Driving during a downpour might be an enjoyable experience to you, but the same cannot be said about your car. While you sit inside your car and enjoy the rain, your vehicle takes the entire brunt of it all. The rainy season brings a plethora of problems for your car. The cold and wet weather coupled with high humidity not only cause issues while driving, but also contribute towards damages from rust and corrosion. If the right precautionary measures are not taken before you decide to brave the storm in your car, you might end up spending an exorbitant amount of money on the repairs later - or worse, you can even get involved in a serious accident. To prevent your car from getting damaged due to the rains and increase its longevity, you should take a few preventive measures before the arrival of monsoon.
See the list mentioned below to check out some tips that you can follow to ensure a safe ride during the monsoons while saving on expensive repair costs.
One of the biggest problems faced during the rainy season is hydroplaning. Car tires have grooves that are provided to hold the vehicle on the road while channeling the water away from the contact patch. When the tires of a car get worn out, they cannot channel enough water away and the contact patch is momentarily lifted. This causes the car to spin or get out of control which is known as hydroplaning. In order to avoid this and cause any accident, you should replace the worn out tires of your car and keep them inflated to the recommended pressure before the onset of the rains.
Driving during the rain can cause visibility issues since the raindrops get smeared across the windshield. However, this can be prevented by using water-repellent products on the windshield that cause the water droplets to roll off and prevent them from obscuring your vision. After a downpour, the rain water dries off leaving behind mineral residue that can attract dirt and affect your vision while driving. Therefore, it is important that you clean your windshield immediately after your car has been outside in the rain.
It might seem pointless to many to wash a car during the rainy season since the rain has already washed away all the dirt. However, it might come as a shock to a number of people that rain water doesn’t help much when it comes to the durability of a car. When your car dries off after a downpour, acidic deposits are often left behind that eat away the exposed areas such as the paint. Washing your car using solvent-free cleaning products or even just plain water can help neutralise the acidity to a great extent. You should also apply wax to your car for added protection since it will help the water droplets roll off from the body of the car.
A car’s windshield wipers are one of the most significant components at the time of a downpour. Windshield wipers should ideally be replaced every year since they face a lot of wear and tear that can cause them to become dry, cracked, and brittle. If not replaced frequently, they can leave streaks across the windshield and impair your vision. While changing your wipers, make sure that you purchase the ones that are the right length according to your car’s make and model, and have the proper connector clips.
Headlights and taillights are important not only to illuminate your way, but also to indicate other drivers about your location. This becomes even more important when it is raining since the vision of the drivers on the road can get affected due to visibility issues, thereby, increasing the chances of a crash. Therefore, it is paramount that you check if the lights of your car are working properly before going out.
Usually, car batteries last for approximately 5 years on an average. However, it gets reduced to one to two years due to the corrosion caused by cold and humidity during the rainy season. If you are finding it difficult to start your car, cannot turn the lights on, or see any other similar sign then there are high chances that your car’s battery is either dying out or bloated. To avoid being stranded in the middle of a storm, it is better to replace the batteries of the car when you see such warning signs.
One of the major components of your car that gets affected when the monsoons arrive is its braking system. Hence, they should be taken proper care of to avoid any risk while driving. Brakes become less effective when they become damp, therefore, you should get the car out of water as soon as possible. In case your brakes have become damp, you can slowly accelerate while applying the brakes to dry out the brake pads. If the problem persists, you should get the problem fixed immediately by a professional.
The main function of the accessory belt is to deliver power from the engine to various components of the car. If this belt is loose or worn out, and gets damp during the rainy season, it causes a squealing noise which is not pleasant. You should get this checked before the monsoons to avoid hearing your car screech continuously while driving.
Rusting of a car is accelerated when it is kept covered inside a damp or humid area. Keeping your car in a well-ventilated area prevents the formation of rust, thereby, extending the life of your vehicle.
When you are splashing over puddles while driving during the rainy season, the water, mud, and grease can enter the CV joint boots and cause the lubricant to wash away. This will not only lead to an uncomfortable ride, but will also require you to spend a lot of money on repairs in the long run. Therefore, it is better to ensure that you fix all the issues in your car such as loose or leaking components.
You cannot lock yourself in to avoid going out when it is raining to protect your car. Therefore, it is necessary for you to take precautionary measures in order to ensure that when you do go out, you can enjoy your ride without having to worry about your car.
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