Vehicle controls, pre-driving checks and basic maintenance
Before you move
A daily walk-around catches most defects: tyres (pressure, tread, cuts), lights, mirrors, windscreen, wipers, fluid levels, and leaks under the vehicle. Inside, set the seat and head restraint, adjust mirrors, fasten the belt, check the dashboard warning lights, and confirm the gear lever and parking brake before starting.
Controls and maintenance
- Brakes: if the pedal feels spongy or travels to the floor, do not drive.
- Tyres: check pressures cold; under-inflation overheats and over-inflation reduces grip. Legal tread depth is commonly 1.6 mm, but replace earlier in Iraq's heat.
- ABS: keep firm pressure in an emergency; do not pump.
- Coolant and oil: check when cold; overheating in summer traffic is a common breakdown.
- Warning lights: red means stop, amber means investigate.
Worked example
A tyre looks slightly soft. You check the placard: 32 psi. The gauge reads 24 psi cold. You inflate to 32 psi and recheck. Driving on 24 psi would raise sidewall temperature at highway speed and could cause a blowout. If the tyre loses pressure again, look for a nail or a damaged valve before driving.
Traps
Checking tyres when hot and adjusting to the hot reading; ignoring a red oil-pressure light because the engine 'sounds fine'; and using the parking brake as a service brake.