Safety check

Hi,

I thought I’d share with you some of the safety check procedures I’ve learned:

Checking the Lights:
- Turn on the dipped headlights, front fog lights, parking lights (if the car is parked, these should already be on), and the left indicator.
- Step outside the car and check the left side of the car’s front lights, then check the rear lights.
- Go back inside the car, turn on the full beam headlights, rear fog lights (some cars have a single switch for both fog lights), and the right indicator.
- Step outside the car again and check the right side of the car’s front lights, then check the rear lights.
- Check the light above the number plate at the rear of the car as well.
- Ask the examiner to press the brake pedal for you. While at the back of the car, ask, ”Please press the brake pedal,” and confirm with ”Release the brake pedal” once you see the brake lights illuminate.

Checking the Brakes:
- Pump the brake pedal repeatedly for about 15-20 seconds while the car is turned off. You should feel the brake pedal getting heavier. After finishing the pumping, push the brake pedal and start the car. The brake pedal should sink a bit and then offer resistance.
- With the car on and the brake pressed, put the car in neutral (or ”D” for automatic) and release the brake slightly. As soon as the car begins to roll forward, press the brake hard to confirm the brake works.
- Keeping the car in neutral or ”D,” engage the parking brake (in automatic cars, this is usually a small button; pull it up to engage the parking brake manually). Release the brake pedal and ensure the car does not move forward.

Checking Under the Hood:
Open the hood of the car and locate the liquid reservoirs. There are four main types:
- Coolant: This is easy to identify as the liquid is typically pink. Hybrid cars may have two coolant containers. The engine coolant bottle can be easily identified by the warning sign on the cap.
- Windshield Washer Fluid: This can be identified by the symbol of water droplets and a windshield on the lid.
- Engine Oil: The reservoir is usually easy to find in the center of the engine bay, though the dipstick used to check the oil can sometimes be hidden. It is generally located on the left front side of the engine. To check the oil level, remove the dipstick, clean it with a tissue, then reinsert it and remove it again. The oil should cover both marks on the dipstick to ensure the level is normal.
- Brake Fluid: This is stored in a container with a cap marked with a ”circle” logo (O).