How to safely restart your car after the COVID lockdown

Slowly but surely, we are shaking off the coronavirus lockdown. While the quarantine rules are still in place, life and work are returning to normalcy after easing of movement restrictions. This also means a lot of us will be out driving again. If you have followed our guide for vehicle care when parked at home, you should be ready to head out anytime. However, in case you missed those vehicle care tips, we are sharing steps that will help in safely restarting your car after sitting idle for a long time.

Perform a visual check

Before you begin, perform a quick visual inspection to make sure your car hasn't had any leaks, tyre pressure loss or electrical damage due to rodent attacks. Also, check under the bonnet to make sure there hasn't been an engine oil spill and that brake fluids and coolant are at optimum levels. Check the belts, hoses and wires as well for damage or slack. Lastly, check the tyres for optimal air pressure and see if they look drivable.

Now to perform some inside the cabin checks. Switch on the electrical systems with your key or start button and check the dashboard lights. If the lights don't turn on, the battery is dead, or there is a loose connector under the hood. If all seems okay, it's time to start the car.

Don't crank repeatedly

If your car's engine fails to start in a couple of tries, don't try to force your way to it. Since the vehicle has been parked at home for a while now, the battery voltage might be low and may not be enough for the starter motor to rotate the crank. This may be the case even if the horn, wipers and dashboard lights are working fine. Attempting multiple cranks can drain your battery completely.

Using a jump start, i.e. pushing the car to produce enough movement before releasing the clutch can work for manual vehicles. Or, you can use a jumper cable and some help from your neighbours or friends to start the car. If none of that works, you will have to look for a battery mechanic before proceeding further.

Check the tyres

The part that will get your car moving is the tyre. Check the tyres for underinflation/deflation (although you may have caught any anomaly during the visual check). If you own an air pump (electronic or otherwise), then it's well and good, get ready for some DIY tyre care. However, if you do not have an air pump, you will have to call in professional help. Same is the case if there is a puncture, either replace it with the spare or call in professional help if the spare is also shot.

It's critical, not to drive with a deflated tyre or an underinflated one if there isn't a tyre shop near you.

Don't rev or race

We can understand the excitement of getting behind the wheel after being locked at home for so long. However, just like yourself, your car needs time to ease back into the routine as well. Let the car idle for a minute before you move out of the parking space and take things slow on the road before putting the vehicle through its paces. This bit is quite important if you are driving a turbocharged vehicle; a lack of lubricant circulation can cause the turbocharger to fail.

Now, drive safe

The roads are quite empty right now, which might feel tempting for city drivers who are used to traffic jams. But don't let the fun of driving get better of your senses. During the lockdown, a lot of habits have changed in people and stray animals, who might be crossing previously busy streets unawares. Also, keep an eye out for other enthusiastic drivers on the road to avoid a mishap.

Drive safe, go the distance.