Fluid levels
Engine oil, coolant, brake fluid and washer fluid. Check levels on level ground using the marks on the reservoirs and the dipstick; the manual shows where everything is.
Care
Maintenance: what to check yourself in the first year
Repairs are a job for professionals, but the owner can spot trouble in time. A few simple checks once a week or before a long drive help you drive with less worry and fewer surprises. Here's what to look at, roughly how often, and when not to put off a visit to a mechanic.
Five minutes by the car in the parking lot are calmer than half an hour on the shoulder with the hazards on.
We don't give exact intervals, tolerances or fluid specifications: all of that is in the owner's manual and the maintenance record. Here is only what you can check with your eyes and hands, no tools needed.
What you can check yourself
Six simple checks that take just a few minutes.
Tire pressure
The correct pressure is usually on a label in the door opening or on the fuel filler flap. Check it with the tires cold, and look over the sidewalls for cuts and bulges at the same time.
Tread wear
Uneven wear is a hint that it's time to check the wheel alignment or the pressure. Badly worn tires grip the road less well, especially on wet surfaces.
Lights
Ask someone to stand behind the car while you switch on the headlights, turn signals, brake lights and reverse lights. It's easier to replace a dead bulb in advance than to notice it at night.
Wipers and glass
If the wipers leave streaks or squeak, the rubber is worn. Glass that is clean inside and out noticeably reduces glare from oncoming headlights in the dark.
How the car feels
The brake pedal, the steering, the sounds when accelerating and over bumps. You drive it every day, so you'll be the first to notice the car behaving differently from yesterday.
Brake trouble (in Russian)
A quick check before a long drive
Walk around the car
Look at the tires, check for fresh spots under the car, and make sure the lights and mirrors are intact. A walk-around takes a minute and easily becomes a habit.
Look under the hood
Check the levels against the marks and top up the washer fluid. If other fluids are noticeably low, don't top them up by guesswork — have a professional look at the car.
Check the lights and signals
Dipped and main beam, turn signals, hazard lights, brake lights. On the road by day you'll need dipped headlights or daytime running lights (clause 19.5).
Pack what belongs in the car
A warning triangle, a first-aid kit, a fire extinguisher, a reflective vest, a phone charger and water.
Check the maintenance record
If scheduled maintenance is coming up by mileage or time, it's easier to get it done before the trip than to look for a mechanic in an unfamiliar place.
Read next
- The car
How brakes, lights, tires and driver-assist features work, and why it helps a new driver to know what they can and cannot do.
- Faults
Warning lights, unfamiliar noises, a dead battery and a flat tire: when you can calmly drive on and when you must not.
- Brake trouble (in Russian)
Archive note: signs that something is wrong with the brakes, and the general steps to take if they suddenly lose effectiveness.
Sources
- Traffic Rules of the Russian Federation (official text)
- Road safety guidance from the Russian State Traffic Inspectorate (summarized)
Rule requirements are quoted from the official text of the Russian traffic rules as of the date each page was prepared; the rules are updated from time to time. Every car has its own layout and controls, so the rules in force and your car's owner's manual remain the main reference.