Everything You Need To Know About Parallel Parking

 If you get sweaty palms just thinking about parallel parking, trust us, you are not the only one. Many drivers feel the same pressure when they have to align and park the car without causing any damage to other cars.

Parallel car parking is a hard skill to master because of how intricate it is. And yet, it is an essential driving manoeuvre that you must know of to park in tight spaces that you encounter in day to day driving.

Here is all that you need to know about parallel parking, which along with the on-road practice, will help you master the art with ease.

Understanding the Technique of Parallel Car Parking

Parallel parking is a method of parking a car in line with other parked vehicles on one side of the road and facing in the same direction as traffic on that side. To do this, one has to slightly drive past the available parking space and pull up next to the parked vehicle, then gradually reverse to fit in the space whilst keeping a safe distance.

This may sound a little tricky, but there is no need to get nervous. With concentration and some practice, one can easily master the technique of parallel car parking.

Steps Involved in Parallel Parking

Being a precise driving manoeuvre, parallel parking hinges on following the right approach. Here are the four steps to parallel park your car.

STEP 1: FIND THE RIGHT FIT

In parallel parking, you should not just park in the very first space spotted. It requires careful analysis of the available parking space to see if your car will fit there. As a thumb rule, the parking space should be one and a half times the length of your car. Only then should you pull up or else keep looking until a suitable space is available. Once the right spot is found, stop your car parallel to the car you are going to park behind. Maintain a distance of 2-3 feet while doing so.

STEP 2: PUT IT IN REVERSE

Next, slowly reverse until the middle part of your car is parallel to the other vehicle's rear bumper. At this point, your car will start changing direction to slot behind the car in front. The benefit of maintaining distance will become evident here; you'll have enough space to reverse without risking any contact between your car and the other vehicle.

STEP 3&4: SLOT YOUR CAR INTO POSITION

Now, cut the steering wheel towards the right to achieve a 45° angle and continue in reverse gear. Then, turn the steering wheel anti-clockwise and continue reversing until your car is perfectly aligned with the rest of the vehicles, and parallel to the wall or divider on the driver's side.

Note: The same approach will be applicable when you are parallel parking your car on the left. In this case, the left side of your car will be parallel to the wall, divider or any such boundary.

STEP 5: STRAIGHTEN AND ALIGN

The final step is to check if your car is at an equal distance from the cars in front and behind, and the edge of the road. If not, then reposition your car until it is in the center and demonstrates perfectly parallel lines.

5 Tips That Work Best for Effortless Parallel Parking

Is it surprising for you to see other drivers flawlessly parallel park their car? Here are the 5 must-know parallel parking tips to help you get there.

1. USE YOUR INDICATORS

Always keep your indicator (whether left or right) switched on while you are parallel parking the car to let other drivers know about your intended turn. Remember that this is the only way to communicate with other vehicles on the road. Hence, use your indicators wisely while parallel parking your car.

2. PUT YOUR IRVM AND ORVMS TO GOOD USE

There are quite a few possibilities of blind spots when parallel parking. Hence, always keep an eye on both using your IRVM (Inside Rear View Mirror) and ORVMs (Outside Rear View Mirror) to check for any risks or obstacles while reversing the car.

3. SLOWLY BACK UP

Rushing is never a good idea on the road especially when parallel parking. Keeping in line with the thought, slowly and gradually reverse your car as you slot your car into the empty parking space.

4. MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL

Parallel parking is all about how swiftly and smartly you turn the steering wheel whilst having full control of it. Remember to place your hands in the nine and three-position at all times and let the wheel spin freely with both your hands on it as much as possible to maintain good control.

5. FINALISE YOUR POSITION

While keeping your car as close to the wall or divider as possible, you also need to ensure that there's ample room left in front and behind for other vehicles to easily pull in and out of their respective parking spaces without the risk of damage.

When the divider or wall is on the driver side while parallel parking, leave enough room for the right side doors to open for you and your co-passengers to get in and out.

