December is one of the busiest times of the year on South African roads. However, not every traveller is fortunate enough to reach their intended destination. In January this year, the minister of transport, Fikile Mbalula, announced that 1 685 road fatalities were recorded during the 2021 festive season – a 14% increase over the previous period.
To prevent more road users from becoming a statistic, Bazarick Jewell, a diesel mechanic with more than 10 years’ worth of experience, highlights the various vehicle parts drivers should inspect before embarking on a trip, ensuring they do not endanger themselves and other road users.
Windscreen wipers
Since you need these to provide an unobstructed view of the road while driving, look for cracks, squeaks, streaks or irregular movement when turning the wipers on. Heavy rain, vehicle wax and oils, moisture and extreme temperatures will wear your wiper blades down and, if left unattended, can eventually lead to the blades cleaning unevenly during rainfall or damaging your windscreen (scratches). Replace your wiper blades when you notice wear and tear.
Windscreen
A windscreen serves to protect those inside a vehicle from outside elements. If you notice any chips, cracks, or scratches on account of debris damage or faulty wiper blades, contact a technician to determine if all you need is a new coat of polish or if the windscreen needs to be replaced.
Headlights
Wait until dark, switch on your lights, and see if both headlights are fully operational. If there is an inconsistency in the brightness, replace the bulbs. Should this not fix it, the problem may be technical and a technician should be contacted. Do not just stop at your headlights – give the brake lights, indicator and number plate bulbs the same treatment. Remember, all these lights are extremely important at night-time and during bad weather.
Leakages
Oil leaks can lead to low oil pressure in your vehicle’s oil sump. When ignored, this can result in engine knock – where fuel burns unevenly in your engine’s cylinders – and irreparable damage to your car engine. If there is an excessive amount of water leaking, your vehicle can potentially overheat and lead to a seized engine (electronics will still work but the engine itself will not turn over). Look for dark puddles under your car, smoke from the engine, or the dashboard oil light for signs that something might be wrong, and contact a specialist.
Oil and water levels
With the engine off, open the vehicle’s bonnet and find the dipstick. Pull the dipstick out from the engine and wipe any oil off from its end. Re-insert the dipstick into its tube and push it all the way back in. Now withdraw the dipstick and look closely at its tip, which should have oil on it. Markers on the dipstick will indicate if there is enough oil or if more should be added.
Water levels can be ascertained by looking at the clear bottle found in your engine bay or the radiator. On the bottle there will be marks that indicate the high and low points. With the engine off and cold, make sure the water level falls within these indicators. If working with the radiator, lift the radiator cap, dip a finger in, and if there is water at the end of your finger you are good to go. If you do need to top up, opt for anti-freeze as this will prevent fluids from boiling in summer, and freezing in winter.
Drive belts (timing belt, fan belt, power-steering belt)
- If you notice any of the following: squealing noises from the front of your vehicle, ) ticking noise from the engine,) engine frequently misfiring,) power steering stops working,) air conditioning stops working,) engine overheats,) cracking on the belts, or) oil leaks from the front of the motor, then it is time to replace the belts. Contact a reliable workshop.
Exhaust
Make sure your exhaust’s silencer box does not have any holes. Holes can lead to greater fuel consumption and also leak fumes into the car.
Brakes
When inspecting your vehicle, make sure the front and rear wheel brakes are above the wear-limit (minimum of 4 mm on a brake disc, per side). If not, the braking surface will be too thin, preventing you from braking in time when you have to perform an emergency stop. Consult a workshop to examine your vehicle thoroughly.
Tyres
Consider the tyre’s tread depth (by South African law, at least 1.66 mm deep) since this will determine the amount of grip you have on the road. If you are travelling on a wet road with worn tyres, you will lose control of your vehicle. By monitoring the tyres’ air pressure (not having tyres that are over or underinflated) you will also lessen your overall fuel consumption.
Battery
Secure your car battery to its bracket and look for any damage that might have gone unnoticed. Check that the terminals are secured to guarantee the battery charges properly. Ensure that there is not any battery acid leaking and that the voltage is correct through means of a multimeter.
Emergency equipment
At the very least, have an emergency triangle, tow-eye, spare wheel, jack, and spanner stored in your vehicle. Do research on how each item should be handled to avoid damage to your vehicle through improper use.
Driving licence and motor vehicle licence
Make sure that both of these are still valid when planning your trip, and that your vehicle is deemed roadworthy.
