Why do you visit a physician once a year? though you are perfectly alright. It is to ensure that if your body is perfectly okay. Right? the same applies to your vehicle. You must apply the same philosophy with your vehicle too. You should know why it is important to get a yearly car inspection. This blog is providing you with a vehicle inspection checklist, that one should know before getting a car inspected.
Vehicle Inspection, What is it?
The evaluation of a car’s current state is referred to as the car inspection. For example, you inspect whether all the parts are properly working including the horns, engine, steering pump etc. There are two different kinds of automotive inspections: self-inspections and third-party inspections.
The car shouldn’t be driven if it hasn’t been inspected for long. When your car gets a vehicle inspection at regular intervals, you start finding the major flaws in your car. Parts should be labelled for repairs, or if it’s not a major repair, the vehicle should be scheduled for repair within a specific time frame and the vehicle can be driven while this is being done. And it can also help in pre purchase of a pre owned car or we can say pre purchase car inspection.
Vehicle Inspection Checklist
So how do you inspect your vehicle? Where to start? Here is a complete guide of 11 inspection criteria. These inspection checklist items will make maintaining an automobile more organized, straightforward, and practical.
The car must comply with all standard regulations for it to be roadworthy. Inspection can be done on a regular basis, such as once a week or once a month. This would help both you and your car to be healthy and in good condition using smart inspection methods! Let us understand below how to inspect your quickly at regular intervals.
1. Check Your Brakes
Your braking system is ensured to function effectively by the brake fluid. It lubricates the brake system’s working parts. But over time, brake fluid also accumulates dust and particles and becomes less effective. Change the brake fluid as soon as possible to maintain the optimal performance of your braking system.
To test the brakes, slow down at 40 mph and then accelerate to a higher speed. Replace the brake if it sounds like it is pulsing. You should also inspect the emergency brake. You can accomplish this by driving your car to the top of a slope, shifting into neutral, then slamming on the emergency brake and you can go near by brake specialist.
2. Verify Headlights and Parking Lights
Your car’s lights must always be in working order. Broken lights can result in accidents as well as getting you pulled over by the cops. Once a month, check all of your car’s lights. Check to see if your headlights are on by turning the ignition.
Check the operation of your parking lights, turn signals, and brake lights while keeping your car’s engine running. To test the brake lights, you will require a friend or family member or a friend to stand next to the automobile.
3. Suspension Check
One of the major components that is prone to wear and tear is suspension. Standing back from the automobile and examining for slumping and sagging are two steps in the process of determining whether the suspension of the old car is in good shape. For the car body to return to its original position, all the corners must be pressed down.
Fix any joints or pivots that you notice to be worn out or damaged as soon as you can, or have a garage replace them.
If any are discovered to be oil-contaminated, locate the leak’s source and fix it; otherwise, any newly installed bushes will be impacted. On many cars, you can examine suspension components while the wheels are still attached, but on some, you might need to take them off. Some inspections require that the wheels be attached.
4. Tyre Inflation
Tyres deteriorate over time as a result of frequent road contact. To ensure you have enough traction for safe driving, it is imperative that your tyres have enough tread. Regularly check the pressure on all of your tyres, including the spare tyre. It is essential to do this before a long journey or before towing a large load. Your gas mileage will suffer and your tyres will wear out soon and excessively if they are under-inflated.
When the tyres are cold, the pressure in a car’s tyres is typically between 32 and 40 psi (pounds per square inch). Depending on the size and model of your car, this can change. The appropriate pressure is typically listed on a sticker inside the driver’s door or on the sidewall of your tyres.
5. Look Under The Bonnet
You must inspect the following under the bonnet.
- Checking for leaks in all fluid tanks.
- Belts shouldn’t display any indications of cracking.
- Never let the radiator’s hoses get too soft.
- Pull and remove the dipstick to check the amount of oil in the car.
The coolant shouldn’t be discoloured or dirty-looking in colour as this can indicate a damaged coolant tank or a leaking head gasket.
6. Levels of Coolant
Checking the level of your coolant should be another crucial duty on your vehicle’s maintenance checklist. Check these levels on a monthly basis, especially before long car journeys. The engine can overheat and malfunction if the coolant level is too low.
The length of time between coolant changes might vary greatly based on your driving style, the model, and the age of your vehicle. After 60,000 miles, the majority of automotive experts advise doing the first oil and coolant change. However, following that, make sure to change the coolant every 30,000 miles.
7. Check The Battery
The last thing you want to deal with, before heading to a crucial meeting is a dead car battery. Sadly, automotive batteries always lose their capacity with time. A car battery normally lasts three to five years, depending on your driving patterns and the battery brand.
Checking the voltage of your battery is the simplest approach to evaluating its performance. Your automobile battery is in good functioning order if it measures between 12.4 and 12.7 volts. You must immediately recharge your battery if the reading falls below 12.4 volts.
8. Mirror Checking
It’s time to inspect the car’s exterior mirrors. To accomplish this, make sure they are installed and are in good shape by having them inspected. While you’re at it, it’s a good idea to examine any controls the car may have for inside mirror adjustment. These could be tiny adjustable handles or electric buttons.
The interior mirror must then be treated in the same manner. This mirror, which is typically in the centre of the windscreen, needs to be properly placed and maintained so that it may be used to see the road behind the car. Additionally, this mirror typically cannot be adjusted electronically. Be sure to move it slightly to ensure that it can be readjusted. Once finished, enter your findings in the area below the form.
9. Emergency Tools Availability
Legal requirements may exist for specific emergency items to be present in the car. But even if they aren’t, having them is still a good idea.
The various equipment to be inspected in a first aid kit or emergency kit are a medical kit, Triangular warning, Three flashlights, a fire extinguisher, a blanket, six flares, a Shovel, Chains, Tools, reflective vests or jackets and headlight beam deflectors.
10. Engine Oil
Oil changes for cars are typically painless, especially if you bring your car to a repair shop. Older automobiles often need an oil change every 3,000 miles or so. Because they are slightly more modern, newer models only require oil changes every 5,000 to 7,000 miles.
11. Fuel Levels
Driving with inadequate gasoline levels increases the risk of debris and particles harming your fuel pump or engine. If your gasoline level is low, there is a far greater chance that any dirt particles will end up in your fuel pump rather than settling at the bottom of the tank.
Apart from all other indications and parts, it is very important to check your vehicle’s fuel level. Before bringing your vehicle back to the house at the end of the day, make sure it is fully fueled.
Conclusion
After the inspection checklist is done, Test driving a car is the best way to make sure it’s in good shape. Check the brakes and gear-shifting system while driving. Additionally, there shouldn’t be any significant pedal shaking, unnecessary noises, or brake squeaking. Make a U-turn at a slow speed to listen for any suspension system creaking.
The vehicle inspection benefits the vehicle user or the car owner in many ways such as:
- It makes sure that every component of the vehicle is examined, it enumerates everything that needs to be inspected.
- It lets the inspector know which components of your car need upkeep, replacement, or modification.
- To maintain optimum vehicle performance, the majority of vehicle components should pass the required examination.
- It aids in safety inspections to guarantee the security of passengers while the vehicle is in use.
Thus, inspect your vehicle regularly and enjoy a safe and joyful journey every day.
Also Read: Why it is important to get a car inspected
