Story & Photos by Ronald Rey M. de los Reyes
RAINS are coming. Oh. Wait. They’re actually already here. And like the storyline in the global hit HBO television-series Game of Thrones, the inevitable has indeed begun—just as this mighty hand vowed to smite the crooked under the Duterte presidency.
Bad for us car owners—or anyone for that matter, heh? But what can you do?
Better put things in perspective and, instead, jot down some crucial and action plan before sailing past nature’s wrath.
Monitor weather forecast the night before. Tune in to your local news channel on television or radio. You could also check some social-media sites for weather updates (eg., Yahoo! or Google). This way, you could take necessary efforts to make adjustments if ever bad news comes your way.
Checkup. Do service checkups before any long drive, especially prior to monsoon rains. You never know what you might encounter on the road during this kind of weather. Pray that you don’t have to subject your car into muddy flood waters, if ever the time comes.
Fill-up. Make sure that you fill up your fuel tank or you have more than enough to last wherever you are going. When it rains, you can get stuck in traffic for hours.
Guard the beacon. Headlights serve as your secondary eyes on the road. Ensure that they work properly at the middle of a heavy downpour. And so does your taillights.
Wipeout. With constant use, wiper blades tend to wear out as fast as the wind blows. Its rubber strip grows from useful to nil within a year. Better make sure also that its thin surface does not harden or form cracks as it will scratch your windshield. Function-wise, your wiper has to work fluidly in the three speed modes.
The washer bottle, meanwhile, should be filled up. If you want, a mild detergent can be mixed into it to better fight off dirt and oil.
Body protect. Use wax coating if you care about your car’s paint. Water from rain is acidic and affects the car’s overlay, making it fade and sometimes peel away.
And since your car’s body is made up of metal, whether you like it or not, it is prone to rust and corrosion. So better keep it clean and scratch-free. Fix little dents right away since decomposition starts with a little chink in one’s armor.
Tire-check. These are considered your legs on the road and, thus, make the first direct contact. Make sure that it’s properly balanced and aligned. Inspect tire pressure, too, as well as cracked rubber. The tire tread depth must cover enough traction and should not be less than two-millimeters. You don’t want to be aquaplaning, like Mickey Mouse in Disney on Ice.
Take a brake. Take time to look at your brakes. Its calipers should be regularly cleaned and replaced, if needed.
If you catch yourself water-wading and for you to be able to dry out your brakes after, put your left foot on the brake pedal while, at the same time, gently pushing the throttle with your right. This ensures that water will not be left stuck in the brake disc/drums.
Bring a portable vacuum cleaner. Now this may sound a bit drastic. But, believe me, as this writer has been in this situation more often than not.
Manila traffic can be cruel and it is a sure given fact, no doubt. But getting stuck in it as water rises is nothing short of a dreadful tragedy. Just hope water won’t get higher, otherwise, you might have to evacuate. A portable vacuum cleaner can be a useful tool to suck the UFO (unwanted floating object/unwanted flowing object). Just don’t force it if excess water seeping in is just too much.
At times, prolonged dampness on the covers elicits foul smell and diminishes quality of the seat covers. To avoid it, vacuum-clean the seat to wipe away the moist. Then put absorbent tissues/papers on them.
Eu de parfum. Put perfume inside the car. Period. You don’t want your car stats smelling musty.
Wires in. Patch loose or weak electrical connections. Ensure all the fuses work properly.
Inspect battery. Battery should be in proper condition. In fact, a coat of petroleum jelly should be applied to the terminals for protection.
Drive slow. Don’t stop. When faced by floodwaters on the road, don’t panic. Put the car in first gear and drive through gently. Just keep on pushing the throttle as water might get into the tail pipe.
Meanwhile, set the speed a few notches down when driving on rainy days as brakes tend to be less effective.
With these, this scribe hopes that even as mere mortals we still get to do something and abate that sense of inefficiency, especially when Mother Nature wallops her will.
Bottom-line: rains are already here. Deal with it.
Image credits: Ronald Rey M. de los Reyes