How To Do A Proper Car Safety Inspection
Everywhere around the world, vehicular accidents happen. Human error and mechanical troubles are mostly to blame for these mishaps, that’s why knowing how to perform basic car safety checks is crucial for auto owners and drivers.
Daily car inspections should be done before taking your sedan or truck for a spin. Checking your car’s roadworthiness is essential. Looking for potential issues and problems like low tire pressure, loose battery terminals, or oil leaks, can save you from having breakdowns. In some cases, it can spell the difference between life and death.
If you’re a fresh car owner, here are some car safety inspections you need to do in order to ensure your safety on the road and elsewhere.
Battery
A car’s engine won’t run, let alone start, without a properly charged battery. This car part typically lasts for three to four years, but some may have a shorter life span depending on how you use your car. Breaking down in the middle of nowhere is never an attractive option for drivers that’s why keeping your car in great condition is crucial.
Before driving your car out of the garage, make sure the battery is properly mounted and the connections are tight. Check signs for corrosion and ensure that the terminals are clean and there are no signs of connection issues.
Steering System
Make sure that your steering system is on top condition to avoid major safety problems. Check the amount of “free play” or lash. Free play refers to the distance that the steering wheel moves before the tires follow suit.
To do this, lightly turn your steering wheel left and right as far as possible while the road wheels are pointed straight ahead. Make sure that the steering wheel is tight and your wheels respond immediately.
Brake
A car with a defective brake system is a serious road safety threat. If you’re not so confident with your car brake mechanism, it’s best not to use your vehicle and call your mechanic.
To ensure that your vehicle’s brake system is reliable, push the pedal all the way and observe. If you need more space, go to a vacant lot and make full and sudden stops to check your car’s anti-lock braking system (ABS). Additionally, once you apply the brakes, it should feel firm, with enough resistance, and not too springy. If you notice any of these signs, better, not to risk while driving a car with a faulty brake.
Brakes are very important, especially when the roads become less safe with harsh weather conditions like snow and heavy rains.
Seats And Seatbelts
Seatbelts are critical in saving motorists’ lives in case of a car collision. That’s why it’s important to make sure they’re working. Check if your seatbelts and the latches, recoil, and restraints systems are properly functioning. Tug, pull and lock the seatbelts.
Also, take time to check the seats. Are they positioned according to your height and preference? More importantly, does your kid have his or her own child seat in the car? Check out this informative post if you want to know what the law says about car seat use.
Lights
On the road, there are so many things you have to be wary of, especially if you’re driving at night. Lights are your best friend when you’re trying to communicate on the road with the other drivers.
For instance, you have to activate your turn signals before maneuvering your machine to the left or right. You can also turn on the hazard lights if you’re leaving your car on the side of the road for a quick stop.
Ask someone to stand in front and behind the car as you turn on the brake lights, headlights, reverse lights, and tail lights. Don’t forget to include the fog lights, high-beam, and low-beam lights in your regular safety checks. If one light malfunctions, send your vehicle to a mechanic as soon as possible. Regularly wipe your car lenses with a damp cloth to ensure the stain doesn’t form.
Oil And Fluids
Your automobile’s components should be lubricated for it to function properly. If your vehicle runs out of oil, you’ll have problems and its parts will wear out easily.
Take a quick look at the engine oil, coolant, and all the other fluids that are essential to your car’s proper functioning. There’s a gauge stick for each of these liquids and checking the level is as easy as putting it inside the valve. Top up your oils and fluids, as needed, to avoid problems down the road. If the coolant has a rather sludgy texture or surface, have your car checked by a mechanic.
While checking the hood, take time to have a quick look at the radiator hoses. Make sure they’re not bloated, cracked, or are leaking.
Perform a leak check simply by walking around your car and checking underneath or your car tracks for pools of dried liquid.
Water
Being on the road for several hours, your car engine may work too hard and become overheated. Overheating is one of the most serious issues a motorist faces on the road. While the issue may be easily solved by adding water to your radiator, it’s still best to be proactive and avoid overheating from giving you road safety problems.
To do this, check your radiator before leaving and top up water, as needed. Also have extra refills stored in your car, just in case you get stuck in a place with no access to water.
Wind Shield And Wipers
This vehicle part offers crucial protection to motorists. Driving without a clear view of the world is a disaster waiting to happen. Make sure you can see everything ahead of you by cleaning your windshield regularly inside and outside.
Additionally, check your wiper blades and wiper controls. Install new wiper blades suitable for winter before the cold weather starts. Check your heater and defroster, too. Make sure your car is winter–resilient by doing these things.
Tires
Going on a trip may become extremely perilous if you’re driving on a battered set of tires. Check your car tread and air pressure, to ensure road safety and avoid life-threatening accidents.
Perform visual checks on your tires. Look out for tears, bulges, bumps, and punctures.
Ideally, your tire tread depth should measure 3.2 millimeters (mm) or lower. If you don’t have a tire depth gauge, do what most people do. Insert a coin into the tire’s grooves and check. A coin that’s too visible means your tire may need to be replaced.
To check your tire air pressure, you can use a gauge and follow the manufacturer’s suggested measurements. While you’re at it, make sure your tires aren’t punctured or have no visible signs of wear and tear. Finally, always have a spare tire with you to further avoid problems.
What Makes A Good Vehicle Safety Inspection?
Checking your vehicle’s roadworthiness is an important pre-trip and post-trip routine. The key to ensuring your vehicle’s safety is knowing where to spot potential malfunctions and problems.
In more concrete terms, it should include lifting up the hood and checking the engine and oil levels, walking around the car to do visual checks, and inspecting the car’s cabin and interior. Tools such as tire pressure and tire depth gauges, gloves, and flashlight may come in handy.