Wheelchair accessible vehicles - keep winter damage at a bay

During the winter months, the wheelchair accessible vehicles need more attention and maintenance for their smooth running and prevention of breakdowns. Many checks and maintenance procedures that one can follow to prevent sudden breakdowns are given below:

Testing of the batteries and tires

The strength of a car’s batteries becomes less during the cold weathers. Thus, it becomes mandatory for a disabled person to get his batteries checked and fully charged. One should also check the connecting cables and posts of the batteries. Disabled person should also ask the vehicle technician to check whether the vehicle tires are in good condition including the spare one. The pressure too needs to be checked regularly, especially during winters, as a drop in pressure can lead to unsafe and wobbly driving. The technicians should check the treads too which rotates the tires.

Seasonal Precautions

Fan belt or hose failures can cause serious engine damage and other mechanical or electrical failures in the engine especially during the winter months. During winters, the metal parts are exposed to much larger temperature differences between day and night than in summer. This can result in unexpected material failure at the wrong time. It is advisable to periodically check the belts for crack or weak spots and the hoses and pipes linings for leakage. The cooling system should be mandatorily flushed and prefilled with a prescribed mix ratio of antifreeze coolant and water. The heater and rear defogger should also be checked for proper serviceability.

 

The mobility equipment should be looked after

Vehicles supported by various disability aided equipment’s should be taken a special care of. The cold winters are harsh on the workings of the disability aided equipment’s especially the lifts and foldable ramps attached to the vehicles as they get exposed to the weather frequently with the entry and exit process of the disabled person from the vehicle. The mixture of snow, mud, salt spread in the road and ice particles creates havoc to the undercarriage of the vehicles. One should take his handicap vehicle for regular wash and clean ups. The owner of the vehicle should also consult his mechanic and check on the doors, flooring and ramps in order to save the vehicle from rusting and corrosion.

 

A tip to keep the vehicle safe

In the severe cold months of winter, salt is used by the road authorities to keep the roads clean. Wheelchair accessible vehicles plying on roads at that time gather a lot of salt and dirt. It is very important to keep the vehicle and its undercarriage clean from salt and dirt so that no damage happens. This dirt and salt causes severe damage to the vehicle as if left unintended they can cause rust formation and corrosion of the undercarriage of the vehicle, like the corrosion and breakage of fuel pipes.  In order to save oneself from costly repairs, handicap people should give their mobility aided vehicles for regular car and undercarriage wash.

 

Contact :
Contact Person: Mo Abusham
E-mail: info@betterlifemobility.com
BETTER LIFE MOBILITY CENTERS
Address: 8130 Parkway Dr.La Mesa, CA 91942
Tel/Fax: 888 540 8267
Website: http://www.betterlifemobility.com/