Things to Check, After Your Car Is Sitting in the Garage for a Month

Things to Check, After Your Car Is Sitting in the Garage for a Month

Cars are meant to be driven, not parked for months at a time. When engine oils are left unattended, parts that aren't getting greased rust, and, worst of all, animals may sneak in and nibble on whatever they can reach. Rats are known for chewing through wirings and other organic automotive parts, which can severely damage the car.

Inactivity affects tyres as well. If a car is not driven for an extended period, the air in its tyres will slowly seep out, especially in cold weather.

If your car's battery is charged, the car might safely start, even after sitting for a few months. However, you should perform a few easy checks beforehand if you start your car after a month. This will allow you to rapidly discover issues while ensuring that your vehicle is safe to start.

Here's what you should do:

Examine the Engine Oil With a Tester

Check the oil level of your car. Refer to your owner's handbook for referring to the diagram If you're unsure where the dipstick is situated. The ideal oil level on the tester should be between the two indication markings.

Before checking the oil, ensure the engine has cooled for at least 10 minutes. Check the colour and thickness of the oil when inspecting it. If your oil level is low, you should not drive until you've filled it up.

Examine All Exterior Lighting

Before you get on the road, make that your headlights, fog lights, brake lights, high-beam lights, reverse lights, and indicators are all functional.

Check for the Signs of Leaks

Before checking the engine oil and coolant levels, examine the car to see if there are any signs of a leak. Although it's always preferable to have a professional check and evaluate the leak before driving, still, as a basic rule, the colour of the leak can help you narrow down the problem,

Driving an automobile leaking oil might result in catastrophic (and costly) consequences. If you notice any indicators of a leak, you should not move.

Examine the Brake Fluid

Find the brake master cylinder reservoir to check the brake oil level in your car. It's usually situated toward the back of the engine, next to the brake pedal. Your instruction manual should be able to point you in the right direction.

You're merely comparing the fluid level on the translucent brake fluid reservoir to the marks on the reservoir. Remove the reservoir's cap and examine the fluid to see if it appears clean or dirty. If your brake oil level is low, it could mean you have a brake problem that must be addressed immediately. If the brake oil is dirty, it means the vehicle's brake system has been contaminated by water and needs to be cleaned.

Examine the Battery

If your automobile is kept idle for a lengthy period, a battery problem is one of the big problems you�re likely to face. When batteries are kept idle, they gradually lose voltage. If you've never used a trickle charger or any sort of voltage maintainer, the current in your automobile will have decreased below the level required to start it.

Here are some Solutions

Examine the Tyres

Before driving the car, the tyres should be visually inspected to ensure they are in good shape. Monitor and check the air pressure to the maker's suggested psi. This information is on a label on the driver's door jamb. Your instruction manual may also have recommended pressure for your tyres.

Your tyres may appear normal in a regular observation, but when you start the car the first time after a month, rather than the smooth ride you expect, you might feel a shaking through the steering wheel and notice an odd noise. A flat area in the tyre causes this, an issue for any car that remains idle for long periods.

This happens when a static tyre needs to carry a vehicle's load for a longer length of time. The bottom of the tyre widens out on the road when the vehicle's weight presses down. The rubber stiffens over time, resulting in flat patches on the tyre.

Flat spots will generally fade as you drive the car, and the tyres warm up and acquire suppleness. It usually takes about 15 minutes to do this task. If a vehicle hasn't moved for a more extended period, especially in winter, these flat patches might become irreparable.

Examine for Rats

Rats and mice seek warmer refuge as the temperature cools, which may be terrible for automobile owners since their engine room doubles as the hottest rat lodging. Mice's sharp teeth can inflict significant damage to engine lines, plastic panelling, and wiring after adopting a car as their new place. It can take a long time to get rodents out of your vehicle. There are various ways to keep rats out, like sprinkling peppermint oil or placing moth balls.