Getting your transporter ready for the summer season? What do you need to do to limit on the road issues. A quick guide to make sure youve checked everything before travelling in your Transporter!
Ideally the best thing to do would be to book your vehicle in for an inspection. This covers battery health, suspension/brakes/tyres quality and more. Our vehicle inspections start from just £39 and will give you full peace of mind before getting on the road! However there are a few things that you can check yourself if you are short on time to prepare yourself!
Battery
Check the voltage – Carefully remove the covers on the battery terminals and connect the positive side of the voltmeter to the positive (red) terminal first. Then connect the negative side of the voltmeter to the negative (black) terminal. Now, check your reading. A healthy battery should read between 12.4V and 12.7V.
Tyres
The legal limit is 1.6mm but for off-road adventures, you want to have the best grip possible. For all terrain tyres, we recommend changing them at 4mm. Having a lower tread depth can cause stopping distances up to 40 metres shorter than a tyre with efficient grip. if your unsure how to check your tyres yourself, read our previous blog here:
Fluids
Checking your fluids is pretty simple. Engine oil is usually checked with a dipstick after the engine has been off for roughly 10 minutes so the oil can settle down.
First, pull the dipstick out and wipe it clean with a towel or rag. Then, reinsert it and pull it back out. The dipstick is marked with maximum and minimum indicators that show how much oil is in your engine. The oil on the dipstick should be near maximum. If it’s at or below the minimum, add more immediately. Oil level is one thing, but its condition is equally important. To check it, you’re going to have to get your hands dirty. Smear the oil on the dipstick between your fingers. It should feel slick and smooth – if you notice any particles or grittiness, components are likely wearing down, which is a major issue.
Also look at the color of the oil. If it’s a yellow or amber color, you’re good to go. If it’s a darker coffee color or black, it’s time for an oil change. Many modern cars have no dipstick at all. Instead, oil levels are checked using sensors within the engine, and displayed on the dashboard. Depending on the car, the engine may need to be cold and turned off or fully warmed up and running to get an accurate reading.
Coolant is able to be checked via the expansion tank. The max and minimum is easy to be viewed. If you find it is low top up with water and keep checking every 50,000 miles or so to check it isnt going down too quickly. If it is and your having to top up every 50,000miles, there is likely an issue.
And ofcourse top up your washer fluid!
Other things to check
Most newer models of diesel Transporters will have Adblue which should be topped up before any travelling. We would also advise checking your bulbs and windscreen washer quality.
Obviously if your checking the vehicle yourself its not as simple to check your suspension. If your vehicle has any knocking noises or juddering then we would advise getting booked in to have the vehicle properly inspected.
This isnt a comprehensive list and there are things that will be missed when carrying out vehicle check yourself. So if you have any worries book in with a garage!
Extras…
As well as the above each camper will have different mods which should be checked. Heating system, Sterilising water tanks, solar systems, gas bottles and pipe work should all be checked before setting off!
If the vehicle has been sat over the winter months the vehicle will need checking for any condensation build up and cleaning down in preparation.
To book in for a vehicle inspection call us on 01642 613852 or message us on facebook here: