29 November 2010
Luggage packed, kids in car, dog at Aunt Patty’s and you’re ready to go on your Christmas roadtrip. But aren’t you forgetting one thing?
A teeny thing called ‘basic safety car check’? It’s not only vital for the safety or you and others on the road, but also to keep your car in chirpy, working condition.
The below tips can prevent up to 70 per cent of all breakdowns, so get checking!
Check windscreen wiper & washer fluid
It goes without saying that you need to be able to see where you’re going! If your windscreen wipers have been screeching, jittering and failing to clean off that lovely splotch of bird poo, you might need to replace them. You can buy windscreen wipers from most auto shops and Kmart.
Also check the washer fluid level. Fill the washer bottle with clean water and just the right amount of windscreen washer liquid (don't add too much or you'll end up like Lindsay Lohan in Just My Luck... minus the cute guy).
Check tyres
Having just one under-inflated tyre leads to unsafe levels of instability in corners (skids and slides) and during braking (as well as increasing stopping distance in an emergency). Under-inflation is also the number-one cause of tyre blow-out ('explosion') on the highway. The average tyre naturally loses 1-2 psi (the unit that measures air pressure) each month.
Many small cars require 32 psi, but please check your owner’s manual or the silver plaque under the hood to make sure.
And the best time to check your tyres? In the morning, when the weather's cool, and you haven't been burning rubber down the highway for the past two hours. Driving just 1.6km makes your tyres heat up and expand, which can throw out the air pressure reading.
Check your engine oil level
1. Park your car on flat ground.
2. Open the hood, remove the dipstick and wipe it clean with a lint-free rag.
3. Put it back in all the way, remove it again and check the oil level against the engraved low-high markers on it. If it's too low, take off the oil cap (this can be such a pain to get off sometimes. Tip: it's easier to get off when the engine's warm it makes the cap softer!).
4. Put the correct type of oil in there (check your owner's manual if you don't know what it is) and check again with the dipstick until it's at a good level.
Oh and never drive the car if there's no oil (or water/coolant) in it! This can cause major engine (and wallet) damage! (Tip: checking your oil when your engine’s cold will give you a more accurate reading.)
Is there enough radiator coolant?
This green stuff keeps your engine cool so it doesn't overheat and basically flake out. Make sure the coolant reservoir (a plastic-looking container under the hood, that's connected to the radiator hose) is between the high and low marks. Fill up with a 50/50 mix of water and coolant. In emergencies, fill it up with plain water if that's the only thing you have.
If you don't have a coolant reservoir (mainly only with older cars), you'll have to check the radiator. With a cool engine, take off the radiator cap and see how much coolant is in there. If it's low, top it up (check your owner's manual for the correct level).
If you see any coolant leaks in the engine or on the road you might have a radiator leak! Get this checked out or you might end up with a ‘cracked engine head’ or other serious damage.
If there's rusty or floaty stuff floating in the radiator water under the radiator cap, you might want to get it checked out by your mechanic.
Are the headlights & inside dashboard lights working?
Make sure all your lights are working properly. This includes hi-beam and the petrol, air bags, handbrake, lights in the dashboard, etc. You'll need some help with the reverse light check though, unless you're near a mirror-like wall or something that you can see the reflection.
Check wiring, hoses & pipes
Suss out the scene under the hood for any damaged, loose, frayed or disconnected wiring. Check your hoses and pipes for any cracks, holes, kinks or other damage. If you see any stains on them, you may have a leak somewhere!
Get your car serviced
If it’s due, get your car serviced! They’ll be able to check all the above plus your brakes and make sure your tyres are aligned properly (which reduces uneven wear and tear). If a service isn’t due and you’re concerned something might not be right, take your car to the mechanic and ask them to check whatever’s concerning you out. Better safe than sorry.
Enjoy your trip!