If your battery fails to power up the engine every morning, you are advised to replace it before traveling upcountry. PHOTO/SARAH TUMWEBAZE
Has your car ever broken down in the middle of an upcountry trip? Well, mine has, and the experience was uncomfortable and time-consuming. It also ended up being costly.
We were travelling to Eastern Uganda and the vehicle broke down a few kilometres after Mabira Forest. It started by overheating, we stopped, let it cool, and refilled the coolant. We thought it was a simple issue and that we would be back on the road in a few minutes; but it was not the case because after refilling the coolant, when the driver tried starting the car, it could not start. He tried several times until we gave up and decided to call a mechanic.
It took the mechanic two hours to get to us because he was travelling from Kampala. On arrival, he checked everywhere under the hood of the vehicle and after what seemed like forever, he told us that the cylinder head gasket had been affected and we could not continue with the vehicle.
He advised that the vehicle be towed back to Kampala where the spoilt part was to be replaced at a few millions. As the mechanic called for a tow truck, we called for another vehicle that arrived three hours later. In total, we were held up at that one spot for at least seven hours.
Such experiences among others are what some drivers go through during their travel to different parts of the country for the Christmas break. The reasons for the breakdowns vary, but most of them can be avoided through simple inspections before setting off.
Vicent Lutaaya, a mechanic and proprietor of Triangle Auto Repairs Limited, says during the Christmas break, some of his customers call him over motor vehicle issues such as their cars failing to start after not being in use for two to three days or the engine overheating during the journey among other challenges.
He adds that “Some of them call me to share unfortunate experiences such as their car skidding on a mud road or their wheel caps falling off along the journey.”
However, all the above and many more challenges can be avoided if drivers conduct different checks, repairs and replacements on their cars before embarking on an upcountry journey for the Christmas break.
Recommended inspections
Joseph Mulika, another mechanic and proprietor of RSZ Technical Service Limited, says all drivers need to make two major checks as part of their travel planning. These include the condition of the tyres and the brakes.
Tyres
“Unlike other issues that might arise while a driver is on the road, if these two are not in a road-worthy state, they can pose a risk to both the driver and other road users. Your mechanic can ascertain the state of the tyres, and let them advise you accordingly.”
Lutaaya adds, “In case you replace the tyres, ensure that both wheel balancing and alignment are done. This helps put the reams and the tyres in the right position thus making the car steady on the road, it will also prevent the vehicle from shuddering when driving beyond 80 km per hour.”
Brakes
Lutaaya advises that drivers should have both the front and rear brakes of the car checked. Check the brakes, both front and back. “They might have worn out and during a long journey, they end up affecting the disk and drum, this will increase the cost of replacing the brakes but also puts your life at risk in cases where the car fails to brake.”
Cooling system
Both mechanics agree that engine overheating is one of the common challenges that drivers face while travelling upcountry. Muliika says this is the case because most of the cars that are driven upcountry during the festive season as usually driven around town in the course of the year.
“Therefore, the speed and acceleration on the highway differ from that around two. On the highway, you can accelerate for more than 40 minutes and if your cooling system has a challenge such as a leakage on the radiator or the fans not working, the engineer will overheat. Therefore, before driving a car on a long journey, check the cooling system to ensure that the engine will be able to run for hours on end without overheating.”
Remaining service duration
In case the kilometers left on your service card are not enough to take you to and fro your upcountry journey, Mr. Lutaaya advises that you do the relevant service. He notes that service will help protect your car engine.
Battery and timing belt
A vehicle owner should be on the lookout for the reliability of the battery.
“If your battery fails to power up the engine every morning, you should replace it before traveling upcountry,” Mr Lutaaya advises.
Mr Mulika adds that the timing belt should be checked for cracks and if any are identified, it should be replaced. “The timing belt is important in supporting the vehicle in starting,” he explains.
Clutch
In the case of a manual car, Mr Mulika advises that the clutch is checked. “If the clutch wears out in the middle of the journey, the vehicle will fail to move.”
Extras
The mechanics advise other extras such as the availability of the spare tyre, car jack, and wheel spanner. Check for the validity of your permit and third party. Check for the functionality of the headlamps and rear lights.
In conclusion, Mulika advises drivers to get support in understanding the different lights on the dashboard. “Most cars give warning signals on the dashboard before breaking down. However, some drivers don’t know how to read the warning lights. Therefore, drivers should get help from their mechanics to understand the different lights on the dashboard.”
SUSPENSION AND SHOCK ABSORBERS
Here the mechanic will ascertain the condition of different parts such as the ball joints, booths, zed links, and steering rack among others. Mr Lutaaya explains that the roadworthiness of the different parts found in the suspension will not only ensure the safety of the car but also make the car comfortable. He explains, “Most of the thumping (banging noises) in the car originates from the suspension among other parts.” Additionally, he advises that the shock absorbers should be checked and if old, they should be replaced because it not, they affect the stability of the vehicle on the road.
