According to Mr Pipop Ongkunarak, our Product Management ZF (Thailand) expert, rusty and broken car components are common among many vehicles here due to severe damage over time from road conditions and flooding. To keep your vehicle in good health, he recommends that drivers bring in their vehicles for regular maintenance checks once a year, and shares several useful tips:
Avoid a cold start: Warm up your engine for at least one minute before bringing your car out for a drive.
While waiting for your car to warm up, take the time to walk around the vehicle. Check for oil leakages or unfamiliar noises from the shock absorbers – these are tell-tale signs that your car is due for a check-up. Shock absorbers should be changed every 20,000km.
Drivers in Thailand experience frequent start-stop driving. Take note of the lag time during braking, from the moment you apply the brakes until the car comes to standstill. If it takes an unusually long time, it may mean your brakes require urgent repairs.
If you drive through floodwater that are at least 10 centimetres high, schedule a maintenance check-up. Water may have seeped into the steering and suspension joints, causing damage. Dry ball joints have increased friction and may cause steering difficulties.
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