Simple Yet Crucial Car Maintenance Tips For The Monsoon

The monsoon season can be dreamily romantic. Depending on where you live, it can also be a cause for concern if you are a car owner. As cars are made primarily of metal, all that potential water exposure is less than ideal. Modern cars are indeed robust, all-weather machines, but there are still a few things you can and should do to mitigate any potential rain damage. Here’s a checklist:

Park Appropriately

Heavy rains are usually accompanied by strong winds and followed by water-logging, both of which can be detrimental to a car. Coastal areas are especially prone to the former, with storm-like conditions causing entire trees to uproot and fall on cars. The latter issue (water-logging) usually affects low-lying areas. As such, during the monsoon, avoid parking your car under or near trees or in low-lying areas that tend to go under. Sheltered parking, as in a garage, works best. If that’s not an option, choose a spot that doesn’t get water-logged and is generally open to the skies.

Air Your Garage

If you can park your car in a garage, that’s fantastic; you’ll manage to avoid the bulk of water exposure. The garage, however, can get damp with moisture. To limit this issue, keep your garage door open on sunny days to let it air out. A bit of sunshine is good for everyone, including your car.

Keep Your Documents Safe

During the monsoons, it is best to keep important vehicle documents at home. Documents such as RC book, PUC certificate, insurance policy, vehicle manual, etc., should be removed from your car and kept in the relative safety of your home. You can save digital copies on your phone for reference when on the go. These documents are not impossible to replace, but it sure isn’t an easy task.

Take Photos Of Your Vehicle

Right before the onset of the monsoon, take comprehensive photographs of the interior and exterior of your car. Make sure you get everything – from the engine bay to under the floor mats. In case your car does get waterlogged in the rains, these photos will serve as valuable ‘before’ references to submit for your insurance claim. There’s indeed truth in the maxim, ‘A picture is worth a thousand words.

Regularly Inspect Your Car

Throughout the monsoon, keep a vigilant check on the state of your car. Leaks, rust, and mold are common afflictions that can develop even in the most meticulously cared-for vehicles. Leaks may affect your roof, windows, door seals, headlights, or tail lights. Rusting is most common where scratches and dents have stripped away the protective paint layer. And mold is liable to show up in places where moisture can accumulate and create a damp environment, such as below the floor mats or under the roof liner. These issues, if unchecked, could quickly rack up hefty maintenance bills.

Check Your Car’s Electricals

Electricity and water don’t mix well. Before the onset of the monsoon, check or get checked the integrity of your vehicle’s electrical system. Exposed live wires or connections on making contact with water could cause short-circuiting, which in turn could severely hamper the functioning of your car.

Check Warning Lights, Engine Oil, And Tyres

Be cognizant of your vehicle’s warning lights; they alert you to any potential problems. You might also want to take an occasional look at the engine oil. Check your car’s dipstick now and then to make sure your oil hasn’t turned a milky colour – this would indicate water contamination. Lastly, regularly check and maintain the tyre pressure; wet roads offer lower traction, making it even tougher for tyres to maintain their grip. The least you should do to help them out is maintain their pressure at the requisite level. If you drive a Ford car, with the FordPass mobile app connected to your car, you can easily keep a tab on your car’s health; tyre pressure, oil life, fuel level etc. You even turn on and turn off the engine with just the touch of a button via FordPass.

To keep your car in top condition during the monsoon season and ensure optimal performance, make sure it is rain-ready. If you drive a Ford, you can always Dial-a-Ford (home pick-up and drop car servicing facility) to set up a pre-monsoon check-up and service. This will ensure that your car is in the best possible state to take the rains head-on.