Vehicle servicing and checks

Drivers are required to perform regular safety and serviceability checks on their vehicles. The vehicle’s owner manual provides specific information about these checks.

Vehicle checks give you peace of mind and help you identify vehicle faults. If not fixed, these faults could:

• compromise the vehicle’s safety and reliability
• cause you to be penalised for driving an unsafe or defective vehicle that isn’t roadworthy.

You can perform these checks quickly and don’t need special skills or tools, except a tyre pressure gauge.

If a vehicle is found to be unsafe or defective, it must be withdrawn from service until repairs are completed.

Tyre safety

Checks for defects

Tyres that are in good condition and inflated correctly help improve the vehicle’s safety, performance and handling, and reduce fuel consumption.

You must check all the tyres often, including the spare if provided, for the following defects:

• less than 1.5mm of tread depth across the full face of the tread
• uneven wear on the tread shoulders or in the centre of the tread face
• large cuts or cracks
• lumps and bulges
• tread separation or exposed cords (i.e. fabric).

If a tyre shows any of these defects, don’t use it. Send it to a tyre specialist immediately to be replaced or repaired.

Tyre pressure

Correctly inflated tyres are safer and better for the environment, and don’t wear as quickly as underinflated tyres.

All tyres lose air pressure over time. A tyre can lose a significant amount of air pressure before it’s visibly obvious. So it’s useful to carry a tyre pressure gauge in your vehicle so you can check inflation pressures regularly. You can also check the tyre pressure at most service stations.

You will find details about your vehicle’s correct tyre pressure in the owner handbook or on the tyre placard fixed to the vehicle.

If you’re in doubt, inflate passenger car tyres to 32–34psi (220–240kpa), and 4WD and light commercial tyres to 40psi (280kpa), until you know the correct inflation pressure.

Light safety

Vehicle lights and reflectors must operate correctly and must not have dirty, broken or faded lenses.

Check these lights on your vehicle regularly:

• headlights (high and low beam)
• front park and side lights
• brake lights
• taillights
• turn signal indicator lights
• number plate lights
• reversing lights
• hazard or emergency lights
• side and clearance lights (if fitted)
• additional lights (driving lights, fog lights).

You can check the brake lights with the help of an assistant or by observing the illumination when you reverse the vehicle close to a wall.

If you’re towing a trailer, you should check the trailer’s lighting as well.

Under-bonnet checks

Check these under-bonnet items regularly:

• all fluid levels, including engine oil, transmission fluid (if applicable), coolant and brake fluid
• battery electrolyte level and condition of the terminals (obvious signs of corrosion)
• windscreen washer fluid level
• visual check of the fan belts for obvious signs of damage or deterioration
• visual check of the radiator and heater hoses for obvious splits and deterioration.

Tip: Check the garage floor for evidence of significant oil or coolant leaks.

Windscreen and wiper blades

The windscreen should be clean and serviceable, and allow you to see ahead clearly. Check for these issues regularly to maintain your safety:

• Check that the windscreen has no large cracks or chips, particularly in the driver’s primary vision area. Make sure there’s no excessive pitting or ‘sand blasting’.
• Ensure there are no posters, stickers or decals in the driver’s primary vision area.
• Ensure that devices such as satellite navigation systems aren’t in the driver’s primary vision area.
• Check that wiper blades and washers are working effectively.
• As washer jets can block, clean them out with a sewing pin or needle. You can also use these tools to realign the jets if they’re not aimed correctly.

Other internal checks

Regularly check the:

• horn
• seatbelts: for easy operation and obvious damage
• slides and seat adjusters: for smooth operation
• sun visors
• side windows and window winders.

Other external checks

You should regularly check the external condition of the vehicle’s panels and paint, as well as the presence, operation and serviceability of the:

• number plates
• external rear vision mirrors
• spare wheel, particularly on commercial vehicles.

Check the vehicle’s owner manual for more advice about regular vehicle maintenance checks.