The rainy season is a difficult season for vehicle owners. How not, when it rains, of course, any type of vehicle will get wet, even the roads that are passed also become muddy due to lots of puddles.
Not to mention if there is a flood, of course this can cause damage to the vehicle due to water entering the engine gap, including four-wheeled vehicles such as cars. Therefore, you also need to understand how to deal with a car getting water in it.
For car owners, of course, there are no small costs incurred if the car experiences engine failure, when forced to drive during heavy rain or even through floods. Plus the acid contained in rainwater can cause car paint to be damaged.
To prevent this, there is nothing wrong with following some of the following tips for maintain your car during the rainy season:
1. Wash the Car as Soon as Possible
Not a few car owners choose to let a car that is wet due to rain to dry by itself. Even though this habit can actually make some parts of the car experience rust and even become porous.
To prevent this, it is better to wash the car immediately using clean water. The use of this clean water not only removes traces of rainwater that contains acid, but also cleans the dirt that sticks to the car body.
To get the maximum, use a special car wash soap to prevent the protective layer of car paint from being damaged.
After washing, don’t forget to immediately dry the car body using a clean cloth. This is to prevent mold and stains from forming.
If you feel that washing your own car is difficult, it never hurts to take your car to a subscription car wash that is already trusted.
2. Clean the Front Windshield Periodically
The windshield of the car is the part that often experiences problems, especially when it rains. Usually in these conditions the windshield will fog up so that it makes visibility disturbed. Of course this is dangerous, especially when driving.
To overcome this, it is enough to turn on the car air conditioner in a condition that is not too cold or try to equalize the temperature inside the car with the temperature outside. However, if this method doesn’t work, it doesn’t hurt to wipe the windshield with a clean dry cloth.
As a form of car windshield care to make it look clear, clean the glass using a special shampoo with a chamois cloth in damp conditions. We recommend that you wipe with a unidirectional motion for maximum results.
3. Check the Condition of the Wiper Rubber
The wiper on the windshield must also get attention, even being a very important part of the car when it rains. As is known, car wipers have a function as a front and rear windshield cleaner from rainwater to dust.
The rubber contained in the wiper helps clean the windshield so the car driver can see clearly when it rains. Wiper rubber is too rough, so the glass cleaning process is not optimal.
We recommend that you replace the wiper rubber every 6-12 months or if you don’t use rain repellent products to keep the car wiper rubber durable for a long time.
This rain repellent is a liquid that can provide a special coating on the windshield so that rainwater can be easily cleaned by the wiper, or make rainwater that falls on the windshield slide by itself without the help of a wiper.
4. Clean the Carpet of the Car
Dirty and wet car carpets can actually cause an unpleasant odor in the car. If left unchecked, it is not impossible that it will cause mold on the carpet.
Therefore, the best way to do this is to apply a layer of old newsprint on the car carpet. This is to prevent the carpet from getting dirty, wet, or damp due to wet footwear when entering the car.
Another way that can be done is to wash the car carpet regularly at least once a week so that the carpet is always in a clean condition.
5. Check the Condition of the Engine Periodically
The engine is the main component of a car. You can imagine if rainwater enters the engine components, of course it will cause interference with engine performance and result in the car breaking down.
For this reason, it is very important to pay attention to the car engine by checking regularly, starting from the carburetor, filter, spark plug, electrical system and so on. If it is known that the car engine has been exposed to water, you should immediately dry it using a dry cloth and hairdryer, then check the engine’s performance.
However, if it is found that the car engine has problems such as the engine does not start when it is turned on, you should immediately contact the nearest repair shop for further treatment.
Also, don’t forget to warm up the car engine before driving. During the rainy season the air tends to decrease and that has an impact on the car engine being cold.
Heating the car engine regularly must be done, even if the car is stored in the garage for a long time. This is to ensure that the machine is in good condition.
6. Check the Brakes and the Tires of the Car
The brakes on every vehicle have a very important role in holding or stopping the vehicle. Even the brake system itself is closely related to vehicle tires.
When it rains and the road gets wet, the brakes and tires of the car have to work extra to grip the road to prevent the car from slipping or slipping while driving on the road. In many cases, the use of brakes is often done when it rains to prevent the car from speeding on wet roads.
Brakes that are often exposed to water and become wet due to the rain are prone to rust. These rusty brake components make brake performance less good when operated.
The ideal car tire should not be bald or have good grooves, not flat, the thickness of the tires is still standard and filled with air with the right pressure.
You should immediately replace the brakes and tires if they show signs of not being up to standard so that driving becomes safer and more comfortable when the rainy season arrives.
In addition to the brakes, you also need to check other car spare parts, just in case there is any damage. Moreover, there are several car components that must be replaced regularly so that the car remains comfortable when carried.
Those were some tips for caring for your car during the rainy season. Although there are many types of cars, more or less the way to care for them is almost the same.