Basic Awareness of Developing Faults with your Vehicle

Under-inflated tyres will affect what?

• Breaking capabilities of the vehicle

• Increase rolling resistance which will increase your fuel consumption

Tyres are your link to the road surface. They are designed to operate at specific pressures.

Which items could cause uneven Tyre wear if they are not maintained correctly?

• Tyre pressure

• Wheel alignment

Tyre pressures should be checked on a regular basis at the same time as the wear of the tyres. If you see uneven wear starting to occur, you should have your wheel alignment checked at a local garage that has the facilities to check and correct a vehicle’s tracking.

What does it mean when one side of your indicators is flashing faster than the other?

• An indication that one of the indicator bulbs on the vehicle has failed

Identify and replace the failed bulb as soon as possible

What does this warning light mean?

Its an indication that the engine is too hot and that the vehicle’s cooling system is not working properly. If you continue driving, you could seriously damage your engine

If you are driving and see smoke coming out from under the bonnet, what should you do?

• Evacuate the vehicle as soon as possible

• Make sure your passengers are safe

It could be smoke or steam but it in not worth taking a risk.

What does this symbol mean when your vehicle is stationary and this symbol is illuminated?

• Its displayed on the instrument panel and it means that the parking brake is applied.

Whilst driving, what does the warning light shown illuminating mean?

Its a multi-functional warning light. If it comes on while driving, its indicating that the brake fluid reservoir is getting low. If you are applying your footbrake and it comes on , its indicating that the brake shoes or pads are worn

What should you do when you start the engine and this symbol stays illuminated?

• Immediately stop the engine

Its the engine oil warning light. The engine relies on oil circulating around inside to stop it from wearing out. If you continue to run an engine with this light on, this could cause damage which could be very expensive to repair. If you keep driving with this on, the vehicle could stop suddenly without further warning.

Whilst driving, this symbol illuminates. What does it mean?

• Its indicating that one of your tyres is losing pressure

Its used on some vehicles. It advises the driver that they need to stop coon to check the tyre pressures. Some vehicles are fitted with run flat tyres so that you can drive short distances with the light on

Whilst driving, this warning light comes on. What does it mean?

• Indicates a fault has developed with the electronic power steering.

Its fitted to vehicles which use electronic power steering. If it comes on, stop as soon as possible and investigate the problem. Advice will be found in the vehicle’s driver handbook.

What does this symbol mean?

• Indicates your battery is not being charged

Batteries are charged by the rotation of the engine through a belt drive. This symbol is generally indicating that the belt drive has failed and that you need to get the vehicle checked as soon as possible. If you are driving at night, your lights may start to dim

When you start your vehicle and the engine is running, what does it mean when this symbol illustrates?

• its an engine management system warning light

Light will come on when you start the engine and will then normally go out, indicating everything is working correctly. If it stays on, its warning you that you engine is in need of attention. Its not immediately dangerous, but you should seek attention as soon as possible, as it could cause further damage.

What should you do when its dark and the headlights have failed on your vehicle?

• Use hazard warning lights to indicate to others that you have broken down.

• If you can. pull up on the left and get assistance

Trying to drive at night without headlights is putting both you and other road users at risk.

What should you do if a cloud of black smoke is coming from your vehicle’s exhaust?

• Stop in the first available safe place, switch off engine and seek assistance.

Excessive black smoke can reduce your visibility and the visibility of other road users

What should you do if the brake pedal becomes more difficult than normal to press or feels stiff?

• Find a safe place to stop and seek assistance.

Most modern cars are fitted with a device (servo) which gives assistance to the driver when applying the footbrake. If you are having to press the pedal harder in order to slow your vehicle, it may be that you have lost the assistance of the servo. Driving without your brakes being fully operational is dangerous.

What could it mean when your steering becomes very hard to turn?

• There’s a problem with the power-assisted steering

• You may have a puncture or the tyre pressures are low

For the steering to work normally, tyres must be inflated to the correct pressure.

Whilst driving/riding and if the oil warning light comes on, what should you do?

• Stop in a safe place as quickly as possible.

This warning is the engine oil warning light. if you continue to run the engine with this on, the vehicle could stop suddenly without further warning. Additionally, it could cause damage tot he engine which would be very expensive to repair.