How to care for your car in monsoon season

Monsoon rains bring relief from the scorching summer, but also makes lives difficult for motorists. Every year, roads in most cities are waterlogged due to poor drainage systems, and this causes heavy damage to vehicles. You can't do anything about the rain or the roads, but you can definitely minimise the risks your car would face.

Here are some tips on how to care for your car during the rains.
Check your tyres
Always keep your tyres in good shape, but the monsoon season demands some extra attention. Wet roads can make your travel unsafe if your tyres are in a bad condition.The grip of the tyres on the road is compromised when it's wet and slippery. Unfit tyres can make you lose control.


You can check the condition of your car tyre by inserting a ten-rupee coin and seeing if the golden rim is still visible. If it’s not, you are good to go. Otherwise you need to replace the tyres.

Brakes
Wet and slippery roads make braking difficult and braking distances longer. Get your car’s brake system properly inspected by a professional for any lag or worn-out components.

Battery & wires
Excess use of wipers and lights in the monsoon season takes a heavy toll on the battery. So keep your car battery well charged and in good shape.

The car’s bonnet is in direct contact with the rain, so you should also make sure that all the wiring and fuse elements are well insulated. A weak battery may result in a poor ignition problem, where your car may not start in the middle of a jam.

Excess moisture also affects your car wiring, and exposed wires may lead to shorting. Checking your wiring also helps to keep your warranty intact as short circuits due to moisture or contact with water make the car’s warranty void.

Lights
Heavy rains can reduce visibility on roads, so you should make sure that all your car’s lights are working properly. Check all lights – the headlights (both, low and high beams), fog light, brake lights and hazard indicators and side indicators. Headlights and indicators too are important to keep you and other vehicles safe.

Check wipers
Small components like wipers also become very important during the rainy season. Worn-out wipers may impact visibility, which could lead to deadly accidents. So make sure that wipers are up to date. Further you should also consider changing the wiper blades, if they are over two years old.

Keep your car under shade
You should not leave your car in the open, as too much rain water may affect the paint and cause rusting.

Also, make sure that you never use a car cover if your car is parked in the open. While most of the water falling on the car might flow away, the cover tends to stick to the car's body due to the moisture. When the sun is out and the car dries, the cover can stick to the car's outer coat of paint. This can peel off when the cover is removed, causing irreversible damage to the paint.