Vehicle Safety Inspection Ft. Lauderdale & Palm Bay FL
Whether you need to have a vehicle safety inspection in Ft. Lauderdale and Palm Bay FL for registration or to ensure your vehicle is safe, Empire Auto Care can help. Having a safe car is important if you are driving back and forth to work every day or are planning on taking a long drive or traveling. Vehicle safety inspection is a nice way to determine if or not your car is safe enough to meet your demands. Fluids, lights, tires, and other auto safety equipment should all be checked regularly for continued vehicle performance. Our Fort Lauderdale shop services Pompano Beach, Wilton Manors, Lighthouse Point, and Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, while our Palm Bay location serves Melbourne, June Park, and Grant-Valkaria.
The Steps to a Vehicle Safety Inspection
STEP ONE – FLUIDS
The fluids inside your car are used to help regulate temperature, properly lubricate your motor and keep everything running smoothly. Make sure your car is parked on a level surface. Begin with a cold engine, as fluids tend to expand when they are heated. For safety, it is also essential to never open your radiator cap if it is hot and under pressure. Uneven surfaces can provide false readings, causing you to overfill or under-fill your fluid levels.
Your oil has to be changed on a regular basis. If you do it yourself at home or you visit a local oil and lube shop to have it done professionally, fresh oil can help to protect your motor and avoid wear caused by grit and other components that form in older oil. Other fluids, such as transmission fluid, brake fluid, windshield washer fluid and coolant, are also important to the proper running of your car. Your transmission fluid levels should be checked while the motor is running and your car is in park.
STEP TWO – TIRES
Many car owners in Fort Lauderdale, Pompano Beach, Wilton Manors, Lighthouse Point, and Lauderdale By The Sea overlook the importance of checking the tires. A lot is riding on your tires, literally. Tires move your car down the roadway, take corners, hold up to quick stops, move water from the roadway and absorb shock for you and your passengers. Inspect the tires carefully, eliminating any stones you find in the tread.
Check the depth of your tire tread. It must be more than 1/16 of an inch. One rule of thumb is to use a penny to measure. If Lincoln’s head on your penny is at least partially covered by the tread, then your tire tread is nice. If it does not cover it, it is time to get new tires.
Tire pressure is another thing that must be checked. Look at your car’s manual to see what pressure level should be used for ideal gas mileage and performance. Some car owners inflate their tires higher than suggested to improve gas mileage. However, make sure you are doing this at a safe level.
Tires also have to be rotated on a regular basis. One way to guarantee that this is done on schedule, rotate your tires whenever you do an oil change. Tires should be rotated front to rear to guarantee even wear. Check your spare tire as well. You do not want to discover in the middle of the night on a dark roadway that your tire is flat or worn beyond use.
STEP THREE – SAFETY EQUIPMENT
Even your auto safety equipment requires being safety checked to guarantee that it is in good condition and operating correctly. Check each seat belt and look it over for harm or wear. The belt must retract fully when released. Engage the buckle and tug on it hard to guarantee that it holds correctly.
Airbags must also be checked frequently. Turn the motor on and let it idle. Your airbag light must come on and then go out. Whether the light comes on and stays on, it could show that you have an issue. If this happens, check your vehicle manual or visit your local car dealer, as long as they have traders insurance, to have your airbags inspected for safety.
All of the lights on and in your car should be checked as a component of your vehicle safety inspection. Brake lights, reverse lights, headlights, rear lights, driving lights and dashboard lights should all be inspected. Also check the seat belt lights and door lights, to guarantee that they provide the correct warning whether a door is ajar or unlocked and that you are warned if passengers are not wearing seatbelts. While you are at it, check the horn as well to guarantee that it is working correctly. Empire Auto Cared helps you with vehicle safety inspection in Fort Lauderdale, Pompano Beach, Wilton Manors, Lighthouse Point, and Lauderdale By The Sea.
STEP FOUR – HOSES AND BELTS
Inspecting your hoses for harms or cracks must be part of your vehicle safety inspection as well. Exposure to heat and fumes from the motor can cause hoses to harden. Hardening can lead to leaking and cracking. If your hoses do not seem to be flexible, replace them. If you find out anything that you are unsure of, either replace it or consult with a specialist that you trust.
Drive belts, water pump belts, and alternator belts, as well as any other belts inside your motor, should also be checked on a regular basis as well. Check for correct tension and look for damage that can come from normal wear and tear. When it comes to belts, make sure to have the work done by a specialist. If you decide to still change a belt on your own, make sure you draw a diagram so you will know how the new belt should be positioned within the motor. Looking for vehicle safety inspection in Ft. Lauderdale, Pompano Beach, Wilton Manors, Lighthouse Point, and Lauderdale By The Sea? Come with us, we help you at any time.
How to Improve Your Car’s Safety
Speak with your insurance agent at Empire Auto Care for more information about improving your auto safety equipment and the importance of conducting a vehicle safety inspection. Also, review your car insurance policy to guarantee that you are properly insured and protected. Discover if there are any special offers with regard to auto safety equipment that may have come standard with your vehicle, or that you have added later.
Car insurance is meant to protect you, your passengers and the investment that you have made in your vehicle from damage, loss or theft. Our specialists at Empire Auto Care can help you choose the type of coverage and plan that will best suit your unique needs. Performing regular vehicle safety inspection, installing auto safety equipment and making sure that you have the right car insurance policy can all work together to improve the overall safety of your vehicle.
Empire Auto Care can provide you this and much more, come to visit us, we will be so glad in meeting you! An expert vehicle safety inspection in Ft. Lauderdale and Palm Bay, FL is waiting for you.