Questions and answers to the Maintenance and car control

13. Describe the function of the shock absorber and
stabilizator, how its incorrect function influences
the technical condition of the car and driving safety.
1. Describe what needs to be checked before travel.
We can only use a car whose condition complies with the traffic regulations and which does not do
damage or dirty the road. In particular we need to check:
Quantity of oil in the engine
Quantity of cooling fluid
Quantity of brake fluid
Braking system for tightness and leak test
Quantity of fuel in the tank
Electrical system (ligts, turn signals/blinkers, stop lights/brake lights, wipers, hoot, etc.)
Registration plate for cleanliness
Tire inflation, incl. the spare tire
After the above are checked we finish checking inside the car behind the wheel:
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o
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Steering function incl. steering-wheel clearance
Function of the brakes incl. parking hand brake
Function of devices and warning lamps
If we check a car we are not familiar with, we need to take the instruction manual which is provided by
the manufacturer for every car.
(!) How to check the functionality of the rear stop lights (brake lights)? Reverse to a wall or another car
and when the brake is pressed the reflection of the red brake lights in the rearview mirror should be seen.
2. Describe how to check the tire pressure and the depth of the tire tread.
Tire air pressure should be checked at least once a month, before travel when the air in the tires is not
warm.The recommended values are given by the car manufacturer and can be found in the car owner´s
manual. For Škoda Favorit the right values at half load are 1.9 bar for front tires (=190kPa), 1.8 bar
(=180 kPa) for rear tires. Correct tire air pressure values are very important for driving at high speed.
How to measure tire pressure: Tire pressure is measured by a pressure gauge, which we place to the valve
of the tire and read the value measured on the gauge. In the case of a higher pressure the air needs to be
let out, in the opposite case we inflate the tire with a tire pump or air compressor. Keep measuring and