Remember, the more you practice using these tips to parallel park, the easier it becomes to master the art without any sweaty palms or the risk of bumping into other parked cars while you are parallel parking your car.

To Know More About Honda Car Showrooms Mumbai - Driving tips Visit Solitaire Honda Mumbai, Contact us at 022 67385588 or email us at sales@solitairehonda.com

12 Things you should never do in a Brand New Car

 Despite the Pandemic it’s surprising to see a better number of new cars sold in 2020 than in 2019. Be it from the entry-level cars or high-end cars, most of them have seen a growth in sales. Come on, who doesn’t get excited when a new car pops in your head. Furthermore, the soothing smell of freshly built car is breathtaking.

With that said, buying a new car is on one side and preparing it for its time with you is quite another. Yes! you heard it right, you have to get your car up and running before extracting the most out of it. Here are 12 things one should avoid doing in a new car.

1. Skipping the Owner’s Manual

Fact: Anyone rarely reads the newly bought vehicles owner manual. This still happens, as all the detail, nicks and nacks are written there. So, now before googling something about the car, it’s better to look in the manual. You’ll surely see some new things there.

2. Avoid Super Short Trips

Got a new car? I’m sure you’ll be excited to drive it. Well, it’s surely fun and amusing just don’t her around the block, rather go a bit far. Just let her feel the air and stretch its legs out on the road.

3. Don’t Floor the Throttle

It is recommended not to put the pedal to the metal during the run-in period. For you to know, the running-in period lasts anywhere from 1,000kms to 1,500kms depending upon the car. Let those new fresh piston rings take their position and sink in.

4. Don’t hit the Rev limiter or Rev bounce

Similar to putting the pedal to the floor, one should avoid taking the engine to redline. Yes! I agree its fun, but save it for later use, at least after 1,000kms. Keeping the engine on the boil might result in poor running-in and this could lead vibrations to creep in.

5. Don’t slam the brakes

Slamming the brakes might have similar effects as under hard acceleration. But that said if one has to jam the brakes to avoid a collision, do it without hesitation. In any other case, it is fair not to slam them for a better life ahead. Let those discs get used to your driving style.

6. Don’t Forget Driving in City Traffic

Driving in the city is one of the best places to complete the running-in period. For the first 1,000kms, the car demands variable speed with varying RPM and driving in the city extracts exactly the same. This allows the engine to run on multiple RPMS with varying load.

7. Avoid Traffic Jams

Prolonged Idling might have a negative effect on that newly built engine. It’s better to keep it under the transmission load most of the times. Well, no one wants to get stuck in a traffic jam so does your new baby. This is until the running-in period ends.

8. Don’t Stress in Cold Starts

This is one of the ignored stat, and it is also one of the most important ones. A new engine is tightly put together, and not warming up the car before driving might have an adverse effect on the pistons and piston rings. Not just a new car, this should also be followed in any vehicle with any number of kilometres on it. I’m sure you too never just get up in the morning and straight go to work. This is the exact same reason, let the vehicle wake up

9. Avoid Frequent Oil Changes

There is a reason a company decides a specific time or range when to change the motor oil. Well, changing that before prescribed rate, or even frequent oil changes could result in a money drain. It doesn’t harm the engine it’s just you’ll be wasting your cash.

10. Don’t Use Cruise Control

As said earlier, a new freshly built car shouldn’t be driven at a constant speed. Cruise control in a vehicle does the same. Though it is good for extracting good mileage it’ll surely have a negative effect on the long run.

11. Don’t run the car on premium Petrol

Caring about your newly bought car is good but over caring will be harsh on her. Automotive companies never recommend running the car on premium petrol. Especially here in India, the premium has additives that’ll surely harm the engine components rather than doing good.

