One Professional Driver once told me, “ I can tell if my car can successfully take me to my destination before leaving my house”. He was very assertive as he said it. Soon I realized why he was so confident. He performs his vehicle parade before leaving for his destination. Vehicle or morning parade means the basic checks that must be conducted on a motor vehicle before it is put to use.
Below are the basic vehicle safety checks that you must not neglect if you want your vehicle to successfully take you to your destination.
First Parade W – O – F- T W – This stands for water in the radiator. Shortage or lack of water in the radiator can result in overheating of the engine and that when ignored can burn your gasket and finally
stop the Car.
O – Oil level in your sump has to be checked using dip stick. This is very important as lubrication of
engine parts will be impaired due to lack of oil. Engine oil also helps in the cool and washing of
the engine.
F – Fan belt has to be checked for tension and cuts. If it has cut or is too stretched, it may be broken
during the journey. When that happens, the fan stops working and that results in overheating of
the engine.
T – Tyres. You need to ensure that there are no cuts and punctures. Check the depth of threading,
pressure, alignment and wheel nuts.
Brakes and Clutches
Check your hydraulic fluid and ensure they are intact. your hydraulic helps your clutch and
brake to function properly. To check the effectiveness of your brake; start your vehicle and
move off a bit, then step on the brake and see how active it is.
To check the effectiveness of the clutch; Try engaging all the gears while your engine runs in
a stationary position before moving.
Wipers
Here you are required to ensure that your windshield wipers are functioning when you turn
them on. The blades should be examined for effectiveness.
Steering
Ensure your steering is in good working condition by checking the clearance or free play.
You do this by turning the steering wheel in clockwise and anticlockwise directions while the
vehicle remains in stationary position.
Horns
Ensure your vehicle horn is working properly so that you can warn and alert other road users
accordingly. always fix the right horn in your vehicle.
Spare Tyre
Imagine traveling on a lonely road at night without a spare tyre, then one of your tires punctures.
No doubt you will be stranded and in danger. The story would be more interesting if you had one.
This emphasizes the importance of a good spare tyre. Ensure you have a good one before setting
out for a trip.
Battery
Check the level of your battery electrolyte (If you have a wet celled battery) and the battery indicator
( if you have a dry celled battery). This is necessary because, inadequate battery can get you
stranded on the road even when it took you out of the house.
Reflective Triangle
This is what some call caution sign. It is reflective and alerts other road users when you have a
break down on the road. Check and ensure that the pair is in your vehicle.
Thanks in advance for sharing
Leave a Reply