What to Check Before a Road Trip

As we approach the festive season, no doubt many of us are planning to get away. Whether it’s a much-needed holiday, or a family catch-up, this is the time of year where we load up the car and hit the roads. But how much preparation do we do before we go?

Here’s a small checklist of the things you should pay attention to.

Tyres

They may get the least love, but they are the sole reason a car can roll along a road. Tyre pressure is important; you should check this before any long drive and when the tyre itself is cold.

The right pressures are printed on a placard stuck somewhere on your car, generally inside where the doors close. Underinflation can lead to premature wear on the outside of the tyres, while overinflation can have the centre of the tread wearing.

The tread itself is important, with a minimum depth required in order to squeeze out any water you may drive through. There are also products that can be sprayed onto the sidewalls of the tyres that keep them clean and the rubber nourished, so it doesn’t dry out and leading to cracking.

Radiator

This is the box that sits in front of the engine and circulates cooling fluid through the engine. The whole idea is to try and keep the engine cool on the road. Water is only a part of the mix you need, with coolant also necessary. It is fantastic at working its way through the radiator and engine to keep it cool.

The radiator itself needs to be without leaks, otherwise you will run into all sorts of issues. It may be worth getting a good quality flushing agent to try and clear out any junk or goop that’s accumulated in the system.

Engine Oil

An engine needs oil to spin without overheating from friction. There is a dipstick on the side of the engine that, when pulled out, should be coated on some of its length, with clean oil. If it comes out black and maybe a bit smelly, this is not a good thing.

Clean oil helps things spin smoothly and can help in better fuel consumption. Any oil change will need a change of oil filter as well. Depending on your car and mechanical know-how, you may be able to do this at home, but always check the new filter is tightened sufficiently before adding new oil, otherwise your garage floor could become a mess.

Headlights and Indicators

Contrary to popular belief, it is actually against the law to not use your indicators. Sometimes the bulbs need replacing. A good indication to determine if you need a swap-out is the noise we hear inside the cabin. The noise may start to sound like a clock gone mad, as the system is designed to let you know something is wrong.

Headlights, depending on the age (and make) of the car, have no audible signal, but may display a warning on the dash. Some of the bulbs are easy to change, but others are far more tricky. Of course, it’s pretty simple to check your headlights to see if they’re working, just turn them on at night.

Air Conditioning

You’ll find there is a compressor in the engine bay that has a certain gas inside that makes the air cool. After some years, that gas becomes inefficient or may have leaked out and cold air doesn’t happen.

Although it may seem expensive to get the system re-gassed, it’s a one-off cost that can keep you chilled for years to come.

Windows

Of particular importance is the windshield – keep that clean and it reduces glare and sunlight scatter, which can impede a driver’s vision. In the engine bay is the reservoir full of water and cleaning agent. If this is empty, you need to make sure you use cleaning agent to help break up dirt, dust and any other rubbish. If the window is clean, but it looks like there are all sorts of surface imperfections from dirt and stones, it’s time to consider having the screen replaced.

Basic Tips to Keep Your Car’s Paint in Top Condition

We’re not that far out from summer now, which means plenty of hot days – and the odd thunderstorm as well!

Perth is known for its dry, baking heat. The northern half of the country has a reputation for its humidity and tropic-like downpours. On the other hand, Sydney has a mix of heat and rain, while the likes of Melbourne, Hobart, and Adelaide are somewhat unpredictable.

Nonetheless, the change of seasons make it important to look after a car’s paintjob. Depending where you live, it could cause deeper issues with your car. Here’s a few tips that may help.

Protecting the Paintjob

Although it’s not always possible, a garage or carport is a great start to protect the paint on your car.

This is a great investment against the number one harm for a car’s paintjob, which is ultra-violet rays. These can fry the clear coat that cars rely on to seal the layers of paint underneath.

An added layer of protection can come from a car cover. This not only keeps the sunlight and UV off, it keeps dirt, dust, rain, and anything else at bay. These days you’ll find a number of these covers include vents that allow air flow, preventing moisture from building up mould, which could leave to mould or rust.

Washing Your Car

Washing a car the right way can go a long way towards looking after the paintjob.

Never wash the car in the heat of the day. Whenever possible, a morning wash is the best time to get the job done. This stops heat shock on the car’s metal and paint, and it also prevents water from drying too quickly, which could leave to spots on the paintwork and glass.

You will want to wash from the roof down as gravity pulls the dirty and clean water downwards so it doesn’t pool. Circular motions with a cloth aren’t recommended, use a straight pull from front to rear on the roof, bonnet, and boot, and downwards on the doors and fenders. This will go some way towards minimising the apperance of micro-scratches on the surface.

There are some products that are a spray-on foam. These work quite effectively by keeping the paint moist and lift away dirt particles as the foam expands upon contact. Clean micro-fibre cloths are required, but you’ll basically eliminate the prospect of scratching the paint.

Why is this important? Any opening to the paint below the clearcoats can lead to water and dirt getting in. If this transpires, it may lead to deteriorating paint on the surface as the clear coat is lifted, resulting in a dull or faded paintjob underneath.

