Check your Car
20 basic checks you can make.
These are checks you can carry out yourself without getting dirty or covered in oil. These checks are a good place to start and anyone can do them even if your car is not due for an MOT it would be wise to conduct these checks at least once a month or when you clean your car, for your own safety and peace of mind.
Check
| 1 |
Side Lights |
Front and rear |
Clean if dirty check all lenses for cracks or chips, don't forget the number plate lights (rear). |
| 2 |
Head lights |
Main beam and dip beam |
also check aux lights, driving lights etc for cracks |
| 3 |
Hazard warning |
front rear |
also check the speed and repeaters on front wings or mirrors. |
| 4 |
indicators |
Right and left, front and back |
check also the repeaters |
| 5 |
Windscreen |
front |
For cracks or chips (any chips repair as soon as possible) See bottom of page |
| 6 |
Wiper blades |
Front and (rear if fitted) |
Check rubbers for perishing or splits. also check headlight wipers if fitted |
| 7 |
Windscreen washers |
front and rear |
.Check spray pattern reaches centre and top of screen |
| 8 |
Brake lights |
Rear and( high level if fitted) |
Check brightness if one is dimmer than the other replace bulb or check the bulb is fitted correctly |
| 9 |
Fog lights |
front and rear |
front are optional on most cars but rear must work. remember to switch them off after check. |
| 10 |
Horn |
is it loud enough |
|
| 11 |
Doors |
all |
check that you can open all doors from inside and outside and all catches work properly |
| 12 |
fuel filler cap |
|
Filler cap must seal an emergency one is no good for MOT |
| 13 |
Mirrors |
wing, door and rearview |
check for cracks replace if needed, see tip at bottom of page. |
| 14 |
Seatbelts |
all |
check for frayed or damaged belts, check all belts recoil and all buckles fasten and undo |
| 15 |
hand brake |
travel |
Check the travel in the lever you should only hear 3 or 4 clicks when you pull it up, any more adjust |
| 16 |
Foot brake |
travel |
If pedal is spongy or has exessive travel see reasons below. and what to do. |
| 17 |
Seats |
all |
Check all fixings loose fixings on seats are a fail. |
| 18 |
Steering |
Play |
Move steering wheel from side to side while watching front wheels If there is a delay, see bottom of page For power steering check with engine running. |
| 19 |
Bodywork |
all |
check for sharp edges missing trim and the evil RUST. |
| 20 |
Tyres |
all |
Check tread even the spare and pressures See more on the Tyres page. |
| Windscreen |
Mirrors must be. |
Steering |
Chips or cracks in the windscreen
directly in front of the driver,
in the area swept by the wiper blades,
are acceptable if they are less than 10mm in diameter.
A 5p piece is a good guide
In the rest of the swept area, up to 40mm diameter damage is acceptable.
|
Secure
Visible from the driver's seat
Not distorted or damaged so as to impair the driver's view of the rear.
TIP
Broken Door mirrors can be expensive to replace a stick on mirror is available that you stick over the broken one. Available at most good parts stores.
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Reasons for play in the steering can be many.
1 Track rod ends worn.
2 Steering rack worn or badly adjusted
3 Universal joints in steering system worn or loose.
4 Balljoints in suspension
5 Steering wheel loose or not fitted correctly.
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For more advanced checks you can make go to page 2.
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