Inspect the car before leaving

The period of trips for winter holidays and weekend ski trips is approaching. Meanwhile, even a minor malfunction of a car during a trip can spoil the festive mood and reduce the owner's wallet. And to inspect the car you will need only 60 minutes. What is included in the review? And what elements can we check ourselves?

When is the best time to visit? At least two weeks before care. We will have a lot of other things to do just before a holiday or planned onward weekend trip, and 14 days will definitely be enough to fix any potential defects found during the inspection.

What elements should be checked during the periodic inspection of the car?

1. Check the brakes.

An efficient braking system means more safety on the road. The condition of the brake pads, which allows you to make a weekend trip to a neighboring site, can lead to disqualification of the car in the event of a trip of several thousand kilometers. It seems that this is a long distance, but it is enough, for example, to calculate the distance from central Poland to the sea - then we drive almost 1.000 km in both directions. And this is probably not the only trip to rest.

The inspection includes checking the condition of the pads, discs, brake pads, etc. cylinders (including for their mechanical contamination) and the level of brake fluid. It is worth knowing that a dirty brake system also means increased fuel consumption. Modern cars are equipped with monitoring systems that report malfunctions in the brake system.

2. Shock absorber control.

Efficient shock absorbers are responsible not only for driving comfort (suspension) or proper wheel-to-road contact, but also for shorter braking distances. In professional workshops, the brake force (after checking the brake system) and the damping efficiency of the shock absorbers are checked on the diagnostic line, and the driver receives computer printouts with the results of the test.

3. Suspension control.

Suspension control, which is essential for proper movement, especially in a car with holiday luggage, is especially difficult. Polish roads do not indulge drivers, so the review also included engine covers, rubber elements that protect sensitive suspension points, heat shields and exhaust system mounts. In this case, the driver also receives a computerized test printout.

4. Tire inspection.

Tire tread condition and tire pressure directly affect driving safety and fuel consumption. Too low a tread - less than 1,6 mm - is an indication for replacing a tire on a given vehicle axle. If this is not done, on a wet surface a layer of water will separate the tire from the road (“hydroplaning phenomenon”), which can lead to loss of traction, skidding or increased stopping distance. Lateral damage to the sidewalls of the tire is also dangerous, which can be caused by overcoming curbs and potholes too dynamically. Any lateral damage will disqualify the tire and should be replaced immediately. It is also important to adjust the pressure in the tires (including the spare wheel) according to the load on the car.

5. Checking the cooling system.

Faulty engine cooling is a direct path to serious damage. In addition to checking the coolant, fan, and water pump, checking the air conditioner is also important for traveler comfort and driver focus. The service technician will check the filling of the air conditioning system, its tightness and the condition of the filters, and if necessary, offer disinfection. It is worth knowing that charcoal filters recommended for people suffering from inhalation allergies are available on the market.

6. Check engine battery and belt.

In summer, checking the battery charge may seem irrelevant, but at high temperatures we use the air conditioner more often, listen to the radio with the engine off, and connect more devices to the cigarette lighter, such as navigation, phone charger, refrigerator or electric. mattress pump. In vehicles older than five years, a battery check is mandatory. It is equally important to check the engine accessory belt before a long trip. In modern vehicles, belt-driven accessories, including the power steering pump, air conditioning compressor, water pump, and alternator.

7. Fluid control.

In addition to checking the level of brake and coolant, it is necessary to check the condition of the engine oil. A suspiciously large cavity is an absolute indication for diagnosing its cause. The service technician will provide the driver with the necessary information about which fluids should be used and which should be taken with him for a long trip (type of fluid and its technical symbol, for example, viscosity in the case of oil). It is also worth asking about seasonal promotions, including fluid replacement, which often take place at branded service stations, including ours.

8. Light control.

All headlights in the car must be in good condition, and even ones must be equally bright. The inspection includes checking the dipped and main beam, position and reversing lights, alarms and turn signals, as well as fog and brake lights. The main elements also include checking the lighting of the license plate and the interior of the car, as well as checking the sound signal. It is worth buying a spare set of light bulbs on the road - the cost of a standard set is about 70 PLN. In some European countries - incl. in the Czech Republic, Croatia and Slovakia a spare kit is required. This does not apply to xenon lamps, which can only be replaced by a workshop.

What can the driver check on his own in the car?

If the car has recently passed a periodic inspection or we do not have time to visit the service station, we can check a dozen elements ourselves, spending no more than half an hour on this. The bare minimum is "EMP", which means checking fluids, tires and headlights.

Before leaving on vacation, the driver can independently check the level of brake and coolant by observing the indicators on the containers, which indicate the minimum and maximum supply of each fluid. The oil should be checked by removing the dipstick, which is located on the cylinder body and usually has a yellow marking. It is also worth adding washer fluid and checking the condition of the wiper blades.

The condition and depth of the tread as well as the pressure in the tires can be checked - while parked at a gas station - using a compressor. In most cars, in a prominent place in the passenger compartment (for example, at the door), there are plates with set air pressure values ​​\uXNUMXb\uXNUMXbin various conditions and divided into both axles of the car. Even a cursory inspection of the outer sidewalls of each tire will reveal larger transverse cracks. By the way, the disks also need to be checked.

When checking the condition of your spare tire, make sure you also have: a jack, a wheelbrace, a reflective vest, a warning triangle and a current expiration date fire extinguisher. When packing luggage, place the triangle and fire extinguisher in an easily accessible place in the trunk, and place the vest in the vehicle. Compared to the rest of Europe, in Poland the compulsory equipment of a car is modest, it is only a warning triangle and a fire extinguisher. However, the rules differ from country to country and Slovakia is one of the strictest. If you want to avoid talking to a foreign police officer, it's worth checking out the current regulations on our itinerary.

You can test all the lights in the car yourself (for example, using a wall that will show the reflections of each type of light), although the presence of another person will be useful in this case. The driver will need a little more effort to replace burnt out bulbs, which are not available in all car brands.

The basic equipment of the car also includes a complete first aid kit. The most important items of equipment are: disposable gloves, a mask or special breathing tube, thermal film, bandages, dressings, elastic and pressure bands, and scissors that will allow you to cut through seat belts or clothing.

You can also independently check the condition of the windows (especially the windshield), the settings of the washer nozzles, rear-view mirrors and horn. After packing the luggage in the car, it is also worth setting the correct headlight angle so that you can see the road well and at the same time not dazzle oncoming traffic.

According to the expert

Marcin Rosloniec, Head of Mechanical Service Renault Warszawa Puławska.

Every year I meet more and more conscious drivers who care about their safety and the safety of passengers, especially children. Such car users are more willing than a few years ago to decide, for example, to replace the components of the brake system - discs, pads, fluids - without waiting for their complete wear. Car inspection before further trips becomes one of the important stages of trip planning. Thanks to this, we can be almost sure that even a small setback will not ruin our dream vacation.