12. Don’t tow or Overload

Driving your new car under transmission load is what all it needs. Exceeding the load might be harmful to the engine and on the long run, you’ll surely be disappointed. Sticking to a light load with light luggage and light people load will be great for the first 1,000kms.

To Know More About Authorized Dealer of Honda Cars in Mumbai Visit Solitaire Honda Mumbai, Contact us at 022 67385588 or email us at sales@solitairehonda.com

Symptoms Of A Failing Car Battery

 The car battery is an essential component of the car, which caters to various functions such as powering the headlights and interior electronic & infotainment systems. But most importantly, it helps in starting the car. The average battery life in India ranges from 2-3 years, and it is easy to notice the signs if your car battery is failing. Let’s look at the common symptoms of a failing car battery:

1. Dim Headlights & Accessories

The car battery is responsible for running all the electrical systems, including the headlights. One of the common and easy-to-detect symptoms is dim headlights. You can distinguish between starter issues and battery issues by checking the lights. It might be a starter issue if the headlights are working fine and the accessories are without dimming. Otherwise, it would be best if you got your battery checked.

2. Noise During Starting

Another symptom of a failing car battery can be some chatter noise made during the car starts. Usually, a car is not supposed to make such noises during starting, but if you want to check. You can see if the vehicle is making chattering/ whirring noises, as it would again be a battery issue, not a starter problem.

3. Freqeuent Jump Starts

This is easy to see and diagnose; if you need frequent jump starts now and then, it is time to get your battery checked. This might happen if the battery is too old or experiencing internal issues, failing to start the car itself.

4. Long Cranks

A daily driver is familiar with his car’s crank sounds and time. When turning the key, you notice long or slow cranks; it can be another red flag. If the engine is sluggish during the cranking procedure, it might be time to get your battery checked and repaired or replaced.

5. Backfiring

Coming to the last warning sign that you cannot miss. A failing battery can cause intermittent sparks, leading to fuel accumulation in the cylinders. If this accumulated fuel is ignited with increased force, it can cause your car to backfire. While backfiring can also occur due to other reasons but checking the car battery is vital here.

To Know More About Authorized Dealer of Honda Cars in Mumbai Visit Solitaire Honda Mumbai, Contact us at 022 67385588 or email us at sales@solitairehonda.com

5 Car Gadgets That Every Owner Must Have!

 Car gadgets have come a very long way in helping drivers with amazing information. While most luxury cars come with all these features, a lot of cars purchased by the masses don’t. Well, here’s a list of 5 car gadgets that every owner must have!

1. GoConnect 2.0 OBD

The GoConnect is the most affordable onboard diagnostic device for cars! You can set it up on your car in four easy steps and enjoy a lifetime of insider information about your car. The GoConnect 2.0 brings to you features like GPS Tracking, Theft Alert, Driving Behaviour Report, Tow Alert, Mileage tracking, and an all-new SOS feature. This is surely one of the best car gadgets out there! No matter what city or area you are in, this device works buttery smooth!

2. TPMS

One of the most useful car gadgets, a TPMS, or Tyre Pressure Monitoring System, is a simple device that gives you an active reading of your car’s tyre pressure. 4 sensors are attached to the valve on the tyres and the reading is displayed on a screen that can be mounted anywhere in your car. This is especially useful for drivers who constantly keep forgetting to check the tyre pressure!

3. Mobile Holder with Wireless Charging

Don’t you hate it when you’ve mounted your phone on the windshield and all you can see are wires because your phone’s running low on battery? Well, the mobile holder doubles up as a wireless charger for obstruction-free vision! This is one of those car gadgets that you will only realise you need once you have it!

4. Handy Tyre Inflator

What to do when your TPMS is giving you warnings and you can’t spot a tyre shop nearby? Well, you use the small, light, and handy tyre inflator! This inflator will take up almost zero space in your car, and it’ll save you from a puncture!

