Instruments and electrical equipment
1. Check the correct functioning of control devices and electrical equipment.
2. Make sure that the meter readings are adequate, turn on all consumers of electricity one by one.
Steering and suspension
1. Try to identify any kind of unusual sensations that arise when driving. Assess the road holding of the vehicle.
2. Pay attention to unusual noises and vibrations emitted during the movement of the suspension and steering components.
3. Assess the handling of the car - the steering wheel should turn freely, without excessive slack and jerks. The suspension should not make any extraneous noise when making turns and driving over uneven pavement.
Transmission line
1. Try to evaluate the efficiency of the engine output and the quality of the transmission of rotation by the components of the clutch, gearbox and drive shafts.
2. Pay attention to any unusual noises emitted by the engine and transmission line components.
3. Check up stability of idling turns of the engine. Evaluate the stability of revolutions during acceleration.
4. Make sure the clutch actuation is smooth and quiet. The pedal stroke should not be excessive, and its squeezing should not lead to extraneous sounds.
5. Make sure that all gears are switched on easily and quietly - the control lever should move freely, without jerking or biting.
6. Listen for sounds coming from the front of the car when driving slowly in a circle with the steering wheel turned all the way. The check must be carried out for both directions of rotation of the wheels. The presence of a metal rattle will indicate wear of the hinges of equal angular velocities (SHRUS) drive shafts.
Check of serviceability of operation and efficiency of functioning of brakes
1. Make sure that the vehicle remains directional during braking. Hard braking should not cause premature wheel lockup.
2. Make sure that there is no vibration in the steering wheel when the car is braking.
3. Check up serviceability of functioning of a parking brake - the car has to be reliably kept on a slope even at moderate cocking of the lever.
4. Check up serviceability of functioning of the vacuum amplifier of brakes. To release the vacuum, depress the foot brake pedal four or five times with the engine off. Keeping the pedal depressed, start the engine - the pedal should noticeably fall down. Let the engine run for a couple of minutes, then turn it off. Now, when the pedal is depressed, a slight hiss should be heard, emitted by the brake booster servo. After a few depressing the pedal, the hissing should stop and the pedal travel should become noticeably firmer.