Chapter 3 Flashcards
Why must you look after the car?
Regular maintenance should ensure that your car is safe and fit to be on the road. It will also help to make sure that your car uses fuel as efficiently as possible and keep its exhaust emissions to a minimum.
What must you check?
lights, brakes, steering, the exhaust system, seat belts, horn, speedometer, wipers and washers must all be working properly
Tyre condition
The tread on car and trailer tyres must be at least 1.6 mm deep across the centre three- quarters of the breadth of the tyre and around the entire outer circumference. Uneven wear on the tyres can be caused by faults in the braking system, suspension or tracking. If the front wheels are unbalanced, they could make the steering vibrate.
Tyre pressures
Check at least once a week, when the tyres are cold. This will ensure that you get an accurate reading. Under-inflated tyres can: make the steering feel heavy, increase fuel consumption, increasing stopping distance. To check the condition of the shock absorbers, bounce the vehicle. Push down hard over each wheel: there should be no more than one rebound when released.
Windscreen
The windscreen should be free of cracks and chips. For wipers the battery may need topping up with distilled water, unless it’s a maintenance-free battery
Brake fluid
If this is low, air may enter the system and the brakes won’t work properly.
Oil and coolant levels
This is especially important before a long journey be careful not to overfill with oil as this can cause oil leaks.
What is dry steering?
Dry steering is when you turn the steering wheel while the car isn’t moving. It can cause unnecessary wear to the tyres and steering mechanism.
If there is a fault?
Warning lights on the dashboard tell you about the performance of the engine and warn you of any faults. Check your vehicle handbook to make sure that you know what all the warning lights mean, don’t ignore a warning it could affect your safety
What is ABS?
Anti-lock braking system is a warning light and should go out when the car’s traveling at 5-10 mph. If this doesn’t happen, have the ABS checked by a qualified mechanic
What is brake fade?
Brake fade is when the brakes become less effective because of overheating. It may happen if you use them continuously, such as on a long, steep downhill stretch of road. In this situation, use a lower gear to help you control the vehicle’s speed.
What is balancing?
making sure that the wheels and tyres are adjusted to minimise any vibrations in the vehicle
Safety before driving
adjust the seat so that you can reach all the controls comfortably, adjust the head restraint to help prevent neck injury in a collision, wear suitable shoes so that you can keep control of the pedals, adjust the mirrors so that you can see clearly as possible all around
What light if there is poor visibility?
dipped headlights
What light if there is thick fog?
fog lights
What to do when leaving your car on a two-way road at night?
park in the direction of the traffic, if the speed limit is more than 30 mph switch on parking lights
When to use hazard lights?
when you have broken down, queuing traffic on a dual carriageway or motorway
How to increase security?
use a steering lock, remove the car keys and lock the car, don’t leave any valuables, don’t leave the vehicle reg documents in the car, at night park in a well-lit area
Where to not park
in front of property, at or near the bus stop, near a hill, at a dropped kerb, in the zigzag lines at a pedestrian crossing
How to drive ecosafe?
reduce speed, plan ahead, use selective gear changing, have the vehicle regularly serviced and tuned, make sure tyres are correctly inflated, don’t use car horn between 11:30 pm and 7:00 am