5. Handheld Vacuum Cleaner

Cars are meant to get dirty, but not from the inside. Everyone loves a clean, odour-free car when they sit in one. The Handheld Vacuum Cleaner is a small, very portable clean freak that will eat up all the dirt that comes into your car!

To Know More About Honda Service Centre Mumbai Visit Solitaire Honda Mumbai, Contact us at 022 67385588 or email us at sales@solitairehonda.com

5 Things You Should Do When Your Car Gets Flooded/Stuck In Water

 Monsoons have just arrived and so has the hassle! With waterlogged streets a common sight, day and night rainfall has led to severe flooding of metropolitans and small towns alike. With continuous rainfall, a common phenomenon, the unexpectedness of it all can make your beloved vehicles get stuck inside water for hours. But god forbid that happens, here is what you can do.

1. Do Not Turn The Engine On!

Well, first things first, if you happen to be stuck in a pool of water with no way out, just do not turn your vehicle on. If your vehicle stops amidst water, turning the engine on again can turn out to be fatal for your engine. Turning your engine amidst water can lead to a “hydro lock”; a situation where water damages your engine pistons. And trust us when we say it, that’s the worst thing that can happen to your vehicle.

2. Escape Your Vehicle

It is no rocket science that when you’re trapped inside a flooding vehicle, then the first thing you do is escape! Since heavy monsoons have a reputation of turning ugly in no time, escaping your vehicle would be a smarter thing to do. This way, you wouldn’t panic and will be able to make decisions that will actually help you.

3. Call Your Insurance Company

To make sure the damage does not drain your finances, make sure to call up your insurance company and inform them about the mishap. Since flood damage is usually covered under comprehensive (fire and theft) insurance, you may be saved from losing your beloved vehicle forever. And since your insurance company will be “flooded” with calls, it is smart to start the process a little early.

4. Get Your Vehicle Towed

Now that you’ve called up your insurance company, it’s time to get your vehicle towed. Call up your emergency service partners, car manufacturer or GoMechanic! And get your vehicle to a safe space, where it can dry off and damage assessed. If possible tow it to the nearest service centre, as there your vehicle will get the due attention it deserves.

5. Plan Out The Repair/Claim Process

Once your car is towed to a safer place and dried up, assess for the damage that has been caused and plan out the repair through an insurance claim or otherwise. You can even get in touch with GoMechanic, where our expert technicians will advise you about what can be done further.

To Know More About Honda Car Service workshops in Jogeshwari Mumbai Visit Solitaire Honda Mumbai, Contact us at 022 67385588 or email us at telemarketing.borivali@solitairehonda.com

What Constitutes General Periodic Maintenance Of Your Car?

 Our car is a machine and just like other machines, it does need maintenance to make sure that it runs properly whenever you want it. Now, all cars have a fixed interval of periodic maintenance as defined by the manufacturer.

This can be typically 10.000 km or one year, and for certain vehicles, it is 15,000 km or one year, whichever is earlier. If you are disciplined to maintain your car as per these prescribed intervals then you will have a well-maintained car that will not only serve you for a long time but also need less repair work as it ages. Such well-maintained vehicles also get a good resale value at the time of selling.

Now, let’s see what typical periodic maintenance constitutes.

Engine and its Accessories

A very critical system of your car which needs periodic maintenance or service is the engine. For the engine in terms of servicing, the most important thing that gets done is changing the oil and oil filter. Oil plays a crucial role in making sure that your engine runs well and for a long duration and for many kilometers, and it’s like the blood of your engine, so you have to make sure that the oil is always in good condition. And remember, it is mandatory to change the oil filter when you take your car for an oil change.

There are a few more things that are checked or serviced with respect to the engine when a car goes for periodic maintenance service. One of the other important things that get checked is the quality of the air filter or how badly it is clogged up. Typically, the air filter is cleaned to get rid of the dust and other particles that get caught in it. If it is very badly clogged up then replacing it with a new one is better. A clean air filter means your car engine breathes better and that means it will perform better and you will get the desired pickup and also the desired fuel mileage per liter of fuel consumed. Changing the air filter at every service interval is not mandatory and can be changed after every 30,000 km or every 2 years. The same goes for the fuel filter of the car. Have the service center check the fuel filter if it is clean and usually it would need a change every 40,000 or 45,000 km interval.

