How often do you hop in your car, put it in drive, and hit the road? Most of us feel like we went the extra mile if we just buckled up and checked our mirrors first. But did you know that it’s a great idea to run through a basic vehicle safety checklist every few trips? Your car is one of the places where you spend a lot of your time – and it’s also a place where injury is far more likely than other areas of your life. Taking the time to do a quick safety check can be life saving – and, it can also help you save money on repairs by detecting problems sooner.
This checklist includes 10 things that you should always check on your car whenever you run through all the basics. Let’s see how many you can check off on your car:
The first thing to look at is the tires. These are most likely to be damaged as you are driving, because they come into contact with the road. Check that the tires haven’t gone “bald”, where you can no longer see the pattern of the treads, because this can mean that your tires won’t grip the road as well. Also check for leaks, holes, tears, or other issues.
Are your tires in great shape? Does the tread have plenty of definition for grip? Are they all free of leaks, holes, or tears? Great! Move on to the next item.
Next check the tire pressure. Don’t just kick your foot against the tire and judge based on the bounce. Use a pressure gauge and measure the exact air pressure of your tires. Modern tires tend to look flat at the bottom due to the way companies make tires to grip the road. Additionally, some tires just have a tendency to look flat when they aren’t. Be sure to check with a tire gauge that all the tires are within the right range for your vehicle and that they are all around the same.
Are your tires full of air in closely matching amounts? Great! Time to move on to the next thing.
The next most important safety feature of your car is the lights. Lights on your car help you see to navigate the streets, and also help other drivers see you so that you don’t get hit. You need to make sure that your headlights, taillights, brake lights, and turn signals work. To check the headlights, turn them on and get out to look at the lights. If they appear cloudy or dim, the light may need to be cleaned or replaced.
Next, have someone else stand at the rear of your car and, with the car in park, step on the brakes and engage both your turn signals one at a time. Have the other person check that all these things are working as they should be.
Are all of your lights and signals working great? Perfect. The next check will need to be performed in the daytime.
No matter how old your car is, it’s always a good idea to check for leaks under the car whenever it has been parked. In some newer cars, it could be condensation coming off the air conditioning system, which is harmless. But if the leak is antifreeze, brake fluid, or transmission fluid, it could mean a big problem. If you notice leaks under your car where you’ve been parking, you should head to a mechanic.
Your car isn’t leaking? That’s perfect. Now it’s time to check another important safety feature.
Windshield wipers are a very important safety feature on a vehicle. They ensure that you have a clear view of the road in all kinds of weather, when your car is dirty, or when a bug flies into your windshield. Spray some glass cleaner on your window, and turn the windshield wipers on, watching for how they handle the cleaner. If they wipe it cleanly away, they are working great. If they leave streaks or smears, they likely need to be replaced.
Don’t forget to check the rear windshield if your car has one! If all your windshield wipers are working great, you can move on.
Does your car have any warning lights lit up on the dashboard? Maybe it’s something you don’t understand, or maybe it’s a problem that has “always been there” even after getting your car tuned up. Whatever the case may be, it’s not normal for a car to be showing a warning signal if something isn’t wrong. So be sure to have a mechanic take a look at any warning indicators and determine if they are telling you about an important problem.
No indicators lit up? Awesome. Move on to the next check in your safety check process.
The next thing to check on your list of safety features is the steering. Ensuring that your steering is working as great as it did on day one is very important. Go to a place where you won’t have to worry about traffic, like an empty parking lot, and test your steering out by turning your car wheel all the way to all sides.
If your steering is working great, you only have a few more things to check on your safety checklist. The next step involves getting under the hood.
One thing that you should check seasonally, especially before it gets very cold, is the battery. Open the hood and take a look at the battery. Is there a lot of corrosion around the battery? Has your car been struggling to start lately? Do your power windows lag when you try to open them? If so, you could have a problem with your battery that should be addressed by a mechanic.
If your battery is in great shape, you just have two more things to check.
While you are still under the hood, give all the fluids a check. Check that your oil is full enough, that your antifreeze is full an prepared for the winter, an so on.
If you have replaced old fluids or filled up areas where you needed some more, you just have one more thing to check!
The last thing to check in your safety check is all the hoses and belts under the hood. You don’t have to be a mechanic, just give them a once-over. If you see any that are obviously fraying or damaged, you’ll need to go to a mechanic to have them fixed.
These 10 things are a fairly thorough safety examination and you can do them quickly before taking a ride. Take a look over the test and see how you did.
Did your car get the all-clear on almost all the questions except for one or two? You can likely fix these things yourself, or wait till your next check up to address them.
Did your car have about half passes and half fails? This could mean that you need to start heading to a mechanic pretty soon.
Did your car have issues in most of the categories above? It’s time to stop what you are doing and see a professional to keep your car running smoothly.
These tips will help you keep your car safe and efficient on the road.