This Valentine’s Day, it doesn’t matter if you’re not in a relationship with another person, because you’re always in a relationship with your car, right? Haha. For the month of love, we thought we’d share some tips on how to show your car the love it deserves.
1. Straight for the heart
Don’t forget to check up on the status of your car battery, and be on the look out if its failing. Things to look out for are dimmed lights, different sounds at start-up or idling, or if there are any warning signs from your vehicle, do not ignore it. Look after the battery by remembering to switch the lights off, limit the time you spend listening to music when you’re parked or charge your electronics, and avoid a lot of short trips so that you can give it time to recharge properly. It’s also always handy to keep a pair of jumper cables in your boot.
2. Tread carefully
We’ve had a lot of erratic weather and with the increase of rainfall especially in Gauteng, this means not only more potholes, but large ones. Be careful when you’re driving in the rain and unable to see the depth of a pothole of if the road is covered in water. Rather be safe and drive slowly around it and be on the lookout for patterns from the driver ahead – are they making a curve at a certain spot? If you hit a pot hole and cannot gauge how bad it is, drive to the nearest garage or tyre shop for assistance. Don’t forget to monitor tread depths.
3. Shield yourself
When was the last time you checked your windshield wipers for wear and tear? Easily one of the most neglected parts of a car, wipers should be changed every year. And between that time, make sure you keep your windshield cleaned so that the blades are not constantly wiping a build up of filth. Every time you go to the petrol station, ask for your windshield to be cleaned and get the wiper blades wiped down. Not to state the obvious, but never run your wipers on a dry windshield as they will wear out quicker.
4. Quench that thirst
Your car requires a bunch of liquids to operate from lubricating various parts to cooling your engine, so make sure you know what they are, and if they need to be topped up. If you’re not certain, go to a mechanic or ask at your nearest petrol station. These fluids can be anything from coolant, windshield wiper fluid, oil, transmission fluid or brake fluid.
5. There’s an app for that
Most cars from the last several years come with an app that can be used to check general status, control climate, for maintenance or service bookings, and keep record of your trips. Whatever the offering is, download it and link it to your smartphone the next time you drive off. You rather be safe and better informed than stuck and not sure what could be the problem.
Lastly, go on a road trip, have fun and remember why you bought your car!
Manufacturers with apps that work on certain car models: BMW, Mini, Jaguar, Audi, VW, Hyundai, Mercedes-Benz, Land Rover, Lexus, Toyota, Porsche.
Happy Valentines Day from the DigiCars team!
Written by Nafisa Akabor