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.