Vehicle Inspection Checklist

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Question What to do …
What is the technical authorized maximum Look in the Vehicle Registration Certificate (both
towable mass of the trailer this car can pull? braked and unbraked)

What are the consequences of exciding the Reduced front wheel traction, the vehicle’s
limits (previous question)? directional stability reduces, total stopping
distance increases and increased risk of blending
other motorists because the headlights are
elevated.
What is the drawback of overloading the Reduced drivability, the total stopping distance
vehicle? increases and increased risk of blending other
motorists if the headlights are elevated.
What is the maximum towable mass of the Check the Vehicle Registration Certificate, and
trailer this car can pull, if the driver has a do the math …
category B licence?
Check the brake booster. With the engine off, apply the brake pedal
repeatedly with medium pressure until the
booster reserve is depleted. At least two brake
applications should have a power-assisted feel
before the pedal hardens noticeably. A pedal
that feels hard immediately, or after only one
brake application, may have a vacuum leak or a
low level of engine vacuum. Then start the
engine. The engine will now create a new
vacuum, making the pedal soften.
Is it safe to drive with a non-working brake Because of reduced braking power, it is
booster? considered not safe. Besides, the brake pedal
will be very hard.
Check the level of brake fluid. Visual control in the engine compartment.
What do you do if you are low on brake fluid? The brake system is using more fluid than
normal because the brake pads might be worn.
It may also be due to a leakage. Bring the car to
a workshop.
Check if the brakes are directionally stable. Find a straight, flat and traffic-free road, rest
your hands lightly on the steering wheel and
gently and gradually apply the brakes. The car
should not swerves to one side.
What might be the reason if the car is swerving If you find the vehicles swerves to one side, that
to one side (previous question)? could mean that one of your brake linings is
more worn and your brakes could require and
adjustment.
Check the dual hydraulic circuits brake system Identify the warning light.
dashboard warning light.
What do you do if the warning light, in previous Stop and then try to find out what triggered the
question, starts to light during driving? warning. (The dual hydraulic circuit brake
 system might be at fault, you are low on brake
fluid, or it might be a faulty controller.)
Check the ABS dashboard warning light. Identify the warning light. It lights up when you
start the engine, and should then darken after a
few seconds.
Check the tires and rims for wear and tear Look for signs of uneven wear, bulges or cracks,
or embedded objects that could cause air leaks.
What is the most common damage (previous Damages to the side of the tire; bulges or cracks
question)? in the rim might lead to instability; bubbles on
the side of the tire could make the tire weaker.
Check the front tires for wear and tear Look for signs of uneven wear, bulges or cracks,
or embedded objects that could cause air leaks.
What can the tires wear tell you? Improper inflation pressure leads to uneven
wear. Over inflating wears on the centre rib.
Under inflating wears on the shoulder rib. If the
wear is only on one side, you should bring the
car to a shop to check the heel/toe, camber or
caster.
Check the tire tread depth on the fore carriage. Use a tread depth gauge or do a visual control of
the tread wear indicator bars. The threshold of
snow tires (M·S) are 3 mm, on summer tires it is
1.6 mm. It might be helpful to turn the wheels
all the way to one side.
What are the risks of driving with tread depth Proper inflation pressure helps optimize
under the legal limit? distribution of vehicle load, acceleration,
braking, and cornering forces in the tread. If the
tire pressure is too low, or even too high, the
contact patch of the tire tread is not optimized
and can increase the risk of aquaplaning. Thus,
different parts of the tread may be abraded
away more quickly and/or irregularly.
What is the correct tire pressure for this car? You can find the vehicle manufacturer’s tire
pressure specifications on a placard/label affixed
to the driver’s door or along the door jam, or in
the gas tank lid. You can also check your vehicle
owner’s manual for tire pressure
recommendations.
Check the tire pressure in the front wheels Look for signs of uneven wear. Then, use a
pressure gauge.
What is the legal requirement for tire depth? The threshold of snow tires (M·S) are 3 mm, on
summer tires it is 1.6 mm.
What is the correct tire size for this car? Check the Vehicle Registration Certificate.
Check if the front tires have the correct size. Do it.
What is the speed rating required on this car? Check the Vehicle Registration Certificate (“Min.
hast”)
Check the back carriage for correct load index. Check the Vehicle Registration Certificate (“Min.
LI”) and then do a visual control.
Check if the braking lights are working. Apply the brakes with the warning triangle
casing. Do a visual control.
Is it safe to drive with no working brake lights? No. It might be a blown fuse or a bulb failure.
