Author: InspireTeam

In Nigeria, the rainy season can be frustrating for road users, especially car owners, due to bad roads, traffic jams, and constant waterlogs. Unfortunately, the bad roads and drainage systems do not make it easy for vehicle owners. 

Regardless of these challenges, there are several precautions you can take to maintain and preserve the value and longevity of your vehicle. 

These safety precautions are guaranteed to keep yourself, passengers, other road users, and your car safe.

1. Fix or Change your wiper

The wiper is frequent during the rainy season, unlike the dry season, where it is not used frequently. It is essential to check your wiper because it is made of rubber which can wear out quickly. It can result in scratches or uneven cleaning of the windshield.

Direct the airconditioner flow to your windshield to reduce the appearance of fog to enhance visibility

BONUS POINT: Keep your wiper liquid filled to the brim

2. Check your headlight and Tailights

A clear visual is your primary goal during this period, although the heavy downpour can make this a challenge. But, with your headlight and taillight in good condition, you are good to go.

Sunlight causes your headlamps to get cloudy; this is why regular cleaning is vital to maintain its proper function.

Check for cracks and breakages to ensure water does not enter the headlights and cause unwanted fuses. If your light flickers when it is turned on, this is most likely a sign of changing its bulb.

3. Check your batteries

Car battery issues are usually the most frequent problem motorists face during the rainy period leaving motorists stranded due to humidity and droplets splashing during this time. Therefore, if there is a greenish white powdery around the terminal of the battery, this is a sign of corrosion which can make the power to the car unstable.

You can leave the car hood open to avoid direct heat damage to the battery. Although a radiator helps cool down the system, leaving the car hood open makes the cooling process faster.

4. Check your car brakes

Suppose there are any unusual sounds while braking, it is crucial to get it checked and fixed by professionals. 

Also, During the rainy period, brakes take a while to work adequately because water reduces friction between the tires and the road, which does not allow the car to stop at the appropriate time. This means overspeeding should be avoided to protect yourself and other road users.

5. Line Car Floor with Plastic Footmat of Old Newspaper

A plastic foot mat or newspaper can save the stress of maintaining the vehicle’s interior from mud, moisture, and the damp smell, which is usually challenging to eliminate.

Other Tips

• Roll windows up
• Carry spares, e.g., tires, battery, fuse, cables, etc
• Maintain proper distance from vehicles ahead of you
• Always use headlights and taillights for better visual

Rusts – Not only are they ugly, they also result into take a toll on a lot more than your car’s appearance. From an ominous brown color stain on the fender or at the edges of your car, they can lowers the value of your car by eating away at the structure, ruining its functionality and costing you some money.

This unsightly ugly color unfortunately forms much more quickly than they are removed: with oxygen, water and road salt combining at the surface of any aspect of your car, they form, signifying the breakdown of iron-based materials on such a surface.

There are several kinds of rust that can develop on your car’s edges and surfaces. Surface rusts are likely to form when your car is constantly exposed to the Sun’s UV rays. Such exposure has the tendency to break down your car’s paint over time. Damages such as scratches, scrapes, dents and even bird droppings can make your car rust. In this instance, surface rust are removed using high-grade sandpaper or an abrasive wheel to grind it down until the paint and rust are gone, and shiny metal is exposed

However, when this rust is left untreated, it begins to expand and continues going deeper, creating “scales” and exposing the metal underneath and leaving holes in your car. Unfortunately, at this point, every option for correcting the problem won’t have an effective result. In most cases, you’ll need to have the entire panel replaced or have the corroded areas cut out and have patch panels welded into place. If the frame of your car is rusted, this will damage its structural integrity, making it unsafe to drive.

But, rusts can be largely avoidable. All you have to do is know how to prevent it effectively so you don’t waste money, time or get frustrated. Below are the precautionary steps that can help prevent rust in your car:

1.   Wash your car regularly                                                   

This is like the simplest and general way of preventing rust. Although it might sounds simple, this step can make a huge difference in preventing rust. Washing your car once a week will help remove salt buildup and dirt on your car surface. This will reduce wear and tear by protecting the coat and paint layers from damages that might makes it easier for rust to sneak its way in. Therefore, ensure you regularly wash the exterior of your car and also the undercarriage of the car, including the wheel wells and bumpers.

2.  Always keep an eye on the paint coatings.

As a car owner, it’s important to know that won’t stay in the same condition as the day you drove it from the dealer. Its beauty will deteriorate with time and the paints will get damaged over time. Once your car is open to water, to be specific – and rust can begin to form. However, by keeping an eye on the paint job or small spots of rust, you can quickly ensure timely care and proper maintenance which will keep its overall appearance intact.  Pay close attention to the condition of drain holes, water channels, and seals because once moisture collects here, rust can start to form unseen.

