•At this time everyone along the migration corridor suddenly becomes a roadside mechanic.
• Boda boda riders become consultants/experts in automotive matters.
Image: BOOSTED AUTO
The festive season is here and within no time, people will start travelling to different destinations for merrymaking with family and friends in various parts of the country and beyond.
Other than public service vehicles, a big percentage of cars on the road will be private cars, some roads are easily navigable while others are not. It's usually a 2-way journey with a limited number of days between departure and return dates. Schools have a one-week recess which means the migration period will be massive within this window.
It is during this urban-rural migration frenzy that automobiles know best how to disappoint the human race. Because throughout the year, we either didn’t care about them or we zero grazed them for 11 months and now we want them to become long-distance runners.
At this time everyone along the migration corridor suddenly becomes a roadside mechanic to take advantage of the situation by masquerading as technicians. Boda boda riders become consultants/experts in automotive matters. Hovering from one shopping centre to another scanning for easy prey. Out of desperation, you give them a chance to try cushioning you from kicks and blows of an angry jalopy. Sometimes they temporarily fix your problem only for it to re-occur kilometres ahead or they completely have no clue on what to do, so they contact someone else from a nearby shopping centre who never shows up or shows up but demands you to change so many irrelevant parts not associated with your problems.
Vacations and road trips are meant to be fun-filled and relaxation but the difference between leisure and misery often lies in whether or not you took the necessary steps to get your car ready for the trip.
Below are some checklist measures if taken seriously could help you avoid awkward moments in the middle of nowhere.
- Periodic maintenance
Carry out engine service, gearbox and differential service. Replace air cleaners and oil filters. Let your mechanic advise you on the status of your spark plugs for petrol cars. If need be, replace them as well.
For diesel engines replace diesel filter and water separators.
Check for any signs of coolant leakage on the radiator shroud. Coolant hoses should be firm in unison from end to end. Any sign of swollen hoses indicates an overheat. Replace hoses if in doubt. By use of hand check "v belt" tightness and its physical appearance. Should not be too tight nor too loose.
- Check your battery terminals.
To ensure effective vehicle starting, ensure a tight connection between the positive and negative terminals of your car's battery. Battery securing clamps should firmly hold the battery in position to avoid unnecessary jumps whenever the car goes through road oscillations
A loose battery connection can prevent your vehicle from starting. When handling your battery terminals, do not allow metal tools to touch both the positive terminals and the vehicles body at the same time, as it could cause damage to the battery, your vehicle or to you.
Inspect the front and rear brakes for permissible thickness. Wash away any dust between brakes and rotors/drums
- Replace brake fluid and clutch fluids if need be.
Visual inspection of steering components and suspension components is vital. Use specialised tools to check for free-play and looseness. Sometimes this is referred to as "spanner check”. Depending on road undulations ahead, the type of shocks would be determined.
- Inspect all the tyres on the car and ensure they are correctly fitted and properly tightened. Correct tyre rotation saves fuel. Different drive trains require different tyre set-up. Some utilise tyres with more grip at the back while some dictate newer tyres at the front. Check out your type to utilise the best tyre set-up.
- Check your wiper functionality, you just never know when it’s gonna pour.
- Ensure the lights are in good working condition
- Ensure you have enough fuel to take you right from your departure line to the next major town along your axis. Some people prefer full tanks while others prefer saving the extra weight for extra cargo only to fuel in major towns in between their journey
Carry with you the following:
Some accessories in this category are mandatory as stipulated by law while some are not, but it is important to carry them even if the law doesn't ask you to, sometimes they make life on the road to be easy. Yes, your car might be in tip-top condition, carrying accessories that might help someone else who is in dire need is still a good gesture.
Helping other motorists on the road might save a life.
- Covid is still here with us so naturally, we need to carry enough face masks and sanitisers wherever we go.
- Valid insurance cover displayed on the windscreen. Digital insurance still serves the purpose even if it’s not displayed on the windscreen
- Carry a spare tyre fully inflated
- Functional jack and wheel spanner
- Lifesaver tringles(fully reflective)
- Fire extinguisher
- First aid kit fully equipped with medicine
- Towing rope/tie-down ratchet ropes
- Jumper kit
- Carry some water enough to refill your radiator
- Have with you a good adhesive/glue
- A basic tool kit. (toolbox)
- Random elastic rubber material
- Cutting tool. (razor blade, knife etc)
- Ensure you have a torch
The list is endless; it could grow bigger depending on how many km lie ahead of you and the number of days you intend to stay away.
After conducting a safari check on your car it is important to drive it around for some time (say two days) before hitting the road for a long distance. Hidden problems that may have skipped technicians’ eyes could occur prompting repairs before taking off. A mistake that many people fall victim of is jumping into a hired car and head straight for a safari, you will get halted along the way & its not being a prophet but just the truth.
Playing loud music in the car is likely to hinder you from picking up foreign noises from the vehicles moving parts before it's worse. Its recommended you pay attention to the vehicle’s general performance and any unusual noises.
A small wobble from the tyre could be a sign of loose wheel nuts if not well arrested timely could cause a tyre snap posing a life-threatening situation to the occupants.
As a good driver, you should not be influenced by your occupants. Neither should you allow a situation whereby you are being jeered up by other drivers on the road. This could lead to high adrenaline which can possibly affect your driving ability.
Get enough rest at least eight hours before starting the journey and it’s always good to have a second driver, just in case you fall ill on the way or get tired. You wouldn’t want your passengers to get stuck in the middle of nowhere, if there is no one else to take over.
Keeping all your windows rolled up for longer periods may sometimes cause fatigue to all the occupants due to a lack of sufficient oxygen. Make it a habit to roll down your windows at least one minute in every 45min for carbon dioxide scavenging and fresh oxygen resupply.
Enjoy responsively, stay sane on the road, stay safe and let's continue educating each other. We encourage our readers to add whatever they feel has been left out. Your previous encounters with mother nature on the road may have given you an experience worth giving out tips.
The writer is the owner of Boosted Auto vehicle repair shop