Proper Steps for a Vehicle Inspection

ROHNERT PARK — When taking your vehicle to a shop for a repair or maintenance service, one thing you should expect to receive is a full inspection. However, while most auto shops claim to provide inspections, it’s hard to know how thoroughly they’re actually being performed. Furthermore, you may not know all that a full vehicle inspection should entail. Here are the steps your technician should perform when inspecting your vehicle:

1. The engine’s oil and coolant should be checked.

2. The vehicle should be road-tested to check for any unusual noises or drivability issues.

3. All fluids, belts and hoses should be inspected. The technician should also check for oil leaks at the top of the engine.

4. The vehicle should be raised in the air and the tires should be inspected for uneven wear, nails or other issues. Additionally, the technician should check for oil leaks beneath the vehicle and inspect the suspension and exhaust systems.

5. All lights (including headlights, tail lights and brake lights) should be tested for proper functionality.

As you can see, a proper vehicle inspection consists of several steps. So, as a customer, how do you know whether these steps are being performed? First of all, you can ask your technician to describe the inspection process in detail. You can also ask questions after the service, like, “How was my tire pressure?” or, “How are my brake lights looking?” If the technician can’t answer these questions, they haven’t done a proper inspection.