Car Safety Checkup

1

• Top Tips for
• Maintaining Your
• Vehicles Safety

2

• Driving in a safe manner represents only part of
  the responsibility of a vehicle owner. The other
  part is maintaining the vehicle in proper working
  condition. If maintenance is consistent, the odds
  of breaking down or being in an accident
  decrease. As an added bonus, the vehicle will
  last longer and perform more efficiently.
• Heres a list of key areas to keep maintained.

3

• Tires grip the road and give the driver control
  over the vehicle. Excessively worn, bald, or
  improperly inflated tires compromise this
  control. Tires should be rotated and checked for
  tire pressure periodically to prolong their life,
  avoid uneven wearing, and improve fuel economy.

4

• Proper wheel alignment will lead to longer tire
  life and better handling. To check alignment,
  lightly touch the steering wheel while driving on
  a straight, flat stretch of road. If the vehicle
  pulls to one side, the wheels may be misaligned.
• Wheels should also be balanced. If out of
  balance, a pounding or shaking can be felt
  through the steering wheel.

5

• Oil lubricates the moving parts of the engine,
  reducing friction and carrying away excess heat.
  Oil also captures dirt and other impurities and
  transfers them into the oil filter. Regular oil
  changes ensure optimum engine performance.
• Additionally, check under the vehicle for fluid
  leaks. Leaks should be investigated and fluids
  should be refilled.

6

• For optimum visibility, headlights, taillights,
  directional signals, and interior lights should
  have working bulbs and remain clean.
• In addition, the rearview mirror mounted inside
  the vehicle and the rearview mirrors on each side
  of the vehicles front doors should be clean and
  pointed in the correct direction.

7

• Both the foot brake and parking brake should hold
  the vehicle in park. To check the foot brake,
  lightly touch the steering wheel and apply the
  brakes gradually. If the vehicle swerves, brake
  linings may be wearing unevenly, or the brakes
  may need adjustment.
• Grinding or squeaking sounds when applying brakes
  also signal brake issues.

8

• The vehicles ignition system is critical. Spark
  plugs ignite the air-fuel mixture. If one or more
  of the plugs or plug wires is worn or
  malfunctioning, the engine can misfire and fuel
  will remain unburned. A misfiring engine wastes
  fuel, produces more emissions, and generally
  performs poorly.

9

• Belts and hoses should be checked regularly with
  periodic tune-ups. Check under the hood for
  cracked or split spark plug wires, cracked
  radiator hoses or loose clamps, and corrosion
  around the battery terminals. These should be
  replaced.

10

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