Safe drive tips

Do not change lanes suddenly while driving. Use your indicators to show your fellow motorists that you wish to change lanes or take a turn as the case may be. If for any reason your indicator lights are not working please use hand signals.

If your vehicle brakes down use help and push the same to the corner of the road so as not to obstruct traffic. Use the hazard warning lights to indicate a brake-down.

Do not leave the keys hanging in the ignition switch if the driver of the vehicle is not in place. ( specially if children are in the vehicle) Always keep safe distance from the vehicle ahead of you to enable you to stop in time if urgent braking is required.

Ensure no object that you may be carrying is kept loose or unsecured. In an accident or in urgent braking the same may hurt yourself or some pedestrian.

If the vehicle is parked ensure that the hand brake is drawn and the vehicle is in gear to avoid any untoward mishap.

Always ensure that you give right of way to an Ambulance. Please understand that there may be a patient in the vehicle to whom even a minute's difference would mean the difference between life and death. Also the same would apply in the case of the fire brigade.

While travelling, both in the city and on the highway avoid using the High Beam of your headlights if other vehicles are approaching from the opposite side.

Always ensure all the indicator lights and the operating gear of the same is operational. Pay attention to brake lights and headlights.

If you are about to overtake or in the middle of an overtake on a two-laned national highway or a narrow road, indicate to the approaching vehicle with two to three flickers of the headlight, be it daytime or night to let him know of your intended manoeuvre. If in such a case the approaching vehicle flickers back, don’t overtake. This means he is too close to you for safely carrying out the overtake.

Always obey traffic rules and signals. They are for the benefit of both yourself and your fellow motorists. Also by obeying the rules you will ensure safety and avoid confusion.

Do not use a mobile phone while driving your vehicle, it is dangerous for both yourself and others. If you must speak on the mobile pull over to the side of the road and stop. Or have a hands free attachment that comes on automatically and switches off too.

Long distance travel checks

If you were to travel long distance along with your family it would be a good idea to check the following

Take the vehicle to an authorized service center. Request for a general check up where leakage's and damages would be repaired. Also worn parts would be identified and replaced. Special attention would be paid to Hoses, pipes & cables. ( clutch & accelerator specially) Fuel lines should be paid extra attention. Ensure all fluid levels are as recommended by the manufacturer. Ensure the brakes are looked at and any defects are attended to. Ensure all lights are checked and are in satisfactory working condition. Also check the vehicle horn for satisfactory operation.
Make sure you give the vehicle for a check up well before you plan to travel, as if left till the last moment you may be delayed or the job may be slip shod due to the urgency.

Ensure that the tyres are in good condition and would stand the rigors of your trip. It would be a good idea to have one extra tube placed in your vehicle to avoid over charging and waste of time by road side Tyre repairers. Ensure the stephney Tyre is inflated to the recommended pressure. Please note that if the vehicle were to be fully loaded the Tyre pressures would be kept slightly higher.

Reduce tyre pressure by about 2-3 psi on high-speed roads as the Mumbai-Pune Expressway or the Delhi-Noida Expressway. High vehicle speeds on these rpads for long distances results in heating and automatic inflation of the tyres. If the tyres are already over-inflated, the hazard of a tyre burst is omnipresent.

Ensure that the vehicle body jack is available and is in a working condition. At times the jack spindle catches rust due to long periods of non-use and the jack would be difficult to operate. (If a situation like this emerges lubricate the spindle to get the same moving freely) Ensure that the jack handle is available in the vehicle.
The wheel spanner would need to be in its place and secured like the jack and handle, if unsecured it will rattle and make irritating noises.
Carry a set of open-end spanners, reversible screwdriver, a pair of pliers, torch. For spare carry a set of drive belts, hose pipes, electrical wire piece, insulation tape, extra fuses, and coolant.
Always carry a first aid kit to meet any unfortunate eventualities. Try to keep the kit as comprehensive as possible.
You may not know how to repair the vehicle but if the tools and spares were available with you it would be easier for a roadside mechanic or a good Samaritan to help you repair the vehicle so as you are not stranded on the highway.
In case you feel that you need professional help get in touch with the Highway users club.

