YOUR VEHICLE

1. Alabama Driver Manual Chapter 9 YOUR VEHICLE

2. Your Vehicle Motorists cannot be safe drivers unless their vehicles are properly equipped and in good mechanical condition.

3. Alabama law specifies the safety equipment you must have on your vehicle BRAKES All autos must have two separate methods of applying brakes – a regular foot brake and a parking brakes. MUFFLERS Every vehicle must have a muffler in good working order. It must eliminate excessive or unusual noise. Muffler cutouts, bypasses, etc. are illegal. The exhaust system must not leak carbon monoxide fumes into the car. The system should be checked periodically for leaks. WINDSHIELD WIPERS All vehicles must be equipped with wipers in good working order.

4. EQUIPMENT REAR VIEW MIRROR You must be able to see 200 feet to the rear. LIGHTS Motor vehicles must be equipped with at least two headlights (white lights), a rear license plate light, a brake light, and at least one red taillight. All lights must be visible from a distance of at least 500 feet. The high beam of the headlight must illuminate objects at a minimum of 350 feet and be in adjustment and alignment. Other vehicles must be equipped as required by law.

5. EQUIPMENT OTHER LIGHTS The use of both left and right turn signal lights or other pairs of lights flashing simultaneously to indicate a vehicular hazard is permitted. SAFETY BELTS Statistics show that in a crash, steering assemblies cause 30% of fatal injuries, and another 40% of deaths are caused by striking the windshield, windshield frame or instrument panel. Safety belts can prevent these “second collisions”. For children under 6 years old, special child and infant restraints are needed to protect them from serious injury or death. Traffic accidents are the number one killer of children and these restraints for small children can prevent them from becoming “flying missiles” in a traffic crash.

6. EQUIPMENT HORNS A horn (in good working order) is required on all motor vehicles. Use it to warn children, bicyclists, pedestrians, and motorists you are passing. Bells, sirens, or exhaust whistles may not be used except for emergency vehicles. Needless use of your horn may result in an arrest. It is unlawful to use a motor vehicle horn for any purpose except in giving warning when reasonably necessary to insure safe operation. Never use the horn to announce arrival or call your passengers.

7. EQUIPMENT TIRES With the increasing number of miles being driven on high-speed highways, safe tires are important. It is important that you buy the proper tires for your particular car to be sure that they will carry the weight. Check tire pressure often and never drive with them under-inflated. It is illegal to drive with your tire tread less than 1/16 inch deep. Treat your tires kindly – no “jack rabbit” starts or screeching stops, take it easy on corners and over extremely rough surfaces. Take a break and let tires cool during long trips in warm weather. Never use different types of tires. Check the spare often.

8. MAINTENANCE • The only efficient, safe vehicle is one that is properly maintained. • Brakes, exhaust systems, cooling systems, lights, windshield wipers, tires become worn and defective and need maintenance from time to time. • If not properly maintained, any one of these items could be the cause of a serious accident. • Have regular car maintenance checks.

9. PLAN YOUR TRIP • Plan your trip in advance. • Use a map and decide exactly where to get on and off the freeway. • Check your car’s gasoline gauge and get fuel if you do not have enough for your trip. • Check for water and oil needs. • Make sure your car is in good mechanical condition. • Check your tires, including the spare, to make sure they are properly inflated, have good tread and are free of cuts.

10. THE DEATH ZONE • The majority of children injured or killed in pupil transportation are not injured or killed on the bus, but outside the bus. • Most are struck by motorists who fail to stop for the flashing red lights and extended stop signs. • This area around the stopped school bus is referred as the “DEATH ZONE”.

11. Always check your owners manual for specifics of your vehicle • SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION ON SYSTEMS OF THE VEHICLE AND MAINTENANCE.

12. Safety Checks Outside of the car check: • Fluid Levels – Engine Oil –Coolant – Transmission Fluid – Power Steering and Brake Fluid –Windshield Fluid, Wipers – Mirrors • Belts – Fan, Power Steering & Air-Con • Battery cables

13. Under the Hood Checks • Engine Coolant Reservoir • Windshield Washer • Fluid Reservoir • Engine Oil Filler Cap • Transaxle/Transmission • Fluid Dipstick (Automatic) • Engine Oil Dipstick • Brake Fluid Reservoir • Clutch Fluid Reservoir • Battery • Power Steering Fluid • Accessory Drive Belts • Air Filter Assembly

14. After Starting Engine • Gauges & warning lights – Brake warning light – Oil pressure – Check gas • Horn – Know where it is & how to use it • Lights (visible from 500 ft, illuminate up to 350 ft.) • Safety Belts – Parking, low & high beams (2 headlights) – Turn signals – Hazard flashers – taillights (at least 1 working)

15. Maintain Engine & Power Train • -Check your manual for maintenance plan • -Check & change oil & filter frequently • 3,000 miles or 3 months • Transmission fluid every 12,000 miles • Tune-ups • 10 -12,000 miles • Clean/change spark plugs

