Tuesday, March 19, 2024

The Secret to Keeping Your Used Car Looking Brand New

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From the movie “The Transporter 3,” Jason Statham’s character says, “If you take care of your car, it will take care of you.” How true this is. Only that in Africa, we don’t really know how to take good care of our cars.

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Buying a used car is a great idea because it saves you money. You will get the car of your dreams, but at a much lower price than the guy who walks into the showroom and buys brand new. If you know how to take good care of your car, it will continue to look great and no one needs to know that you bought it second hand. If you don’t take care of your second hand car in Africa, the roads will, and you will not be pleased with the result. Your car will wear out so fast, and turn from a ride into a chicken rearing jalopy.

Tune up the car for African roads

Like other Zambians, you have most probably imported your second-hand ride from Japan, and you are the envy of your neighbors, that is, if they don’t hate you for buying it before they could.
However, in Japan, the roads are very smooth, the climate is alternately cold and warm, and possibly, the car you bought hasn’t even hit a pothole. Therefore, if you floor the pedal immediately after getting her cleared through customs, you will be subjecting her to immense abuse, one that she has never suffered before. The first thing you should do is to drive to a repair shop and seek professional advice in regard to a few things that may need changed, like:

The underbody

Many parts of the car are at risk in the underbody. For example, the exhaust pipe, the radiator, the oil pans, the brake lines, and even some low-hanging pumps. You may need to improvise some form of skid plate to protect these parts. You may also have to change or tighten up the suspension a bit.

Under the bonnet

Let the mechanic tighten up the battery, especially if the roads in your neighborhood are rough. Having loose connections in the battery could mean stoppages in the most awkward places—so much for a new car. The mechanic can improvise clamps for the battery. Apart from this, the other parts will most likely be intact.
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The wheels

Most wheels will not last long on the roads of Africa, because the steel belts used in the manufacture of the tires only run in the part with the treads. However, considering the condition of the roads, some portion of the sidewall will come into contact with the road. This quickly wears out the tires. To counter this, just over-fill the pressure to about 40 psi instead of 35 psi to help keep the sidewalls of the tires off the ground.

The body

This is the part that everyone notices. In addition to feeling that strong rev of the engine when you are at the wheel, you want those admiring glances to be on your sleek car. Wash the car, but remember to have the underside hosed off, too, because anything that the car runs over can stick to the underbody.
Also, use the best waxing and polishing products on the market. A good waxing should protect the paint, keeping it as good as new. Give her a waxing every six months. Never skimp on the quality of the products that you use on your car. If you park the car under a tree, take care of the bird droppings on the same day that they happen, or they will form a permanent stain.

The roads in Africa can be very dusty, therefore, give your car a cleanup every weekend.

The interior

With time, you may have to change the upholstery with fabrics that can stand the harsh glare of the African sun. For the vinyl and plastic sections of the car, use UV protection products so that they don’t dry and crack up. Also, use a deflector screen on the windshield and the windows and always park your car in the shade.

Other essentials

  • So much for the interior and the exterior, here are a few more things you need to keep in the back of your mind regarding your “brand new” second-hand car.
  • Differential oils and transmission fluids must be changed regularly, according to the servicing schedule of the car, or even before that. Use the recommended oils and fluids only.
  • Every moving part of the car, whether it is in the engine or under the body, must be greased regularly. Joints can go to early retirement, just as people are at risk of arthritis.
  • Learn the sounds and the motions of your car. For example, loud squeals, unusual road noises, and some cranking in the engine means things are wrong. Do not wait too long. Have it checked out.
  • During servicing, ensure that the wheel bearings are removed, inspected and greased. They will save your spindle and hub, and considering the rough roads of Zambia, it is quite possible to see one of your wheels racing ahead of your car.

If your car looks and drives as good as new, you won’t have to make many trips to the mechanic, thus saving money. You can go for years without facing a big, costly breakdown. Furthermore, you can do some of the aforementioned health checks if you are handy in do it yourself car maintenance drills.

9 COMMENTS

  1. Have you seen the way that guy is squatted under a suspended car? That is extremely dangerous. Not matter how new the equipment can be. Ya ku China?

  2. Thank you for this timely idea. I also expected you to talk about Thermostat, it has made many car owners to replace water pump when it is blown because of thermostat.

    • You are right daniel. Its important to remove the thermostat as it is useless in Africa, temperatures don’t get as low as japan. Another thing is to tighten the clips on the pipes that from the radiator to the water pump, recently my clips ( BMW X5) lost grip due to bumps and water/coolant was pouring from radiator…

  3. …thanx for the tips, however, your idea of REMOVING wheel bearing for inspection and subsequent greasing every time you service the Jalopy is a rare activity. once you REMOVE the bearing u are better off fitting in a new brg.
    You also missed advise on mushrooming ‘car wash’ dealers on every street corner, streams, ponds…hell knows the quality of water used by those ‘dealers’….very sandy, acidic, oily name it…..rough scrubbers.
    Engine wash must only be done by ‘professionals’…….
    Those in mine areas with active smelter process(Muf, Nkana, Chingola..)
    , when it rains and your car was not in the shed, immediately wash the car after the rains……

  4. If it used then it can never be BRAND new. Please don’t misuse words, wrong titling. Anyway, the artitcle is insightful indeed!

    • Please the article did not mention that the car becomes brand new but it looks brand new. A car can look brand new but it is very old.

  5. Here are some things I do with my 10+ year old car: Wash the car at least once every week (take a Sunday, open a six-pack and wash with good car shampoo); keep a service record of serviceable parts and which ones are replaced, when and what source (helps to keep track of repair before breakdown); ensure you avoid jack-rabbit driving habits, especially where roads are particularly bad (I saw a fool driving at very high speed on a damaged stretch of the Sesheke road, for example). My car still competes with new cars any day

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