You're Not Lewis Hamilton

MANILA, Philippines - The rainy season is upon us again. You don’t need to be a meteorologist to see the flash floods, freak rain storms and the inevitable overnight craters all over Metro Manila. However, in as much as Mother Nature is exhibiting fickle behavior, some motorists still seem to be stuck in summer mode.

Despite the poor visibility and wet roads, there are some Lewis Hamilton wannabes out there who treat Katipunan Avenue as their personal El Rouge Straight, plowing their econoboxes as if they were Formula One cars. Confident as they are, they probably can’t tell their aquaplaning from their AquaTred, and that’s a scary fact especially if you’re driving along side them.

Before driving like the current F1 World Champion, it’s important to know that the proper car set-up is just as important as practicing defensive driving in wet weather. Any vehicle must be treated as an extension of the body, and that any skill is potentially useless unless you have the right tools (just ask Lewis Hamilton). Rather than running the risk of trashing your beloved car due to poor maintenance and misplaced confidence, it’s better to spend a few minutes each week to make sure that your car’s in tip-top shape and ready for the storms ahead.

Fluids: The Life Blood of the Car

A Hummer may be impervious to floods, but it still can’t run without motor oil. So, rule number one with proper car care is to check that all fluids are in their proper levels; and ‘proper’ is the operative word here as overfilling some fluids can actually have adverse effects (such as the power steering fluid). A particular item to watch out for is the washer fluid. Using just the wipers to remove grime and bird poop from the windshield can just smear it reducing visibility even further and even causing permanent scratches to the glass. The washer fluid also helps lubricate the wipers too. Another important fluid is the brake fluid. In rainy weather, braking is very essential and heavy braking can cause the brake fluid to go down slowly. It’s best to top it up to the proper level to prevent poor brake performance. If there’s considerable drain to the brake fluid, it’s best to bring your car into the shop for an inspection.

Tires: Providing the Grip

Typically, Filipinos think that visually inspecting their tires is good enough. It shouldn’t be. Sometimes, a tire that looks oblong actually has the correct tire pressure and vice versa. Investing little money in a good quality tire gauge and air pump is the best way to correctly inflate your tires. Tires must be inspected when they’ve cooled down (approximately 4 to 6 hours) to give a more precise reading on their inflation levels. Taking in air from gasoline stations is highly recommended only in emergency situations because you don’t know how accurate their air pumps are – some even have needles that don’t work!

There are two types of tire deflation: a fast and slow. A fast one occurs when your tire goes out with a “bang”, usually when you hit something sharp. A slow one occurs minutes or even hours after a puncture. So, after reaching your destination or before leaving it (home included), check all four tires visually before entering your vehicle. If a deflation or flat has occurred, at least you can fix it up even before you drive off.

Inspect the tires for wear as well. Some tires carry tread wear indicators, so check that the tires still have enough tread depth especially before driving long distances. If your tires don’t have wear indicators, you can use a P5 coin to check the tread depth. If the flower like pattern near the edge of the coin becomes visible, it’s time to change those tires.

Wipers: Key to Unimpaired Vision

Some people would rather invest in a nice set of chrome mag wheels than change their wipers. Though it’s not the sexiest of car parts, the wiper is your primary weapon against poor wet weather visibility. Clean your wipers with a damp cloth to remove any accumulated dirt and then visually inspect the wiper’s rubber blades for cracks. Check also if the wipers streak, meaning water lines are left behind when the wiper goes through the windshield, as this is a sign of worn-out wiper blades. In case you have to change wiper blades, always choose a well-known brand since these will last you longer than opting for generic ones. Check the wiper arms and mechanism as well, especially on older vehicles. The wiper motor may need replacement or rewinding if they operate slowly.

Lights and Electrical: Juicing It Right

Along with the wiper blades, the lights are part of a car’s primary driving tools. This is especially true for the headlights and tail lights. A well-functioning brake lamp for example will provide ample warning to the vehicle behind you, saving you from a potential fender bender. The quickest way to check your lights is to turn them on and go around the car to make sure everything’s working. You can also park your vehicle against the wall and press the brake pedal repeatedly to check if all the brake lamps work. Signal lights can be checked by flicking the indicator’s stalk to the left or the right. If the set of signal lights flicker faster on one side, it indicates that you have a burned out bulb. Pressing the hazard and going once around the car is another way to check your signal lights.

Running the car with wipers and headlights on can really put a strain on the electrical system, so make it a point to check the electrical system. The simplest way to check the status of your battery is to notice the color of your halogen headlights. If they’re glowing yellowish as opposed to a bright, whitish glow it could mean that the battery’s low on charge or not charging properly. Another test would be to start the engine with the headlights turned on. Starting the car takes the most load on the battery, so the dimming of the headlights should be temporary. If the headlights stay dim or if the engine fails to crank, this could be a sign to change your battery. Some types of car batteries have small charge indicators, make sure you check these once a week. On rarer occasions, the alternator and not the battery may be the cause of poor electrical performance.

Tools: In Case of an Emergency

Before adding a pine tree air fresher on your rear view mirror, make sure first that your car has a complete set of tools that are important in case of emergencies. Sometimes, the tool kits provided with your car when you drive off the showroom is inadequate. Take the time and check that your tool box has the following:

• Early Warning Device or EWD (required by LTO regulation)

• Flashlight with batteries

• Adjustable wrench

• A crosshead and flathead screwdriver

• Utility knife

• Battery jumper cable

• Working gloves

These tools should make roadside repairs much easier and quicker. Make sure you also have the phone numbers of credible towing services or roadside assistance saved in your mobile phone in case you encounter damage that can’t be repaired.

After Driving Through the Rain

Sometimes, it’s unavoidable to drive through floods, but there are some things you can do to make sure your car remains in good condition afterward. First is to check that the tires are free from punctures. Floodwaters sometimes contain debris that can cause a tire to deflate. The same is true for the car’s suspension. Check if plastic bags or any other trash has been lodged onto the car’s undercarriage. Try cleaning it yourself, or send the car into the shop for a wash. Rust can start from dirty areas such as these, and could be prevented with proper inspection and cleaning. If you happened to traverse high floodwaters, check the interior carpeting or the door’s rubber gaskets if any water got through. If it did, bring in the car for both cleaning and to have the leaky gaskets replaced.