Check your parking brake (handbrake)
Lift the handbrake untill you feel some tension this should be 3 or 4 clicks up.
When you release the thumb button it should secure itself in the raised position.
It should hold you still on a hill and when the clutch is biting before moving off.
You should not have to lift it up to point at the roof, as the cable stretches through wear it will need to be adjusted
as it gradually needs to be raised higher and higher in order to work.
If your handbrake fails, leaving it in gear with the engine off should hold you still (1st gear if facing uphill with steering turned away from kerb, reverse gear if facing downhill with steering turned toward kerb)
Check your horn signal
Press the horn (the centre of the wheel) and listen
Check your power steering
When the engine is running turn the steering wheel.
The power steering will allow the steering wheel to turn easily and should feel light.
If your power steering feels heavy it has a problem.
When power steering seizes up completely it can be almost impossible to steer, a lot heavier than a car with no power steering.
Check your indicators bulbs (directional signals)
Turn on your hazard warning lights - then walk around the car and look to check that each bulb is working.
Front, Side and Rear
When you put your hazard warning lights on from inside the car the flashing and clicking will operate appearing normal even if a bulb has blown.
You must look to see that they are working.
Usually when an indicator bulb blows the remaining bulb/bulbs on the side the signal is selected toward will flash and click at double speed.
Check your Headlights, Sidelights and Tail lights and Brake lights
With your ignition turned on, turn on your HEADLIGHTS this will automatically turn on SIDELIGHTS and TAIL LIGHTS so that they can be all checked together. (Tail lights come on when either headlights or sidelights are on)
Headlights
side lights
Tail lights
Fog lights
Highway Driving School
Car safety and maintenance 2
Contact Highway Driving School, 10 Wey Close, Ash, Aldershot, postcode GU12 6LY. Phone now-07989 979 115 or 01252 313972.
Learn to drive with one of the premier driving schools in a Mini Cooper we can offer intensive courses or hourly driving lessons.
Book your driving lessons with Highway driving school today. Our instructors cover Ash, Ash vale, Ash Green, Aldershot, Alton, Bordon,
Blackwater, Camberley, Deepcut, Elstead, Farnham, Farnborough, Fleet, Frensham, Frimley, Frimley Green, Farncombe, Godalming, Guildford,
Haslemere, Liphook, Northcamp, Sandhurst, Tongham, Yateley and surrounding areas.
To test your brake lights, ask someone to stand at the back of the car to check as you press the brake pedal.
You could check yourself if the rear of the car is near somthing reflective ie garage door.
Brake lights
