Tour of the passenger cabin

The interior of the vehicle is equally important for the driver's awareness.

The initial inspection the driver performs when opening the vehicles door is  to quickly scan the vehicle's interior to verify that the dash, the seats, the floor and the back dash have nothing on them.  If there is something in the vehicle; the object(s) has to be placed on the floor behind the front passenger seat.  If the object cannot properly be placed there, the object then needs to be placed upon the rear seat (preferrably behind the front passenger seat) and seat buckled into place.  This is the safest  method of transporting objects that will not fit into the vehicle's trunk.  (Of course, the vehicle trunk is the first option of choice.)  If the trunk is not available - please consider clearing the trunk of objects other than the standard emergency supplies.

NEXT, AS YOU SIT IN THE DRIVERS SEAT, pull the door closed, insert the key into the ignition as you lift your left elbow and lock your door, or you reach with your left hand to depress the button that locks the doors.  Wise procedure for you and your passengers.  Protect property and privacy.  Adjust your seat.  Check the position of your seat and the position of your mirrors and BUCKLE UP.

Now,  as you turn the ignition key to the start position, turn off the radio and heater fan inorder to be able to hear the sound of the engiine.  This sound will tell you immediately much about the engine. 

Get to know the sound of your vehicle's engine.

Glance at the fuel gauge.  If you vehicle has a tachometer, notice what this instrument tells you about the strength of the engine.

With your hands at the 9:00 & 3:00 position on the steering wheel, you are now ready to focus your attention on the driving procedures.

Solar Highways

TOUR 1 - General Walk Around

The best location to begin your inspection of the vehicle is when you are approaching the vehicle. And, as the driver, you will be approaching the driver`s door, so do a quick glance to see that all windows are clear of mud, snow, ice, fog (moisture built-up on the inside of the windows) and anything else that obstructs vision.  Glance that the doors are securely closed, that the tires are of proper inflation (there is no mud or snow build up in the wheel wells) and that there is nothing under or near the vehicle. At the rear of the vehicle you are again able to check the window, that the truck is firmly closed, the licence plate correctly attached and that the licence plate light has a bulb that works, the bumper is firmly attached and the exhaust pipe is in good condition and firmly secured, 

Next, see that the fuel panel is closed and as you walk to the passenger side of the vehicle see that the rocker panel is also in good condition.  Check that the vehicle side mirrors are in good repair.

As you approach the front of the vehicle check to see that the front window is clear and clean.  The window wiper blades are in good condition.  There is no mud, snow, ice or tree leaves on the air in-take vents below the windshield wipers. (These vents allow fresh air into the cabin of the vehicle).  The vehicle hood is firmly closed and again the front grill has no mud, snow, ice or leaves blocking the flow of air to the engine.

UNDER THE HOOD

The hood of the vehicle is secured in place by a double latch, the first one is in the cabin of the vehicle, check along the left side of the driver`s seat.  The latch often has an imprinted automobile image on it.  Pull this latch slightly upward to hear the hood dis-engage slightly.  The hood will not fully dis-engage as the safetly latch is still holding the hood to the vehicle - this latch is what prevents the hood from flying upward from the vehicle if ever the interior latch were to dis-engage while the vehicle is in motion.

To find this exterior latch, lift the hood the slight upward distance that the initial release latch will allow.  Slide your fingers along the top part of the grill slightly ecxposed from where the hood closes.  There will be a lever which opens the second latch.  This lever moves horizontally to the left.   The hood is not fully released and the hood can now also be fully raised.

Take notice of how the hood remains in the fully open position.  There will be an hydraulic support on either side of the engine, or even both sides of the engine, there may be a support bar which is cradled along the horizontal part of the grill - this support you will pull out of the cradle and place the upper end into its slot on the underside of the hood.  This cradled support could also be found on the right or left of the engine .

INTRODUCTION TO THE VEHICE- step 1

Today is a good day to learn to drive - that is, to drive an automatic passenger vehicle: a car.

It is irrelevant that the weather is: raining, snowing, foggy, hot sun or just an average day:  WE DRIVE.

Before actually turning the ignition key to the start position, the new driver requires an introduction to the vehicle itself.  This process is vital to the safe operation of a vehicle.

There are several tours we will take of the vehicle.  The first is of the outside of the vehicle. The second is of the inside of the vehicle. Each of these tours has more than one component.

The basic Outline of the Tour is:

TOUR 1                        A. The Walk-Around
                                                 a) the general exterior
                                                 b) under the hood
                                                 c) the lights

TOUR 2                       B. The Interior
                                                 a)  personal safety                                                  
                                                 b)  Interior environment
                                                 c)  Mirrors & instrument panel
                                                 d)   Steering wheel and shift
                                                 e)   Ignition switch settings

                                               
TOUR 1.  Start at the back bumper on the drivers side: notice that the windows are clear of dust, mud, snow, leaves and yes, moisture from the inside: you MUST be able to see clearly through your rear window and this now applies to all windows. 

Make sure the trunk is firmly closed, the bumper securely attached, the licence plate tightly fastened, the license plate light properly lights, the exhaust pipe well supported.

NOW WALK AROUND THE VEHICLE ALONG THE CURB SIDE inspecting the windows, the doors firmly shut, the rocker panels in good condition, and read the outside mirror.  These words on the mirror say:  OJECTS IN MIRROR ARE CLOSER THAN THEY APPEAR.  This is true and serious.  Now stand directly in front of the vehicle to see that the front window is clear and in good condition: major cracks means the need of a new windshield.  The hood is firmly attached, the front bumper in good conditon and firmly attached and there is no debris of leaves, no snow or mud on the front grill because this grill is the reason the engine receives proper air intake to assist in its correct temperature.  While in front of the vehicle take a quick look under the bumper along the road surface to make sure there is nothing beneath the vehicle.  Now on the way to checking the driver`s side of the vehicle look at the tires: see that they have adequate tread.  Also check the windshield wiiper blades that they are in good repair, as well that there are no leaves, no mud, no snow on the in-take air vents which bring air into the cabin of the vehicle. 

Today, this information begins the introduction of a vehicle - an expert driver does this check routinely in moments:  It is called the walk-around. 

Stay with us : next we`ll do the under the hood tour.