It makes a lot of sense to carry the Service Manual of your vehicle on long distance drives. The manual always lists the closest available authorised service station for your car if the need so arises.

Always pre plan the route you intend to take (eg. Use a state or highway map of India) prior to actually commencing the trip. WIAA is amongst others organizations that would be in a position to help you layout a route that would be both convenient and safe. You will be supprised at the different possibilities that would be available. Also you would be in a position to make note of refueling stations, service centers and rest areas.
Also your family would be aware of the route taken by you and in case of an unfortunate incident of a brake down they would be in a position to help.

Ghat Climbing Tips

It would be prudent to carry out the entire checks mentioned in the Long Distance Driving Tips prior to undertaking a long trip. Ghat sections would be encountered on most long trips anywhere in India. Most breakdowns occur on these sections, as drivers are apprehensive and tend to abuse the vehicle at times like this unintentionally. The vehicle would undergo maximum amount of strain while climbing the ghat and would be able to negotiate the same only if it is in good working condition.

Prior to commencing the ghat climb or decent check the operation off your vehicles brakes. If in doubt do not attempt the journey. Have the same checked by a qualified mechanic.

Always keep more than safe distance on ghat sections from the vehicle ahead of you. Special care needs to be taken if the traffic is heavy and there are a lot of starts and stops. The vehicle ahead may stall and roll back or the brakes may fail. Take special care if the vehicle in front of you is carrying steel rod or beams.
Switch off the air conditioning unit (only the compressor) while climbing the ghat.

Keep your eye on the temperature gauge. Ensure it does not over heat. In case of a problem halt the vehicle on the side and wait for the vehicle to cool down. It is very important here to remember that you should not open the radiator cap if the vehicle has overheated. The cooling system is always pressurised and you may get burned if the same is opened prior to the engine cooling.

Also do not add cold or ambient temperature water to an overheated radiator. There is a possibility that the cylinder head may crack due to the sudden change in temperature. Always start the engine and then add the water/coolant. This will ensure that even cooling of the engine takes place.

Avoid slipping or half- clutch operation. If the vehicle is not responding pull over, wait for the vehicle to cool down and then restart. Too much half-clutch operation will definitely burn the clutch plate and leave you stranded.

If you do need to stop in traffic on an incline on the ghat section ensure that you use the hand brake and take your foot off the clutch pedal.. Make sure the distress lights are switched on.

Ensure that both the rear view mirrors are cleaned and the vision is clear. Make the required adjustments to the same while the vehicle is stationary.

On ghat section descents, you may want to make full use of yours gears. Gear-controlled driving ensures that the car never speeds out of control. For example, on the “not so gradual” descents, try keep the car in second gear. The car will never exceeds speeds beyond 40-45 km/h on doing so.

Vehicle Offroad Tips

If your vehicle is to be off road for a period of time you would need to follow the tips provided below

Ensure the vehicle is parked in a safe place where there would be no worry about falling objects.

If there is a problem of pests in the area where your vehicle is to be parked tie some naphthalene balls (Tar balls) in a small pouch and place the same under the bonnet, in the boot section and also in the cabin area.

Disconnect the battery terminals, to avoid any possibility of an electrical short circuit. Ensure that petroleum jelly is smeared over battery terminals to prevent oxidization.

If the vehicle were to remain stationary for a long period of time you would need to jack the vehicle up. Only an inch or two above the ground level would be required. Ensure that the jack is safe and will take the weight of the vehicle. You could also use blocks of wood or cement. The requirement is to take the weight of the vehicle off the tyres.

Fill the fuel tank to the top prior to garaging the vehicle. This will prevent the tank insides from catching rust.

Use a garage cover on the vehicle to prevent the paintwork from damage.

While re-starting the vehicle check all lubricant and coolant levels.

Get the battery charged at an authorized service agent prior to connecting the same.

Use water and a wet cloth to remove any oxidization (green powdery build up on the battery wire terminal). After the same has been cleaned use some polish paper to clean the contact area of the terminal to the battery.