Check if the hazard lights are working. Turn on the lights and then walk around the car
to do a visual control.
Name a situation where you must use the E.g. in a situation where you need attention, or
hazard lights. at an emergency.
Check the alignment of the low beam. Turn on the low beam, and then drive toward a
wall to see the sharp, asymmetric cut-off.
What is the draw side of incorrectly aligned The headlamp may be aimed at the oncoming
headlights? cars instead of straight ahead.
Check the front fog lights/headlights Turn on the lights and then walk around the car
to do a visual control.
What is the drawback of using the front fog Blending, irritation and a fine.
lights incorrectly?
Check the rear fog lights. Turn on the lights and then walk around the car
to do a visual control.
What is the drawback of using fog lights It might be blending, especially if driving in a
incorrectly? queue.
Check the parking lights, rear lights and licence These lights are lit automatically when starting
plate lights. the engine. Do a visual control while walking
around the car.
Name a situation where it is necessary to use When parking/stopping in the darkness.
the parking lights.
Check the steering Check the steering angle to both sides, backlash
(max 2-3 cm), the ability for the steering wheel
to centre itself, abnormal noises and the car’s
directional stability
What might the reason be if the car is not Problems with the fore carriage like uneven tire
directional stable? pressure or a misalignment in the suspension.
Check if the power steering is working Gentle pressure on the steering wheel,
maintained while the engine is started, should
result in a slight but noticeable movement as
the system begins to operate.
Is it safe to drive with no working power Yes, but the steering will be heavy. With a
steering? electro-magnetic steering you can damage the
steering system further.
Check if the car’s steering stability On a straight road, free of cars, rest your hands
lightly on the steering wheel and drive at a
steady pace (30 km/h). If you feel the vehicle
pulling to one side, then the wheels may be
misaligned.
What might be the reason for a misalignment Problems with the fore carriage like wrong tire
(previous question)? pressure or a misalignment in the suspension.
Locate the safety vest. The safety vest must be accessible from the
driver’s seat, e.g. in the door compartment,
glove compartment or under the seat.
Where should to place the warning triangle in The warning triangle must be well visible to
case of emergency? other motorists. In urban areas, you should
consider the crossroads. Outside urban areas,
place it about 100-200 meters from the vehicle
in distress.
How would you clean the windscreen using the Operate control to wash and wipe windscreen.
windscreen washer and wipers?
What do you check during a visual control of the Check the blade for damage, deformation or if
wiper blades? the rubber has hardened.
Adjust the heater to remove ice and dew from Adjust the vents and temperature. Turn on the
the windows. rear window defrost grid and side mirror
defroster.
Adjust the heating and ventilation system to Operate the temperature control.
keep a pleasant atmosphere.
Remove dew from the rear window. Turn on the rear window defrost grid.
Remove dew from the side mirrors. Turn on the side mirrors defroster.
Check if the battery is tightened firmly. Open the bonnet, try to push the battery. It
should remain stuck.
What might happen if the battery is not It can lead to leakage and short-circuit.
tightened firmly?
Check the horn Press the horn button (on the steering wheel).
Check the windscreen washer. Operate control.
Locate where to refill the windscreen washer Open the bonnet, identify the reservoir.
fluid.
Check the seat belts. Check for wear, tear and damages on all seat
belts. The the locking retractors.
What is the risk of using a belt with a non- In case of a sudden braking or collision event,
working locking retractor, pretensioner or web the belt will not hold the occupant in position.
clamp?
Locate and mount the warning triangle. Yes, get on doing it …
How far from the situation, should you place the Mount the triangle at the car. With the safety
warning triangle? vest on, have the reflective side of the triangle
towards oncoming traffic, and walk 200-300
meters in rural areas.
Activate the hazard lights. Press the hazard lights button.
Which lights should not be turned on together The hazard light will not be visible if you have
with the hazard lights? the headlights on.
Check the airbag dashboard warning light. Identify the warning light. It lights up when you
start the engine, and should then darken after a
few seconds.
Who should not be seated in front of an airbag? Children and persons of short stature.
Check the engine oil level. Locate the dipstick. Pull the stick out and wipe
the oil residue off the end. Replace the stick and
pull it out again; this time look at the end of the
stick that was in the engine. You want the oil to
be below «full» and over «min
Locate where to refill engine oil. Locate the oil fill lid in the engine compartment.
Check that you have a safe level of hydraulic Open the bonnet, identify where the brake fluid
brake fluid. reservoir is and check level against high/low
markings.
Check that you have a safe level of engine Open the bonnet, identify where the engine
coolant. coolant reservoir is and check level against
high/low markings.