At such service, the coolant of your car is also checked and topped up if there is a slight drop in level. But if the drop in coolant level is significant then that means there is some leakage in the system and should be fixed immediately to avoid getting into a situation where the leak increases and causes overheating of the engine. The drive belt which drives all engine accessories like the alternator, AC compressor and power steering pump in case of hydraulic power steering is checked and is replaced if there are cuts and it looks worn out or damaged.

Brakes

The next system which gets looked into at a periodic maintenance service is the brakes of the car. In the case of disc brakes, the thickness of the brake pads is checked. If they are close to 2mm or less than it is always advisable to replace the pads. The discs are checked if they are warped or if the surface has too many serrations on it. Your service center mechanic can guide you whether the brake discs are good or need replacing or need a fine machine cut on its surface.

If the pads and discs look good then they are all cleaned up and installed again. In the case of drum brakes (which are typically on the rear wheels of any small and medium segment car in India), the brake drums are opened up and cleaned and the friction material on the liner is inspected. If it has thinned down to less than 2mm then it is necessary to replace the brake liners, else just cleaning them is sufficient. The handbrake or parking brake is checked and adjusted if needed.

Suspension, Wheels, and Tyres

Next up is your car’s suspension system and wheels and tyres. The service center would look at all the suspension components like the shock absorbers, springs, multiple linkages like the upper arms and lower arms, various ball joints, balance rods and check if those are good or not. In certain cases, those are torqued up again and if need to be replaced then the service center will advise you accordingly. The car’s power steering and steering rack are checked for proper function.

Your tyres are checked for the tread wear and overall condition. The wheel bearings are checked if they are getting worn out and are sounding rough. The wheels are checked if they have gotten bent or have any other damage. Wheel balancing and tyre rotation are done. Wheel alignment is also checked and confirmed. As a side note, the typical life of tyres is roughly 50,000 km (+/- a few thousand km) or 4 to 5 years whichever is earlier. Although depending upon road and driving conditions these intervals may vary.

Electrical & Electronic systems

As part of the periodic maintenance service, all electrical and electronic systems are also checked. Car headlights, taillights, and indicator lights are checked and confirmed if working properly. Power windows are checked if functioning properly. The battery is load tested to check if it is in good condition.

A battery test report is available if needed and can be asked for. The functionality of the wipers and horns is checked and confirmed. AC function is checked if the cooling is proper and the flow is proper. Cabin filter which is part of the car’s AC and ventilation system is inspected and cleaned if dirty. If the condition is too bad then it is replaced with a new cabin filter.

Gearbox and Clutch

Another important aspect of the car is its transmission or gearbox. Typically at a periodic maintenance service, it is checked if there is any indication of oil leakage from the gearbox. If there isn’t then nothing further needs to be done. Gearbox oil change interval is much longer than an engine oil change interval and hence gearbox oil change will usually happen at an interval of 50,000 or 60,000 km as prescribed by the car manufacturer. The clutch operation is also given a look into, during the maintenance service, and the report about the clutch condition and whether it needs a replacement is shared with you.

Other Checks

All the door hinges are greased and doors checked for proper closure. Boot, hood, and other external body parts are given a look over and suggestions given accordingly. Finally, the car is scanned with the help of a diagnostic scanner that connects to the car’s OBD system and through it to the onboard computer. The service interval reset is done and if there are any diagnostic fault codes saved in the system, then these are read by the scanner and checked what the fault is about. Accordingly, further diagnosis is done if required.

