Parking your car during the lockdown

As the majority of South Africans heed the president’s call to stay at home during lockdown, Pieter Niemand, from the Motor Industry Workshop Association (MIWA), said motorists need to be cautious if they are not using their cars at all over this period.

April 4, 2020

Zaid Khumalo 1 minute read

You cannot park your car for three weeks during the Covid-19 shutdown and then expect to get inside and just switch on the key and drive away. Here are some tips you need to know about.

Niemand points out that there are certain essential steps motorists need to follow at home to prevent experiencing a “dead battery” or even a damaged engine or ruined tyres when the lockdown is lifted.

Here are some of the key points vehicle owners need to watch out for:

• Battery care and maintenance.

An unattended battery will eventually lose its charge, so, if possible, try and ensure someone in the family starts the car every two weeks and at least allow it to warm-up to normal operating temperature in order to give the battery some time to take up a charge.

If you are going out during the lockdown and have two cars, try and alternate cars so each of them gets driven regularly.

• Don’t leave handbrake on.

We are all used to putting on our parking brake, but don’t do it when you leave a car in storage. If the brake pads make contact with the rotors for too long, there is a chance that they might fuse. Instead, purchase a tyre stopper, also called a chock, to prevent the car from moving.

This is not necessary if you can leave the car on a totally flat surface.

• Move the vehicle to avoid flat spots on tyres.

You need to make sure your tyres are inflated to the recommended tyre pressure. If a vehicle is left stationary for too long, the tyres could develop flat spots as the weight of the vehicle presses down on the tyres’ footprints.

• Start the engine at least once every two weeks for oil circulation.

It’s always a good idea to allow the car to idle for about two minutes to allow oil pressure to stabilise and cover all those splash lubrication points thoroughly.

• Leave windows slightly open to avoid stagnate air while parking in a garage.

Most closed garages do not have ventilation, so it is recommended you keep your garage door open every third day or so to allow air to circulate and to leave your windows a tiny bit open to avoid that stale smell when you finally drive your car.