Pre-Trip Inspection, a lost art

"POD" (podimus) 09/06/2013 at 16:12 • Filed to: car safety

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Contrary to popular belief, the pre-trip inspection is not just for Class 1 drivers. Us lowly Class 5’vers are supposed to do it too. Don’t believe me? Hop into your way-back machine and recall a time when you were a wee little shaver sitting in drivers training (for some of us this may be longer ago than we care to admit). Can you recall your instructor talking about a vehicle walk around? And how this walk around was to be done every time you drive your car? Sure you can. Think I’m being overly paternal and condescending, and that it’s a waste of precious seconds? Seconds that could be better spent in the Timmie’s drive through dreaming of that sweet sweet maple glaze on your way to work? You’d be wrong, and here’s why.

The pre-trip inspection is one of the fastest and easiest ways to ensure the general safety and road worthiness of your vehicle. Done efficiently, it can be completed while your vehicle is warming up. After all, you shouldn’t be driving away right after starting your car anyway. I mean think about it, you don’t wake up in the morning and immediately run a 100 yard dash. You stretch, get the blood flowing, the joints lubricated, etc. When your car is first started, it’s doing the same thing. Getting the oil flowing, the coolant circulating, etc. Give your car a minute or two to get settled in the morning, and while doing that, why not complete the pre-trip?

So what should you be doing? Well, for the daily pre-trip inspection, the way I recommend it is to complete two loops, one clockwise, and one counter-clockwise. For the clockwise loop, turn on the left turn indicator, the low beams, and check the following:

-Leaks under the engine bay/front of the car

-Left turn signals front and rear

-Headlight low beams left and right

-Obvious body damage

-Windshield

-Fuel cap cover

For the counter-clockwise loop, turn on the right turn signal, high beams, and check the following:

-Right turn signals front and rear

-Headlight high beams left and right

-Windshield wipers

-Tire wear/inflation (visual)

-Exhaust/muffler/leaks under the rear of the car

-Re-check for any obvious body damage (you’ll be looking at the car from the other direction and may catch things you missed).

So what should you be looking for on each of these checks?? I’m glad you asked!

-Tires: Look for abnormal wear and obvious low pressure

-Leaks: Check to see if they are there, and if they are, check color, smell, and viscosity (wash your hands after)

-Turn indicators: Make sure they are blinking and that the left and right indicators blink at the same speed

-Headlights: Make sure the high beams and low beams engage, and that the low beams are pointed in the right direction (i.e. downwards, and not likely to blind oncoming traffic)

-Obvious body damage: Check for wider than normal panel gaps, skid panels hanging from under the vehicle, and dents, dings and scratches

-Fuel cap cover: Just make sure it's closed; you don't want to look like a nob driving down the road

-Windshield: Look for chips, cracks, and pitting

-Windshield wipers: Make sure the blade is sound and the windshield is free of streak marks

-Exhaust/Muffler: Make sure it not hanging abnormally low, that there is no billowing smoke, and that the exhaust note is not rattling or buzzing

After all that, you’ve done it. You’ve completed a quick (1-2 minute) walk around and ensured that your vehicle can happily scoot you off to your daily 9-5 grind. You and the commuters around you are now safer for it. Bravo! You’ve earned that maple glaze and large double-double!! Not only that, you’ve scanned for things that could indicate more serious problems (such as fluid leaks) that if not addressed in a quickish fashion, could lead to major repair bills down the road. But let’s not forget what else you’ve done. In taking these extra few minutes before popping the car in gear and dropping the hammer, you’ve let the engine get lubricated and ready for whatever hooning abuse you have planned for it.

But wait you say, what about the brake lights! Oh I haven't forgotten about those. Once you are snuggly in your car, look in the rearview mirror and press the break pedal. Scan the surrounding cars and/or reflective surfaces in the mirror for red light. If you see it you know at least 1 of your break lights is working. Now, off to Timmies.

McMike > POD 09/06/2013 at 15:31

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I'm going to a C&C tomorrow and I just finished a pre-flight checklist.

/appliances.

M54B30 > POD 09/07/2013 at 12:57

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I have a Commercial Driver's License and pre-trips are mandatory every day per DOT rules. You can't cut corners either - if something breaks down its your ass if it should've been noted in your pre-trip - especially if it would've put your truck out of service.

POD > M54B30 09/07/2013 at 13:24

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Yup. I've drive Class 1 (commercial) trucks a couple times, the fines for not filling out your pre-trip form are pretty hefty. That pre-trip is more involved though. This was just a quick "how to" for your daily driver.

Most class 5 (standard license) drivers don't both with pre-trips now days, and I think they really should. Yes cars are much more reliable, but that doesn't mean you should just hop in and drive away. Take a minute or two and do a quick pre-trip.

M54B30 > POD 09/07/2013 at 16:16

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People here don't check anything on their car until its either broken down on the shoulder or a light gives them a head up.

A proper commercial pre-trip should take 20-30 minutes and is very intensive.

POD > M54B30 09/07/2013 at 20:36

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Agreed. I've done the full commercial pre-trip + air brake. It is much more involved than this short list.

505Turbeaux > POD 01/03/2014 at 14:28

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yup, totally a lost art. I do most of this actually before a long trip but most people just turn the key and go

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > POD 01/03/2014 at 15:43

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Don't forget another lost art of basic maintenance - occasionally running the car for a few minutes if it sits for a long period of time between drives. I came back from christmas with my family and my car sat for a few days because I didn't need to use it. The night before I went back to work, I turned it on and let it idle for about 10 minutes while I cleaned off the snow and ice. Nothing takes the wind out of your sails faster than going to leave for work or school or anything only to find that your battery is dead or you have a flat tire you didn't catch before.

His Stigness > POD 01/03/2014 at 17:17

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When you say allow your car to warm up, how long are you talking about? Modern computer controlled cars (which can actually be quite old) are designed to be driven without a "warm up" period and are more efficient the less you sit and idle. By idling for a shorter period of time you allow the computers to do there work and get things up to temperature quickly by driving the car.

POD > His Stigness 01/03/2014 at 23:29

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Depends on how cold and if turbo or NA. 30 seconds for a regular NA motor in conditions that aren't balls cold (I personally classify things as balls cold at -20c). One to two minutes for a turbo motor (especially the MZR).

Destructive Tester > POD 01/04/2014 at 00:57

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Admittedly I don't run the full gambit every trip, but i do accomplish most of them daily. When I walk into my garage I look under the engine for leaks (because 15 year old vehicle), visually check the passenger side tires, walk around the front to the driver's side and check the driver's side tires, check the headlights on the wall, check the tail/brake lights in the corresponding garage door tracks. A more thorough inspection of the tires is done weekly but I most likely subconsciously do one every time I get a good look at the tires, I'm always the one to notice an under-inflated, unevenly worn or in some other way damaged tire. This is on my D.D., my dog car and motorcycle each get a full walk around before they leave the garage.

nikiaf27 > POD 01/05/2014 at 15:20

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I always do at least parts of this checklist before a long trip. I actually got back from one just yesterday, and it has definitely been cold up here (-40C with the wind chill) so I made a point on the days where my car was just sitting there to run the engine for 10-ish minutes just to warm it up and get the fluids circulating a bit. I'm not sure how necessary this is, but I feel more confident that my car will start when I head back afterward.

BobSweeps > POD 07/19/2017 at 12:39

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So my local mechanic (Brent Allen Auto) offers a pre-trip inspection for something like $45. Is it worth it to have someone trained take a look or can I basically figure out everything I need to know on my own? Is it worth the time?