THE festive season is upon us, and millions of motorists will take to the roads. Before you set off, your car should be in shipshape.
Ford technician Liz Kruger, said for peace of mind, drivers should have their cars undergo a thorough safety inspection.
Things you need to check before your road trip:) Fluids (oil and coolant) – an under-the-bonnet check is first on the list.
Liz explains that you have to check the fluid levels first, as it is one of the main concerns motorists need to be aware of and don’t check often enough. If your coolant and oil levels are low, you might have a little leak somewhere.
Make sure to also check the brake fluid. If this level is low, your car is not safe to drive.) Lights – if your holiday involves driving at night or in misty conditions, make sure your car’s lighting system is working correctly. This is a simple but important test.
) Wipers – are the wipers clearing the water from the windscreen or leaving lines of water that impair your vision? Before setting out on your trip, use the windscreen washers to spray your windscreen and check if the wipers are doing the job.) Wheels and tyres – tyres are the most important part of your car. They connect your car to the road. If you’re driving for hours at a time, they need to be in tip-top shape.
“We get a lot of clients that need new brake lights,” says Liz. “Older brake light globes blow regularly because this is a globe that you are using constantly as it switches on and off under braking.”
“Firstly, we will look at the tread depth,” she says. “Most tyres have a tread depth indicator, and once the tyre is worn to that point, it needs to be replaced as soon as possible.”
“Check the surface of the tyre for any notable damage, inflections, and look for bubbles,” she adds.
Also check tyre pressure regularly. If tyres are over inflated, they’ll wear in the middle, and if underinflated, they’ll wear on the sides and edges.) Brake pads – check your brake pads’ wear and tear. Also, make sure your handbrake is working correctly. Liz advises your handbrake should not click more than four times before it holds the car in place. Anything more than four clicks would not pass a roadworthy test.) Leaks – Following the under-the-hood checks of the fluid levels, check for any leaks from various components and hoses underneath your car. If you see some oil spots or coolant, which has a shiny texture and looks similar to oil, on the floor of your garage, have your car checked by a technician.) Drive belts – while checking underneath your car, examine the drive belt for any cracks. If your drive belt is damaged or worn out, you may have a total engine shutdown.
“The brake pads are made up of a metal outer part and composite inner part,” Liz explains.
“The composite inner part needs to be above 5mm thick. Once the pad wears down below this, we will advise that the pad needs to be replaced.”
“You will not be able to charge the battery, and your vehicle will start overheating because the water pump is run by the belt,” says the Ford Technician.
“This is very important – if anything happens to this belt, you will be stuck within a few kilometres.”
If you’re planning for a long trip or have covered many kilometres since your last service, now is the good time to check.) Spare wheel – check to see if your spare tyre, jack and spanner are all present in your car and working properly.
Also make sure your spare wheel is properly inflated.) Steering wheel – Some tests can only be done under driving conditions.a qualified technician can pick up certain concerns that the everyday driver may miss. These include engine sounds, vibrations and suspension issues.) Brakes and clutch – while the brake pads are checked when the car is stationary, it’s important to evaluate how the car reacts to braking when in motion. This is done to check if it pulls to either side upon braking. It’s unsafe to drive a car that can’t be controlled when the brake system is engaged. – By YOU
Chances are you have not had to use it for a while, so check the pressure before setting off to avoid being stuck in the middle of the Karoo with a flat spare wheel.
“For the steering check, we will take the vehicle on the road and see whether the steering pulls in a certain direction – if the vehicle veers to the left or the right,”
“This could indicate a wheel alignment problem. If this is present, we will raise the vehicle and check the wheels again or other components, such as the steering rack,” she says.
