Current government guidelines following the Covid-19 outbreak say that any form of travel, be it by car, van, or motorcycle, should only be done if necessary. This means that people commuting to work who can’t work from home or doing the weekly grocery shopping are the only ones who regularly drive their vehicles. Like any surfaces around the home or in public spaces that come into contact with the Covid virus, our cars are no exception. There are areas within the car that are especially prone to spreading the virus and should be cleaned regularly. This excellent guide on cleaning your car to prevent Covid 19 provides tips on what those areas are and how best to clean them. The problem is, our cars are not designed to stand motionless for long periods, and even the latest engines can suffer damage from dead batteries, flat tires, and paint damage from moss and bird droppings.
Here is a quick checklist of items below to help you keep your vehicle in tip-top condition especially for Slide car Watcharaphon (รถสไลด์ วัชรพล which is the term in Thai), even if it’s not going anywhere in the near future.
Tires
Check the tire pressures every couple of weeks and make sure they are within the manufacturer’s recommended values. If the vehicle in question has been parked in one place for a long time, try moving it a little forward or backward every month. This prevents the tire from “flattening” in some places.
Brakes
Brake discs corrode very quickly, and it is not uncommon for rust-like brake dust to collect on the surface after just a few days of standing. This is usually not a problem if the car is used regularly as normal braking activity removes surface rust, but it can become a problem over time.
If you can, move the car slightly forwards or backward while applying the brakes. If you don’t, then drive extremely carefully on your first outing. Check the brakes asap. Similarly, hand brakes tend to stick or wear out if left in place for an extended period. Suppose you can park your car or van on a level surface, put it in gear instead of using the handbrake when the engine is off to prevent it from rolling away.
The best option is this situation is to use fleet maintenance software like AUTOsist.
Battery
This is the most likely element of a vehicle to cause a headache, as even the most modern batteries will drain over time, which means that they will ultimately be so empty that there isn’t enough power to start the car.
This can be avoided by buying a charger that gently refills the battery or by regularly using the vehicle for essential shopping trips. Simply starting the vehicle and letting it run on the street or driveway for a few minutes is likely to do more harm than good, as the alternator doesn’t have enough time to recharge the energy it used to start.