Chennai: When this lockdown is over, people might face troubles with their vehicles as they are not used for more than a month.
However, TVS Auto Assist CEO Mahesh Kumar lists out a few steps that will help keep the vehicle healthy during this period.
Speaking to News Today, he said one common problem what people might face when they start their vehicle after a long time will be a dead battery.
Since the car has not been started for days, there are high chances for this.”This can be avoided by starting the car once in three days and leaving it in idle run for nearly 15 minutes,” he said.
Next on the list is parking the car in one position.”Tyres lose pressure over time and if a car sits for too long in a same position it may lead to flat spots where the rubber meets the road. To avoid this the vehicle can be repositioned at least once in three days,” he said.
He added that moving the car for a short distance will ensure that all the moving parts including the transmission and brakes are lubricated. He also insisted not to use hand brake.
“Leaving the parking brake on for an extended period of time can cause the brake pads and rotor to stick or fuse together. This can be avoided by using wooden blocks,” he added.
He further said it is always advisable to clean the area before parking.”When parked for long, rodents might enter the car and might damage the wires. It is advisable to put rodent repellents,” he said.
To ensure that the exterior of the car is not exposed to extreme weather, it should either be parked under shade or be covered. Mahesh said before using the car after the lockdown it should be thoroughly washed as it is said that viruses can also stick on to metal surfaces .
“There are several disinfectants that are made available these days. We are also planning to wash vehicles using disinfectants once the lockdown is over. We will go to the customers’ place and clean their vehicle with the disinfectant. People can reach out to the number 1800 258 9191 to prebook,” he added.
“The place where you park the car is also important. There should not be anything that might fall on the car. The ground also should be flat and a stable one,” he said.
He added that it is advisable to park the bikes with centre stand. “While starting the motorbike, it should be made sure that it is kickstarted instead of the self start option,” he said.