Back to the Office
The luxury of working from home, coupled with the ability to get nearly anything delivered, there was hardly a reason to leave the comfy confines of home. So for weeks and possibly months, cars have been getting very little use. However, with COVID restrictions easing, thousands of employees are heading back to the office. But before you trade in your favorite sweats for work clothes, and drive off towards the morning rush hour, you need to check some vehicle components.
First, do an oil check. If the oil is thick and dark, it’s time to do an oil change. Then check all of your lights. Including interior, indicator, breaks, fog, high beam, and reverse lights. These are the first indication that something is wrong.
Now take a look at the bottom of the vehicle. Are there puddles of liquid with strange colors? You might have a leak. Black or light brown liquid is an oil leak, brown or red is a transmission leak, and clear brown or red is a brake system leak. A fluid flush and a repair on the hoses and containers is the best fix for this issue.
Next, we move to the battery. Batteries slowly lose their voltage when they sit idling. We recommend getting a jump and leaving your car running for at least 10 minutes.
Drain the gas tank and fill it with new gas. Gas that’s been sitting in a tank for 30 days or more can smell like varnish and become gummy and cause major issues.
Inspect your tires. Vehicles that have been sitting for a while creates a flat spot. Driving for 15 minutes to “warm-up” the tires and mold the tires back into shape. A sitting idle vehicle makes a perfect shelter for rodents. They are hard to get out of, and cause a lot of damage. If you know your vehicle is going to be sitting for a while, get a cover for it. It also helps put a few mothballs in the car if you can stand the smell.
These remedies are not permanent. If you get your car working and leave it for another few months, you will have the same issue. If you find yourself constantly running into this issue, then it’s time to consider your options. Perhaps it’s time to get rid of your vehicle. Maybe even donate it to Vehicles for Change.
On the other hand, if you only need your vehicle a few times a month, consider getting roadside assistance. Thanks to being a partner of Technet, we can offer free roadside assistance with a purchase of $25 or more. So if, after a few weeks and your car doesn’t start, you don’t have to worry about getting to a garage or getting tools. Instead, just give a call to Full Circle’s roadside assistance.