16. Fuel & Exhaust Systems • Fuel System • Fuel tank: stores fuel • Fuel pump: moves fuel from tank • Fuel filter: removes impurities • Carburetor/fuel injectors: mix fuel with air and put into cylinder • Air filter: removes dust from air

17. Fuel System

18. Exhaust System • Carries off carbon monoxide & other gases • Muffles engine noise – Exhaust manifold: attached to engine – Muffler: absorbs noise – Tailpipe: brings gasses to rear of car – Catalytic converter: reduces harmful gases in tailpipe

19. Exhaust System

20. Electrical Systems • Battery: 12 volts • Keep Battery terminals clean • Alternator/generator supplies electricity for engine and all components • Distributor sends energy to spark plugs • Fuses protect electrical parts: – if something doesn’t work it might be a fuse

21. Light System • Headlights • Parking lights • Interior lights • High & low beams • Fog lights • Emergency flashers • Turn signals • Emergency flashers

22. Electrical System

23. Lubricating Systems • Oil – keeps engine lubricated –Coats engine parts – Prevents rust & corrosion –Oil pump moves oil from oil pan Oil is the “life-blood” of the engine.

24. Oil System

25. Considerations for selecting engine oil • There are at least three considerations for selecting an engine oil. • –A. Brand name • –B. Grade • –C. Weight Consult your owner’s manual for specifics

26. Cooling Systems • Keeps engine from overheating • Cooling system circulates coolant water & antifreeze • Stored in radiator and overflow tank • Water pump pushes coolant through engine • Thermostat keeps temp constant

27. Cooling System

28. Cooling System

29. Factors regarding engine coolant. • Engine coolant should be: –A. Strong enough to protect your engine –B. Clean. When it becomes dirty, have the system flushed and replace with new coolant.

30. Warning Light • If the oil light comes on.. • stop right away, don’t drive at all • If car overheats: • Stop driving as soon as possible • Don’t open radiator until cool • Add water to drive to service station • Turn on heater to draw heat away from engine

31. Suspension, Steering & Brakes • Makes the ride comfortable and gives you control of your car • Suspension system: supports car • –Springs & shock absorbers keep car stable over bumps and reduce bouncing • Steering: turn front wheels • Brakes: slow or stop car

32. Suspension

33. Brakes • Hydraulic pressure is used to squeeze brakes Step on pedal - Fluid flows from master cylinder to wheel cylinder

34. Brakes • Drum Brakes: brake shoes press against brake lining • Disc Brakes: brake pads squeeze a metal disk attached to wheel • Antilock brakes: uses computer to keep brakes from locking up • Parking brake: mechanical brake uses cable to the rear wheels

35. Brakes

36. How to test a vehicle's brakes. • There are two simple tests for brakes. 1. With the vehicle running, push the brake pedal hard for 60 seconds. If the pedal stays in the same position, the hydraulic system is probably OK. 2. Drive at 20 MPH, take your hands off the wheel and apply the brakes. The car should stop smoothly and straight. If the car pulls either way, have them checked soon. Be careful! • If at any time you hear strange noises when applying the brakes, have them checked. • Unfortunately, on some vehicles, some noise is inevitable.

37. Tires • Tire inflation: provide maximum traction and control • Too little (under inflation) or too much (over inflation) – reduces traction –makes car harder to handle – lowers fuel efficiency

38. Tires: Inflation

39. Tires • Tire tread: On wet or slippery surfaces, the amount of tread determines how much traction you have • Replace when depth of tread is 1/16 inch • Rotate every 5,000 miles • Balance to make sure weight is even

40. "Tune up" • On today's vehicles, there is virtually no tune up necessary. • Involves changing spark plugs and fuel filter • New cars require new plugs at approximately 100,000 miles. • Be careful of dealerships wanting to bring your car back for "routine" maintenance

41. Timing belt should be replaced • Timing belts are an exception. • They need to be replaced at least every 60,000 miles, before they break. • When they break, they will leave you stranded on the road or may cause serious damage to your engine. • Timing chains are not necessary to replace because they seldom break.

42. Warning Signs of Car Trouble • Suspension & Steering • Too much play in steering wheel –should be no more than two inches..none with power steering • Steering wheel vibrates.. Difficult to turn • Front end of car wobbles or shimmies • Car bumps as you turn the wheel

43. Suspension & Steering Trouble • Car pulls to one side as you drive • Car bounces too much after hitting a bump • Tread wear on front tires is uneven • May need to be aligned, tires balanced or worse

44. Brake Trouble • If car is not stopping normally • If brakes are smoking • If they are making a screeching sound • If they are grinding when used • Get brakes checked as soon as possible • Might just need brake fluid

45. Tire Trouble • Inspect regularly before you drive • Watch for troubles: • Less than 1/16 inch tread • Areas of little or no tread “bald” spots • Uneven wear • Bulges • Nails or glass stuck in tire • Slow leaks

46. Summary • While it is not essential that you know everything about your car or be able to fix everything, it is helpful and can aid you in making better decisions. • Owning a car is a long term decision, knowing what you are getting yourself into when purchasing a new vehicle is key • Plan ahead. • Use the internet to get as much information as you need when dealing with any car troubles.