3.  Regular Waxing Habits                                                                                                                                                                                     Ensure you wax your car at least twice a year. This is beneficial as it keep your car in the best possible condition such that your paint becomes new while your car gets an additional layer of protective barrier against harmful UV rays.                                   
4.   Mop as it spills                                                                                                                                                                                                    You may be guilty of neglecting spills on the carper of your car. However, the longer you neglect it, the more detrimental it becomes to your car. Spills often sink into the metals of your car thereby causing a rust. You may not realize on time but the damage would have been done. So when next you spill a drink onto the floor of your car, make sure you clean it up immediately!                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
5. Protect Your Car from the Elements                                                                                                                                                                Another way to avoid rust is to prevent constant exposure of your car to sun or rain rather, ensure you park it under cover; more like a shade or garage. This cover will also protect it from bird drippings, which have certain chemicals that destroy the paint job and leave scratches for the rust to set in.

Other tips

–          Avoid parking your car close to other cars in a car park

–          Avoid placing heavy stuff on the roof of your car

–          Try as much as possible to prevent driving over potholes and roads that are under construction.

–          Avoid parking over gutters or areas where water is gathered as water can get to the car bottom and causes rust, weakening it from the outside)

Rust can turn out to be a serious issue and this is why it’s so important to learn how to prevent car rust. . Luckily, you can keep your vehicle rust-free with ease with these outlined tips. Do remember to periodically inspect your car for rust regardless of its brand or cost of purchase.   Once you notice a possible sign of rust, it’s important not to let it go.

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You are running late or heading for that important meeting; getting into your car and turning the ignition, your car makes that dreadful “clicking” noise, but you are not giving up on it yet. So you try again and again at bringing the car to life but to no avail.

Having a dead battery is a terrible way of starting a day; worse, getting stranded with such in an unfamiliar place or the middle of NOWHERE can be immensely dangerous.

Unlike your phone and other gadgets, you can’t quite know how much battery you have left in your vehicle until your car begins to malfunction. Usually, a charged battery is supposed to last you through at least three to four years; however, several factors can drain your battery before the expected end of its service life.

Thankfully, before they fail, batteries usually give out a few warning signs to get a replacement battery as soon as you can. These signs are not limited to just the electrical system but can cause various drivability problems. In this post, we’ll cover the most common telltale signs your battery shows when it’s failing so you can act fast or wait until you “get caught out in the cold.”

• Dim Headlight

Your car battery is a vital source of power for every component of your car. It powers your vehicle’s electrical parts and accessories, from your car’s computer, ignition system, lights, radio, and more; thus, when it fails to generate power because of its weak/dead state, these accessories won’t be able to draw enough energy to function anymore. Take, for instance, your car headlight; if you notice that such lights are going dim or even flickering more frequently than usual, it’s a sign that your battery may be suffering from lack of power.

• Hard Start 

Similar to your engines, your battery is the lifeblood of your vehicle. A battery is integral in powering all of the electrical components in your ride; it is also needed for starting your engine. We often assume that starting a car is as easy as only turning a key or pressing a button, but it goes way beyond that – it involves your battery doing all the heavy lifting. When you turn on the key, the ignition sends a signal to the battery that kicks off a chemical reaction under the hood of your car. Such response turns into electrical energy that gets the engine cranking and the starter motor running. Without a fully-functioning battery, you’ll be heading nowhere with no lights and nothing playing on the radio. So on a good day, your car usually starts as you turn on the car key in the ignition. However, if the battery is failing, it wouldn’t be able to completely energize the start, which will fail to start the engine. In such cases, a heavy and challenging clicking noise would be heard, confirming the difficulty in charging up.

Note: in such scenarios, most people often jumpstart their cars to bring a dead battery back to life, but only for a short term. It is a tip you can apply when you’re stuck somewhere with a dead battery, but it isn’t a long-term fix and shouldn’t be relied upon for too long!

The battery indicator is lit on your dashboard.

The battery indicator light can mean almost anything, including a signal of your battery’s poor health. You can also visit your car’s manual for insight into your car’s warning light.

More Issues behind the hood:

• Your battery connectors are corroded

When your battery fails, there’s every likelihood it will be visible. One such sign is the ashy substance on the battery metals, which is a sure sign of corrosion.

• A rotten smell

The smell in the car could mean a wide range of issues, one of which is a dead battery; as soon as you pop the hood of your car, the smell of rotten eggs is more likely to ooze out.

• Swollen case

If your battery isn’t rectangular, there’s a problem. When your battery case swells and cracks, chances are high that it isn’t working correctly.

Ideally, when you see these signs, it is recommended that the best time to replace such a battery is at that period before it finally packs up. Why not stop by the nearest QuickLane NG to get a new battery or have your battery tested to see if it’s working at total capacity.