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- Battery care and maintenance \u2013 An unattended battery will eventually lose its charge, so if possible try and ensure someone in the family starts the car every two weeks and at least allows it to warm-up to normal operating temperature in order to give the battery some time to take up a charge. If you are going out during the lockdown and have two cars, try and alternate cars so each of them gets driven regularly. Driving the car periodically has several benefits. Not only will it maintain the battery’s charge and keep the engine and other components adequately lubricated, it is an opportunity to run the air conditioner to keep all parts in working order and the air fresh.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
If you cannot arrange for someone to start the car, there are two other options. The low-tech solution is to disconnect the negative battery cable. You’ll likely lose the stereo pre-sets, time and other settings. If you want to keep those settings and ensure that your battery starts the moment you can drive it again, we recommend a smart\/intelligent battery charger which you can leave connected to the battery without damaging the battery by overcharging it.<\/p>\n
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<\/div>\nALSO READ:<\/span><\/p>\n
Five lockdown money lessons and how to make the most of them<\/a><\/p>\n
Give your car a home valet before it comes out of quarantine<\/a><\/p>\n
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With the current limitations of lockdown this may not be possible, unless you have one already. It is worth thinking about for any future use however. The smart\/intelligent charger is designed to simulate normal operating conditions for the battery where the battery is allowed to discharge and recharge within parameters that won\u2019t damage the battery.\u00a0 If, however, the battery is flat and you only have a trickle charger please use it according to the battery charger manufacturer\u2019s instructions, do not leave it connected for excessive periods of time it will damage the battery. The trickle charger is intended to slowly bring the charge level of a battery back up to operating levels without stressing the battery. Too fast a charge will lead to a battery overheating and being damaged permanently.<\/p>\n
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- Don\u2019t leave the handbrake on – We are all used to putting on our parking brake, but don’t do it when you leave a car in storage. If the brake pads make contact with the rotors for too long, there is a chance that they might fuse. Instead, purchase a tire stopper, also called a chock, to prevent the car from moving. This is not necessary if you can leave the car on a totally flat surface.<\/li>\n
- Move vehicle to avoid flat spots on tyres – You need to make sure your tyres are inflated to the recommended tyre pressure. If a vehicle is left stationary for too long, the tyres could develop flat spots as the weight of the vehicle presses down on the tyres’ footprints. This process occurs at a faster rate if you have high performance tyres or low-profile tyres. Driving your car ad hoc can help correct the form of the tyre.<\/li>\n
- Start the engine at least once every 2 weeks for oil circulation \u2013 It\u2019s always a good idea to allow the car to idle for about two minutes to allow oil pressure to stabilise and cover all those splash lubrication points thoroughly.<\/li>\n
- Leave windows slightly open to avoid stagnate air whilst parking in a garage \u2013 Most closed garages do not have ventilation, so it is recommended you keep your garage door open every third day or so to allow air to circulate and to leave your windows a tiny bit open to avoid that stale smell when you finally drive your car.<\/li>\n
- Be careful of rodents \u2013 Rats and mice can be a real problem when cars are left unattended for any length of time and can nibble away at important wiring. A simple solution is to cover your exhaust pipe with steel wool and to place some mothballs along the perimeter of your car. Cotton wool dipped in peppermint oil is also a useful deterrent.<\/li>\n
- Never cancel your car insurance \u2013 Just because you are not driving your car as much, do not be tempted to cancel your insurance but do phone your insurer. Many insurers are offering their customers discounts on their premiums which could help financially strapped motorists.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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* Notice: Coronavirus reporting at Caxton Local Media aims to combat fake news<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n
Dear reader,<\/em><\/p>\n
As your local news provider, we have the duty of keeping you factually informed on Covid-19 developments. As you may have noticed, mis- and disinformation (also known as \u201cfake news\u201d) is circulating online. Caxton Local Media is determined to filter through the masses of information doing the rounds and to separate truth from untruth in order to keep you adequately informed. Local newsrooms follow a strict pre-publication fact-checking protocol. A national task team has been established to assist in bringing you credible news reports on Covid-19.<\/em><\/p>\n
Readers with any comments or queries may contact National Group Editor Irma Green (irma@caxton.co.za<\/a>) or Legal Adviser Helene Eloff (helene@caxton.co.za<\/a>).<\/em><\/p>\n
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Contact the newsroom by emailing: Melissa Hart (Editor)\u00a0<\/span>germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za,<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>Leigh Hodgson (News Editor)\u00a0<\/span>leighh@caxton.co.za\u00a0<\/a><\/strong>or Busi Vilakazi (Journalist)\u00a0busiv@caxton.co.za.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n
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