Wrapping Up

To recap, the periodic maintenance service of your car consists of:

• Engine oil and oil filter change.
• Air filter and fuel filter cleaning and replacement if required.
• Inspection of engine cooling system and top up of coolant.
• Inspection of the drive belt.
• Brake inspection and cleaning and reporting.
• Checking and inspection of the suspension system.
• Wheel alignment and balancing.
• Inspection of electrical and electronic systems including the battery.
• AC inspection and cleaning or changing of the cabin filter.
• Inspection of gearbox and checking of clutch operation.
• Checking of Horn, Wipers, Power steering and Doors for proper functioning.

Periodic maintenance service is very important for keeping your car in the best shape and should be done routinely as per the prescribed service interval given by the manufacturer. This information about service intervals is written in your owner’s manual.

To Know More About Authorized Honda Car Workshop in Mumbai Visit Solitaire Honda Mumbai, Contact us at 022 67385588 or email us at telemarketing.borivali@solitairehonda.com

Car Loans Vs Upfront Purchase | How Should You Buy Your Car?

While bringing home a new car is a feeling beyond words, buying it can be something that eats up your hard-earned savings. This is why it is important for you to weigh your options as to how to actually buy the vehicle you love. So here is car loans vs. down payments compared head-on.

Deciding What To Go For

The first step toward buying a car is deciding what your budget will be. While this is something that’s quite personal, what matters is that you manage your expenses in such a way, that your budget doesn’t shake up your entire financial life.

If you feel like you can shell out a big amount upfront, without a doubt keep that as your priority. But if you feel, that shelling out a huge amount can be difficult, then go ahead to explore the financing option that can be quite helpful in easing out your vehicle expensive albeit with a few conditions.

The Down Payment Road

Those who are able to shell out a large amount upfront to bring home a car should always go the down payment road. Not only will this give you immediate access to your beloved vehicle without any conditions, but paying upfront for your car will also save you from the hassles of hypothecation, and resale issues. Even if you do not have the amount it takes to bring home a vehicle you desire, it is advisable to invest the savings you have and go for the car you love in a few years.

The Financing Road

The most common method of purchasing a brand new car is a car loan. Offered by almost all banking institutions in India, car loans can bring your dream car to your garage almost as immediately as a down payment. For those who aren’t able to shell out the entire amount, car loans can help to buy a car for such individuals a reality.

With almost all major banks ready to finance as much as 90% of a vehicle’s value, with a car loan, you can save your hard-earned money by shelling out a mere 10% of your car’s value as a down payment. But with this golden privilege comes a warning.

While car loans help you turn your dreams into reality, the magic of financing comes with a duty to repay and that too with interest. This means that not only you will pay back the principal but will also pay back over and above that amount as interest.

To clear the picture better, here’s what the situation will look like: Considering you need to bring home a vehicle whose on-road value is 12 lakhs, and you decide to avail of a car loan that finances 90% of the vehicle’s cost with 8% of interest. In such a case now you’ll end up shelling out 1.2 lakhs as a down payment and Rs. 10.8 lakh would be your loan amount. Now if you chose to spread this loan over for a tenure of 7 years, you will end up paying as much as 3.15 lakhs over and above the principal!

Another speed breaker in the journey of availing of a car loan is high processing fees, the hassle of documentation, and the fact that your beloved vehicle is hypothecated in favour of your bank in case you aren’t able to pay. While this might not be a problem if you pay timely, it surely is a hassle when it comes to reselling the vehicle.

The Bottom Line

So this was all about paying upfront vs. availing of a car loan. So if you are planning to bring home a new car, try and see if you can pay for the vehicle upfront. If not remember the real “cost” of availing of a car loan. Manage your loan tenure in such a way, that you can ensure a timely payment without shaking up all your other expenses. Be careful with your planning as a car loan can also hamper your valuable credit score if not managed judiciously.

To Know More About Authorised Honda Car dealership in Mumbai Visit Solitaire Honda Mumbai, Contact us at 022 67385588 or email us at info@solitairehonda.com