Remove the vehicle from the stand if the air pressure is low in the Tyre get the same filled to the recommended pressure prior to using the vehicle.

Ensure all electrical connections are in place and no wires have been stripped or bitten by rodents or other such pests. If a bare wire is seen use insulation tape to cover the same. Also remember to get the same checked by a qualified electrician.

Open all doors and boot section of the vehicle and have the same cleaned with a damp cloth. This will get rid of the smell within the vehicle. Use an air freshener if necessary.

Start the vehicle. Do not rev the engine immediately after starting. The oil pressure needs to develop within the engine. If a cold engine is revved up it may cause a bearing failure and may also damage other parts.

After the engine has reached operating temperature drive the vehicle for a short while. Exercise caution while carrying out this operation. The brakes may not operate as required initially.

Break Down Tips

These tips are not likely to be accessible by you in the unfortunate event that your vehicle may have a brake-down. However these tips are only indicative and will draw your attention to what needs to be done next. Also this list may not be exhaustive and some problems may not be listed. Please do not attempt to repair the vehicle yourself if the required know-how is not available to you. You will only ruin even the repairable part of the vehicle.
You must remember that there are both repairable and non-repairable parts to any vehicle. Also though some parts are serviceable it makes more sense to replace the same rather than repair (alternator, brake master cylinder etc.)

Vehicle stalled at home
Petrol vehicles
1. If the engine does not turn over when the ignition key is switched on.
Check the battery. You may need to get it charged.
Check if the battery terminal is clean and devoid of oxidisation
Check the main battery wires for looseness or breakage.

2. The engine turns over but does not start.
Check if there is enough fuel in the tank.
Check if all fuel lines are connected
Check if all main wires are connected.
If these checks do not yield a result the vehicle needs to be taken to an authorised service centre or the breakdown van needs to check the vehicle. There may be a possibility that the Timing belt is broken or
Fuel pump has failed (Mechanical or electrical)

3. The engine starts but not fire consistently.
Check if any wires are loose, or have been damaged by rodents.
Check if all fuel lines are connected.

It always pays to keep the telephone number of the car maker’s helpline at hand. In the event of a break-down, the mobile service van of the car maker will come either to your door-step or your location of break-down and get your car started.

Fuel Saving Tips

Ensure that Tyre pressures are maintained as per manufacturer specifications. Over or under inflated tyres would mean better mileage or better handling respectively but will drastically reduce the Tyre life.

Adjust Tyre pressure when the Tyre is hot, i.e when the vehicle has run for 15 to 20 km. Hot air expands if Tyre pressure is regulated, when cold you will mostly have excess air in the tyres.

Try to fill fuel in the mornings, as specific gravity of fuel is high in the morning.

Try to keep the fuel tank above the half mark in city driving conditions so that a proper pressure is maintained. Also this will ensure that the fuel lines are always clean and are not clogged by the gum like residue of slow flowing fuel. The Fuel tank too will not catch rust.

Get the vehicle serviced at regular intervals from authorized service centers to ensure that the vehicle is in proper tune at all times.

Use recommended fuel additives to keep the fuel system clean. (Please note these additives have recommended instructions and applications.)

Higher octane fuels as X-tra Premium (91 octane), Speed 93 and Power 93 (both 93 octane) are recommended for cars with engines having higher compression ratios, viz., C segment and above. This results in improved mileage as well as enhanced performance. No additives need be used with these fuels.

Drive your vehicle smoothly and avoid sudden acceleration or braking. Anticipate stops to avoid harsh braking.

Try shifting to higher gears at lower speeds, especially in citydriving to get the maximum mileage out of your car. Ideally, one should be in 5th gear or the highest possible gear at speeds above 50-60 km/h.

Switch off your vehicle if you need to stop for more than three minutes.

Avoid clutch riding. i.e make sure that your foot is not resting on the clutch pedal while driving. This will reduce both your clutch life and your mileage.

While cruising at high speeds, ease your foot off the accelerator pedal just enough to maintain the speed while not keeping the accelerator pedal on the floor. This will ensure that excess fuel is not being burnt unnecessarily.