Some safety measures might fall through the cracks if you live in a state like Utah that no longer requires safety inspections on its vehicles. To ensure your car is in good working order, you might want to periodically conduct a safety inspection of your own. Here is a checklist of items you can inspect at home.
Look at all the lights
You don’t want to wait until it’s dark to discover your headlights aren’t working right. Conduct a quick inspection to ensure your headlights, tail lights, and turn signals all illuminate correctly. Also check the hazards to make sure that the emergency signal works.
Check for leaks
A quick peek under the carriage of the vehicle will help you see if any fluids are leaking from your car. Anything leaking from your vehicle or pooling underneath is cause for concern. When you pull out of your normal parking spaces, take note of any fresh fluids that may have leaked out.
Scope out the seatbelts
Make sure each belt and its mechanism work correctly.
Watch the windshield and wipers
Cracks and chips should not obstruct the view of the driver. If they do, you need to repair or replace them. You will also want to check the wiper blades. If they are dry and brittle, or if they don’t clear water off your windshield cleanly, it’s time to replace them.
Honk the horn
Honking your horn could alert someone to danger and save a life. You can only do that if your horn is working well. Test it out to make sure.
Analyze the brakes
Any time you start driving somewhere, before you get far, do a little brake test to make sure they work. It would be easier to handle brakes not working when you’re still in your driveway than when you’re on a freeway. You should periodically test your parking or emergency brake, too.
Review the voltage
You can order an inexpensive multimeter to check the voltage of your car battery whenever you want. If your battery is reading less than 10 volts, it is not functioning well and you should consider having it checked out or replaced. Being proactive about testing your battery could eliminate the need for a car jump start service.
Fill the fluids
Your car needs a handful of different fluids to function at its best. You should check their levels often. Be sure to check them when the engine is cool so you are getting the correct readings. A good rule of thumb is to top off oil, coolant, brake fluid, windshield washer fluid, and power steering fluid whenever their levels are lower than the recommended amount. Your owner’s manual can give you the correct types of fluids your vehicle needs. Remember, you need to change the engine oil frequently, too. Driving a vehicle without ever changing the oil will eventually kill your car.
Test the tires
Anytime you are entering a car, do a quick visual inspection to determine if any of the tires are low or flat. Every so often, check the tread on your tires. Once the tread reaches 2/32 of an inch, you should replace your tires. To get the most life out of them, rotate your tires every 5,000 to 8,000 miles.
Audit the ergonomics
Having the steering wheel within reach and the seat in a good position are about more than just being comfortable in your drive. Being in the proper position is safer for you. Take a moment when you enter a vehicle to adjust the seat, headrest, and mirrors to best accommodate you.
Inspect the mirrors
Each mirror in your vehicle is placed to increase your visibility. Make sure each mirror is correctly positioned, clean, and not broken.
Review the heater
A heater may seem like just a luxury in your vehicle, but the ability to defrost your window is actually very important to keeping you safe in the winter. Check out the fans and heater to make sure they can adequately defrost your windshield, so the view of the driver is never compromised.
Look at the license plates
What does a secure license plate have to do with keeping you safe? If your vehicle breaks down, your license plate will help identify your vehicle to the tow company that is coming to your rescue. Make sure your license plates are secure and have the proper lighting on them.
Follow up on warnings
If you hear strange noises from your engine or any warning lights on your dashboard light up, don’t wait for a self-conducted safety inspection to get them checked out. Take your car to a trusted mechanic to run diagnostic tests and determine what is wrong.
Be prepared
Check your vehicle’s emergency kit. Replace anything that has broken or expired. Test all the tools to make sure they are still in good condition. Replenish any first aid items that were used. Double check to ensure you have all the proper documentation you would need in an emergency.
Following these safety inspection steps does not guarantee you won’t find yourself in a car emergency, but it does reduce the risk of one.