Polishing Your Car

A good polishing method is vital to round things out. Again, a clean micro-fibre cloth is your best friend. Refrain from pressing hard onto the car’s surface, instead, let the polish do the work.

You will want to do this on a cooler day, not when the sun is bearing down. Regardless, each polishing product will have its own formulation and method of application, so follow the instructions to ensure the product does its job.

What to Do if You Have Squeaky Windscreen Wipers?

There are certain noises in life that raise the hairs on the back of the neck.

Fingernails down a blackboard, the sound of screeching tyres behind you, for some it is even the chewing of a loved one…

However, when you’re driving, there is another one that takes the cake. And it gets a whole lot worse if you head out knowing it is already going to rain. What is it? Well, have you ever flicked the windscreen wiper switch and heard that loud squeak? Yes, we have too…with every back and forth, it is like teeth being pulled.

So if you find yourself in this position, what should you do?

It’s potentially a combination of factors, but happily, it’s a short list. There are only two, three depending on how you look at it, things that are involved. One is the windscreen itself. The second and potentially third are one or both of the wiper blades.

Given the most likely source of the squeaking is the blade/s, these would be the first port of call for a visual inspection. Lift the wiper arms up from the windscreen. Detach the blades from the arms and, using a good torch, inspect the blades themselves. Feel the blades with your fingers. Do they feel soft, malleable, easy to flick back and forth? Or are they dry, cracked, and brittle?

If any signs of a failing blade or blades are noticed, then a visit to your local auto parts retailer is in order to source new wiper blades.

Once new blades are fitted and lowered, get the hose and give the windscreen a good squirt. Activate the wipers and listen. Still noisy? Then having eliminated one part of the equation, the other has to be the windscreen itself.

Specific window cleaning products do a fantastic job, but the condition of the glass is critical.

Again, eyeball the window. One method is to get that torch onto it at night and shine across the window. Look for a straight beam of light bouncing off it. If the reflection looks scattered, it’s likely the same reason we polish cars. The windscreen is likely to be pitted, scratched, and this form of damage will grab onto a wiper like a child to a lollypop. Hence the squeaking that follows.

Depending on the condition of the glass, it may be useful to apply a treatment of IPA (iso-propyl alcohol) to further remove dirt and grime that may have become embedded and not removed by previous cleaning. IPA may also be used, gently, to clean blades that are dirty but fine otherwise.   Professional services can offer a polishing of the glass and this does need to be professionally applied.

Unfortunately, the worst case scenario, but one that dramatically lifts the safety factor, is a windscreen replacement. Not only will new and smooth glass reduce friction and allow rainwater to run off easier, forward vision is far less likely to be reduced thanks to light scattering from the tiny scratches.

Auto parts websites have plenty of information about the right replacement blades to suit your car, and this is also one of the most common DIY auto repairs. So if you’re in doubt, don’t hesitate to ask for help.

New Cars and Software Updates

How would you react if you had to pay for the apps that appear on the touchscreen of your new car?  Various auto manufacturers are looking at new ways to charge owners money for features that were previously sold as an option for the car when you bought it new.  One idea that has shown up in their brainstorming sessions was to charge car owners subscription fees for features like Apple CarPlay and its phone-pairing connectivity – as BMW is already doing.  Of course, this has been a feature that has been included for free on many mainstream cars.

Perhaps not so surprising to many would be the results that Cox Automotive collected, which were collected from a survey that asked a relatively small group of a little over 200 people about their thoughts and attitudes towards having to pay over and over again for features that used to be included at the point of sale.  Around 75% of the survey respondents would refuse to pay for features on an ongoing basis.

When asked about having to pay for any safety features on an ongoing basis, the survey showed that around 80% would not want to pay for these safety items again and again.  However, if forced to, these same respondents would be prepared to pay up to $35 per month.  I’m not sure whether the people surveyed were by enlarge high-flyers or a decent cross-section of society that included your average wage earner.  This cost per month was the highest level that these respondents would be prepared to pay for them if they were forced to.

A full 92% of respondents said that the physical items like heated and cooled seats, massage functions, or a refrigerated drinks box should be purchased as a one-off-at-the-point-of-sale option, just like anyone does now when they buy a new car with extra options.

A new car these days is full of computerised technology, so any software updates or subscription fees for software enhancements, EV power upgrades, satellite or vehicle locator enhancements need to be paid for somewhere along the line.  The funny thing is that, even as with a standard Office update on a desktop, the real-life software updates rarely have any significant practical benefits in real-life usage for the user.  Sometimes a new desktop Office update can even complicate things with the user having to relearn the fifth new visual format and appearance update in two years – I know, I was probably exaggerating.

I guess I would be prepared to pay for a driving range enhancement or a better battery capacity after purchasing a new EV, though I guess this could be a bargaining carrot for keeping a customer longer and loyal to a brand, or even enticing them to buy a certain car in the first place.

Interestingly, around 50% of the survey respondents weren’t even aware that subscription fees for car features were a prerequisite.  Rising costs that grow quicker than someone’s usable income is never a welcome scenario, so these sorts of surveys and results will hopefully provide auto manufacturers with the necessary feedback from their customers, and on the customers’ tolerance for any new additional fees in general.