Remaining idle for a long time means that your vehicle requires more care than usual. We list down the top tricks to keep in mind.
Preserve the battery
Even the most novice of car owners will know that the battery gets depleted even when the vehicle is not in use. To prevent it from getting discharged, start your vehicle once a week and keep it running for at least 10-15 minutes, which will allow the alternator to replenish the juice. If that isn’t possible, and the vehicle is likely to remain idle for a month or longer, then automakers suggest disconnecting the battery from the negative terminal to prevent discharge.
Keep the vehicle running
In essence, vehicles are machines and machines perform their best when they are kept running. While 21 days might not seem like a period long enough, the possibility of restricted movement further beyond should certainly be a cause for concern. So, start your vehicle every few days, as recommended earlier. And do remember to operate all the systems, including the air conditioner. This will not only help to keep them in good shape but will also allow you to diagnose any faults and niggles well in advance of actually being able to hit the roads.
Avoid engaging the handbrake
While leading automakers advise to have the handbrake engaged when parked, the same can jam the brakes over a long period of time. So, simply park the car in gear instead. Leaving the vehicle in reverse gear if parked on a downhill gradient and in the first gear if parked on an uphill gradient.
Clean the cabin
Your vehicle is likely to miss proper ventilation in the cabin for most of the three weeks, hence it would be a good idea to remove leftover knick-knacks and food wrappers to prevent any foul odours from developing. Thoroughly dust off and vacuum clean the interiors, paying close attention to the muddy bits like the carpets and floor mats. And if you plan on following up the advice of regularly starting the car, do wash your hands before and after to avoid contaminating the vehicle’s interior with possible COVID-19 contagions that you may have picked up somewhere else.
Tags: #Cars #Maintenance #Coronavirus-19 #Covid-19, #vehicle #Cleanthecabin #Preservethebattery #Lockdown, #MaintainYourCar