Getting a mechanic during the festive season is difficult, if not expensive. Having your car in shape is the best Christmas gift you can give yourself and your family. I can see the frustration on your face when you are stranded by the highway simply because you didn’t have a spare tire or you had it but it wasn’t functional. I can hear the kids asking ‘ Baba tutafika lini’, while you are on the phone, wiping sweat in the scorching sun, helplessly trying to get hold of a friend or a mechanic. To avoid these situations, take time before the festive season to check the following;
Twende kazi!
Wheels and Tires
How old are your tires? How deep is the tread? How many punctures on each tire? Have you checked your tires since the last festive season? Tires age and also wear and tear due to heat differences. A tire with more than one puncture is not a new tire, so expect the unexpected. Inflate the tires appropriately – not too low, not too high( every car has specifications). Is your jack still there? Ama ilipata miguu in the carwash last yr?
Have you done alignment and balancing or the tire wear on one side does not worry you? Get this checked.
Brakes
Worn/unfunctional brakes are a death wish. Be safe and keep other road users safe by having good brakes.
You might not know, nor your mechanic will remember that brake caliper pins require lubrication. With time, the lube dries due to heat, and the caliper pins stick. When this happens, brake efficiency is compromised. This causes overheating thus damaging the pads and discs (rotors). To avoid this, always ensure caliper pins are cleaned and lubricated during brake service/ change.
Fluids
Most of you are using automatic transmission/ CVT gearboxes. The fluid in the transmission is a coolant and a lubricant. Old fluid won’t perform these functions. The car stalls and overheats in the middle of nowhere. You changed your engine oil last December, and haven’t changed since( because of nabiis economy), kitakuramba my fren. Engine oil deficit = dead engine.
If you happen to top up your engine oil in between services, there’s a high chance that your engine is burning oil. When planning a long drive, ensure you have top-up oil with you. This will save you from overheating and your engine life will be prolonged. You’ll also get to your destination less stressed 😀
Plugs
You bought ‘ex-Japan’ plugs and have no idea how many kilometers they covered in Japan. You normally drive from Kangundo Road to town and have no problems. You take the car to Keroka and somewhere in the bush you get misfires
Wipers
To you, wipers have been a non-issue since unga hit 230. When it rains, you stop by Kamakis and ‘ wait for the rain to stop’. Now it’s dark and raining, in the middle of nowhere.
Lights
For you and other road users, it is important to be seen as it is to see. Have front and rear lights functional. Make sure you are visible and you can see too. Using high beams on incoming motorists doesn’t define it. That’s bullying and it might land the other road user into a ditch. Also, get them calibrated.
First Aid Box/Kit/Bag
When did you last check your first aid box? You probably bought one from the hawkers last December, and you never checked the contents. The shock on you when you get an emergency, only to realize there’s only one small pack of plaster and the rest are empty carton boxes.
Always check your first aid box/ bag regularly, as well as update the items that expire with time.
Tow line
Be prepared for anything. A tow line may come in handy after a breakdown. A stranger might be willing to help but s/he also doesn’t have one. With your tow line, they can tow your vehicle to the nearest town where you are safer and nearer to mechanical help
Dry food
You should carry some dry food with you and water. Peanuts, bread, and chocolate bars are examples. If you happen to forget those, don’t forget a few bottles of water. Heck, you might not use it but you might save the life of a stranded person. After all, Christmas is a season of sharing
Above all enjoy yourself, be mindful Drive safe, happy holidays. ❄️🎄🎅🎅
