back to smooth, efficient hot braking in no time.
Fluids, be sure to check for any fuel, oil, brake fluid, or water leaks and make sure that all fluids are topped up to the recommended levels. Don’t push your vehicle too hard until all fluids have had time to circulate properly.
Electrical Systems, electric windows, wipers and sunroofs may initially be a bit sticky, so it’s wise to check that the surfaces moved by these systems are clean
Proactive vehicle checks and maintenance are always first prize and could prevent costly downtime and repairs.
It’s also imperative to make sure that you have adequate insurance cover, with good roadside assistance, in place, in case the unforeseen happens,Coetzee concluded.P/S; Hi Leshnee – please used a photo of a motor vehicle to illustrate.
