Tune up the car facing the de-escalation

• Roadmap The rules for driving by car during de-escalation
• Controversy: claim that part of the car insurance is returned
• Hygiene. That your car does not infect you, nor infect others

Since the state of alarm was declared in mid-March, the vast majority of Spaniards have been confined at home and with our car parked on the street or, luckier, in a garage. And we will hardly have used it, unless we need it to go to work. But the de-escalation has already begun and with it the use of the private vehicle will multiply, also due to the fear of contagion and due to the limitations established for public transport. So it is convenient to review a series of questions so as not to bring us any unpleasant surprises.

Improper maintenance

Spaniards are not very careful about car maintenance. According to the Race, up to 24% of motorists do not check it as often as recommended and this causes 1.7 million breakdowns a year. But let's do self-criticism: when was the last time you monitored the tire pressures? Or checked the liquids? This neglect has been accentuated with increasingly older vehicles, today with an average age of more than 12 years.

Levels, electronics and brakes

Before starting, the coolant and engine oil levels should be checked. "After turning it on, it is advisable to leave the engine running for a few minutes before running. Thus, the liquids circulate through all the pipes and lubricate all the parts," advises Josep Almasqué, head of the Seat press car workshop. It is important to note that there are no stains on the ground, especially under the engine area.

To this we must add, with the vehicle stationary, a round of checking all the elements that are used while driving: lights, turn signals, electric windows, windscreen wipers and all electronic devices. And in a modern car with driving assistants, verify that these systems retain the settings that are our favorites, if applicable. You also need to check the brakes. For this, it is recommended to depress the pedal for a few seconds and note that it maintains its position. And finally, note that no abnormal noise is heard when starting.

Check the tires

They deserve a separate chapter, since they keep the car on the road and respond both to transmit power and braking. If we have left the car in the same position for a long time, the wheels may have been deformed, since due to their permeability they lose a little air every day and their pressure drops. And the problem is exacerbated if the car has been outdoors. If this happens, we will notice vibrations when we use the vehicle, although it is normal for them to disappear after a short time. In old tires (by use or by date of manufacture, which is reflected on the sidewall), cracks may also have formed. Tip: check the pressures, set them to maximum and check them again before use. In addition, even if it is inside the garage itself, it is convenient to change the position of the vehicle so that the weight does not always fall on the same part of the wheel.

Would you leave your mobile without battery?

The battery is the easiest element to maintain and the one that can easily leave us lying because, even if the vehicle is stopped, it always uses a minimum of electricity. So, after a few weeks without use, we can find it empty, more likely if it is already years old. One solution may be to disconnect the terminals, but this is not possible in modern cars as the electronics will be deconfigured. It is best to be safe: if we are not going to do any allowed displacement, it is enough to start it once a week and keep it for a few minutes at 2,000 rpm.

ITV, card, insurance, guarantee ...

With the declaration of the state of alarm and the suspension of administrative deadlines, no complaints are filed for not having passed the inspection, or having the permit expired. Be careful, as long as the deadline runs out during this exceptional situation. Once normal returns, a 60-day extension will be granted to renew the permit. And one month in the case of ITV, although these centers have warned that the pending inspections (more than three million) may create a collapse (with the risk of contagion) and intend that the term be extended until September. Regarding insurance, renewal telematics or by phone is more than usual. Some small companies have deducted the time of confinement from the cost of the policy and from associations such as Facua or the OCU it has been demanded that all the insurers return the proportional part of the premium since the risk of accident has been reduced by not being able to circulate. According to the Unespa employers, there is no right to this refund.

Regarding the warranty, if we find that it does not work when we use our car again, the vast majority of car brands have extended the warranty of vehicles that expired during the alarm state. At a minimum, the equivalent of the duration of the confinement. And if you have to go to the workshop, at this link you can find information about your roadmap during de-escalation.

Before and now: clean and disinfected cars

For many, and in fear of contagion, the private vehicle will be a preferable alternative to public transport. For this reason, it is a priority to disinfect the car well before and after using it, when we leave it to other people (such as when we take it to the workshop, which will have to do the same). And be very careful when refueling. We tell you everything here. In addition, many chains of workshops and brands are offering treatments for this disinfection, usually based on ozone.

According to the criteria of The Trust Project

• Engine
• Traffic
• Coronavirus

Phase Zero The rules for driving in the different phases of de-escalation

MotorFined with 4,600 euros to two drivers who were partying in Pamplona

IndustryBernhard Maier (Skoda): "Our priority is to keep all workers on board"