Restarting Your Car After Lockdown? Dos and Don’ts

Due to the lockdown restrictions imposed in India for the last few months, public mobility has declined considerably. Retail and recreational places witnessed a steep fall in the presence of people. While people have been in their homes, so were their cars. Likely, many of you have not stepped out of your homes, driving your car. 

Now that the lockdown restrictions have been relaxed from June 8, 2020, onwards, you need your car to go out for work or other reasons. Since the car has been sitting idle for a long time, you must know how to start your car for regular use. There are various dos and don’ts of restarting the car after lockdown, whether it is about getting it repaired or checking car insurance validity.

Let us start with the Dos:

  1. Check for Engine Oil Spills

When your car has been sitting idle in the garage for all these months, the chances of engine oil leak are high. It can be checked by looking at any oil spills on the floor underneath the car. It happens because the oil drains down to the oil pan when a vehicle is parked for a while. 

In case you find such spills near your car, make sure you take it to a car mechanic first before anywhere else. 

  1. Look for the Coolant Level

The primary role of coolant in a car is to transfer heat from the engine and prevent it from damaging. Since the heat can only be transferred with a liquid, you must keep the coolant from evaporating while also checking the appropriate coolant levels in its reservoir. 

If it has been a long time that you changed the coolant in your car, get it changed before you take the vehicle as per your needs. 

  1. Check Air Pressure in the Tyres

Getting a flat tyre while your car was on rest during the lockdown can be a scary experience. But what you do after noticing the lost tyre pressure is very important. 

In such situations, you must minimize the time spent driving your car. You can take it to a certified car mechanic for inspection and maintain the required air pressure.

  1. Keep an Eye on Car Insurance Validity

It often happens that people forget to check car insurance validity after the vehicle is not in use for a long time, let alone renewing it timely. The last thing you would want to happen is to be penalized for not having valid car insurance on the very first time you take your car out after lockdown.

Hence, you must look at the car insurance documents before leaving home with your car. If the insurance validity period is over and you want to switch to another insurer, make sure you select a renowned insurer like Tata AIG. They are known for their satisfied customer base and simplified claim settlement process. 

Here are a few don’ts you should keep in mind:

  1. Do Not Force Start by Cranking the Car Repeatedly

Since you have not used the car during the lockdown period, it might have caused the voltage level of your car’s battery to drop. The low voltage is not enough to crank the car and start the engine while horns and wipers are working fine. 

Attempting to start the vehicle with multiple cranks may further drain the battery. It is best to call a car mechanic for external charging. 

  1. Do Not Race the Engine as Soon as It Starts

If your car is perfectly fine and starts in one or two attempts, you are advised to avoid pressing the accelerator for a minute or two. Doing this is crucial as it will make various fluids like engine oil and transmission oil circulate through the car system. As a result, it will prevent possible damage to the internal components due to friction. 

  1. Avoid the Temptation for Unnecessary Speeding 

Many people feel to urge to go out for a ride since they have not driven cars for months. If you are one of them, you are advised to drive safely with caution. Speeding the vehicle unnecessarily only because of being confined to homes for so long is not the right decision.

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