Getting cars ready for the open road

THE lockdown has seen thousands of cars parked up and left to sit, while people stay at home.

But problems can arise from leaving a car parked up, meaning when you do eventually get behind the wheel again there can be a higher chance of a mechanical issue arising – but there are things you can do to help.

It’s best to check over your car if it hasn’t moved for some time, and even if you’re still staying at home and leaving your vehicle parked up, these checks could help to prevent any mechanical issues in the long term.

BRAKES AND TYRES

Perform a three-point turn where it’s safe to do so. Do this once, then do it again in reverse. Doing this once properly rotates the tyres while it also makes sure the brakes are functioning properly. It’ll also keep suspension parts moving freely.

Visually check your tyres. Looks for cuts and bulges which mean it’s time for a replacement. Make sure tyre pressures are kept correct.

BATTERY

When parked up functions such as the clock and alarm system do drain a battery’s charge, albeit only a small amount. Over time these can prevent the car from starting effectively. So how to keep it topped up?

Starting your car and running it for at least 15 minutes can be a great way to keep a battery going. Always ensure you’re with the car when it’s running and make sure that the engine comes up to temperature, too.

A trickle charger can be a good idea. If you’re able to park your car in a driveway or garage, then you can connect a trickle charger from the mains in your home to the car’s battery. It’ll keep the battery topped up so it’s good to go when you need it. DIESEL PARTICULATE FILTER All diesel-powered cars made after 2007 will be fitted with a diesel particulate filter (DPF). It catches soot produced by the engine and stores them until it’s able to burn them off. If a car is only used for short journeys, then the DPF can often get clogged – and this will usually result in a dashboard warning light and reduced performance.

To solve it, the car needs to be brought up to temperature and driven on a motorway or dual carriageway where it’ll be able to “regen”. Also, make sure it has at least a quarter a tank of fuel, many won’t regen if they’re running low on fuel.