A Borrowed SUV, a Long Climb and a Steep Descent
You have borrowed a 12-year-old SUV to take four colleagues to a beach on the south-east peninsula. Before setting off in daylight you notice three things: the front-left tyre looks soft and the tread across its centre is worn almost smooth; the brake pedal feels spongy and sinks a little further when you hold it at a standstill; and there is a faint sweet smell with a small wet patch under the front of the car. The owner shrugs: 'She's fine, she just needs a bit of water now and then.' The route includes a long climb in midday heat with five adults aboard, followed later by a steep descent through hairpins. You have a spare wheel, a jack and a wheel brace, and mobile coverage is patchy on the peninsula.
1. Which of your findings are reasons not to depart, and what would you check before leaving?
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Brakes and tyres are the two systems that decide whether you stop, so a spongy pedal and a soft, smooth tyre are reasons not to leave. A pedal that sinks when held points to air or moisture in the brake fluid, or a leak; the remedy is a brake inspection, not gentler driving. Worn centre tread means poor wet grip and a high aquaplaning risk even if it scrapes past the legal minimum. The sweet smell and wet patch under the front suggest a coolant leak, which becomes an overheating problem on a climb with five adults aboard. Before departure: pressures checked cold against the placard and raised for a full load, tread and sidewalls on all four wheels plus the spare, brake fluid level, coolant level and condition, oil, lights, wipers, seat belts, and confirmation that the jack and wheel brace actually fit the vehicle.
2. On the climb the temperature gauge climbs steadily into the upper range. What do you do, and what must you not do?
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A rising gauge under a full load in hot weather says the cooling system is at its limit, possibly because it is losing coolant. Act early: switch off the air conditioning, turn the heater to hot with the fan high - it dumps engine heat into the cabin, which is uncomfortable but effective - and reduce the load on the engine by easing off and changing up. Find a safe place to pull fully off the road and switch off. Do not open the radiator or coolant cap while the engine is hot: pressurised coolant can spray and cause severe burns. Do not pour cold water over a hot engine. Let it cool, then check the level and look for the leak. If coolant is being lost, the trip is over; top up only as a get-you-home measure and watch the gauge closely.
3. How should you manage the descent through the hairpins, and how would you recognise that your method is failing?
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Speed on a long descent is controlled with the gearbox, not the brake pedal. Select a low gear before the hairpins begin so engine braking holds the car back, and use the footbrake only for short, firm corrections. Riding the brakes down a hill heats the discs and fluid until the pedal travels long and soft - fade - and then there is nothing left for the hairpin that matters. Warning signs are a pedal that goes down further than before, a burning smell, or brakes that grab unevenly. If that happens, pull off at the first safe place and let everything cool; do not continue downhill hoping it recovers. With five adults aboard the car also carries more momentum, so enter corners slower than you would alone, and never coast in neutral.