How to take care of your car during lockdown

Over the past few months, the COVID-19 pandemic has taken a considerable toll the world over and India is just catching up. With the number of cases being reported in the country rising fast each day there are chances of increasing the lockdown for few more days. It’s not just you who’ll be practicing social distancing, even your vehicle will lie idle. To ensure that it remains in a good working condition and stays free of niggles, Here are some quick steps to help you ensure that your car is ready for a spin again:

Tyres

The worst damage you could do to your car during this period is by not moving it enough. The tyres could potentially deflate and develop cracks under the constant pressure of your vehicle if you leave it in the same position for weeks. If circumstances permit, take your vehicle out for a short spin inside the bounds of your society or colony. And if that doesn’t seems to be possiblethe  move your car forwards and backwards to keep it from remaining stationary for too long. This will help prevent flat spots on the tyres.

Avoid engaging  the handbrakes

If you leave the hand brakes  engage. It may get jammed. Disengage the handbrake if you don,t park your vehicle on slope. Although OEMs recommend leaving the vehicle in reverse gear if parked on a downhill gradient and in the first gear if parked on an uphill gradient. do remember to place chocks at the wheels for preventing the vehicle from rolling over.

Battery

If you try to start your car after a long layover, the chances are that the battery will die down. To prevent it from getting discharged, start your vehicle once a week and keep it running for at least 10-15 minutes. Automakers suggest disconnecting the battery from the negative terminal to prevent discharge.

Exterior

It is advisable to park your car in a covered area during the entire lockdown period to avoid any unwanted damage to the exterior of the car. Leaving your vehicle under the sun around this time of the year can not only cause damage to the paint but also risk it to scratches.

If you do not have a covered parking, keep your vehicle under the wraps. Wash your car regularly as the accumulation of dirt, bugs and bird droppings for a long time could damage the paint.

Wipers off the screen

Do not keep your wipers stuck to the windshield for weeks even if you clean it regularly. Try to put a wrap under the wiper blades to avoid marks on the screen.

Clean interiors

Lastly, be sure to thoroughly clean the interior of your vehicle regularly. Try to clean using some  solution this will help you keep your car free of coronavirus. And keeping it clean will also keep you ready for the first trip you plan to take when the lockdown is finally over.