Monsoon Guide
North India is rejoicing the arrival of the monsoons for its a much-needed respite from the summer heat. Rains cause cars some serious wear and tear. Here’s our guide on how to stay mobile
It’s that time of the year when the heavens open up showering the parched earth with the nectar of life from which new life springs forth. Rain might bring welcome relief after the long scorching summer but it also means trying times for your car. The humidity in the air can play havoc with the interiors. It also takes a toll on the paintwork and the underbody of your car. Driving in the rain can also be troublesome because visibility drops drastically, as does traction from the tyres and braking performance. In this issue, we give you a rundown on how to tackle these rainy conditions. At the end of it, you should even be able to enjoy driving or commuting this monsoon season.
CABIN CARE
During this period it’s normal for people to enter the car’s cabin with drenched clothes and wet shoes. This leads to moisture build up inside the cabin, which leaves a foul musty smell in the passenger compartment. The dirty rubber mats turn into breeding grounds for fungus.
Also, the wet soles of shoes become prone to slipping off the pedals, which can be dangerous. A layer of newspaper in the footwell of the car can be helpful to absorb the moisture from the soles of your shoes and the mats. It will also prevent dirt from your shoes getting transferred on to the carpets or mats.
Remember to keep your car covered if parked in the open and keep it well ventilated while driving. Using a good car freshener or perfume will help to mask any musty odours. Set your vehicle’s air-conditioner to the fresh air, recirculate mode to flush the moisture out from the cabin. This will also prevent misting of the windshield when you first get in the car after it’s parked in the rain.
VISIBILITY
Turning on the headlamps will not only help improve the visibility, they will also help other drivers spot you on the road. Keep a piece of soft, clean cloth or newspapers to wipe away the mist that might accumulate on the windshield. Newspaper is a good option because it soaks up the water particles without leaving any marks on the glass. In case your car doesn’t come with a defogger, an easy way of removing mist is to put on the air-conditioning in the ‘fresh air mode’ and move the slider so as to direct the flow of air towards the windscreen. If your vehicle is fitted with fog lamps ensure they are operational and the lenses are clean.
WORN OUT RUBBER PARTS
Wipers are one of the most important pieces of safety equipment in rain. Clear vision through the windshield is of paramount
importance. Ensure that your wiper assembly is in proper working condition and the blades are in good shape. Replace the wiper blades if they start to slip on the windshield. Top up the windshield washer reservoir with a mixture of water and wiper fluid that is used to clean road spray off the glass. You can also spray a bit of WD-40 on the windshield to improve its water-repelling properties. Ensure to check the rubber lining of the doors. If they are damaged or coming loose or getting out of shape, it’s advisable to replace them because water seepage through the lining can damage the window winding mechanism. Also, don’t forget to check the boot lid lining because any water entering the boot will stagnate at the bottom of the boot floor resulting in rusting.
Keep the tyres well maintained. If the tread has worn out, the most sensible thing to do is to change them. Bald tyres lead to drastic reduction in traction on wet surfaces. They will be also prone to aquaplaning. It happens when a thin film of water gets trapped between the road surface and tyre in the absence of grooves causing a sudden loss of grip that can send the car into an uncontrollable spin. Braking efficiency is greatly reduced as well. The minimum depth on the tyre tread should be 2-3mm.
DRIVING IN STAGNANT WATER
Most people make the cardinal mistake of rushing through a stagnant pool of water. If you try to drive through a standing pool of water at high speed, it creates a bigger a splash increasing the chances of water entering the engine through the air intake. This can cause serious damage to the engine resulting in hefty repair bills.
The most sensible thing is to follow the path taken by the car ahead as it will give you an idea of what lies ahead. The ideal way of wading through is to put the car in first gear and accelerate gently maintaining a constant speed. Allowing the revs to drop will result in water entering the exhaust. Attempt to cross only
if the water level is six inches below the air inlet and the tailpipe. After crossing the watery patch, rev the engine a bit so that any water that might have entered the tailpipe gets expelled by the exhaust gases. If you feel that water has entered the engine switch it off instantly.
Brakes too lose bite when brake pads and brake shoes get wet. This happens because water acts as a lubricant reducing the amount of bite. To dry the brakes look for an empty patch of road and brake hard to expel any water that might be trapped between the disc and brake pads. If you feel that your car is aquaplaning, remember not to panic. Lift your foot off the throttle gently and press the brakes lightly.
Ensure you carry a warning triangle, a spare set of light bulbs, fuses, a tow rope and an umbrella. An umbrella might seem like an odd piece of kit, but it will be very handy in case you need to step out of the car to fix any problems.