Mumbai Rains: Here are smart car tips to make your car monsoon resistant

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Monsoons are around the corner and if you live in a low-lying region or a city that experiences moderate to heavy rainfall, this might be of help to you.

In India, no other weather poses a bigger challenge to car owners than monsoons. From water-logging to drenched clothes, everything is an enemy. There is nothing to fret though. Here are some handy tips and hacks to make the most of this pleasant weather.

Monsoon check-up camps

Almost every car manufacturer organises special pre-monsoon car check-up camps for their customers. For example, 'Happy with Nissan', and many others organise their camps during these months. It is better to be get the car checked at these authorised camps, by well-trained personnel who use genuine spare parts for long car life and reliability. Neglecting these sessions or giving your prized possession to an untrained mechanic.

Tyre check

Being the only part in contact with the road, checking your tyres before the monsoons plays a vital role in avoiding incidents. Unevenly worn out tyres are unable to provide a proper grip on the thin layer of water on roads after heavy rains. All tyre brands have read indicators that help check wear and tear. It is advisable to replace old tyres before the monsoons.

Get your tyres aligned regularly for longer life and avoid any untoward incident. Keeping a check on tyre pressure also impacts the grip. Contrary to popular belief of deflated tyres, tyres need to be inflated to their optimum pressure. This helps them push out enough water to best grip.

Interiors

No matter how much one tries to avoid rain water, there will be times when it will enter the car. Small hacks can save one from long term suffering. One option is to use fabric mats instead of rubber mats.

Treat the essentials before it pours

Not many people do it, but it is important to disinfect the air conditioning system to avoid bacteria and hence foul smells. Air conditioner should be run at the ideal settings (as per instructions) to avoid frosting. Check with your authorised brand executive to know the correct AC settings. Electricals should be also inspected thoroughly to avoid contact with water.

Wipers for visibility

Windscreen wipers could be the most neglected part of the car despite of being right in front of our eyes. Most car owners use the same wiper blades much beyond their usability. In monsoons, it can hamper the visibility. One should get them replaced at the right time, ideally before the monsoons.

Monsoon hacks!

There are two kinds of people - Those who enjoy driving in rains and those who wait for rains to stop. It doesn't matter which group you belong to, you will find yourself driving out anyway. Still, you can use simple hacks to avoid inconvenience:

' Use map apps to check for heavy traffic regions of the city after rains
' Consult friends before going to a new area whether it gets flooded easily
' Park in a well-ventilated space

What if my car is stuck in water?

Do Not Panic! - These are the famous three words from 'The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. The same holds true for situations when your car is stuck in water. A common reaction is to crank it which is the worst thing to do. Switch off the engine if you suspect that water has entered inside. If you feel that the damage is not much, wait. Otherwise, do not waste time and call the 24x7 Road-side Assistance. That brings us to the final tip - Keep emergency contacts handy, especially roadside assistance. Nowadays, many car companies have their own apps like NissanConnect with features to book.