Courtesy Inspection Report

1. Courtesy Inspection Report

2. Purpose • Every vehicle that enters the shop must have a completed Courtesy Inspection Report • The Courtesy Inspection Report identifies any problems or damage to the vehicle that was present when the vehicle arrived at PCI • The report also provides the owner of the vehicle with written documentation of any safety or service concerns that were observed by the technician prior to any service on the vehicle.

3. VIN number • Every vehicle manufactured since 1981 has a unique 17 character Vehicle Identification Number [VIN] • The VIN number may be needed to find service procedures and specifications in AllData, Identifix and for ordering parts • The VIN number is also needed when setting up a scan tool to interface with the vehicles computer network • The VIN number is found on the left side of the windshield [drivers side] and also on the drivers door pillar

4. Model Year • The model year is the 10th digit of the VIN

5. Model year in the VIN number

6. Model Year • The model year can also be found on the emissions placard normally located under the hood on top of the radiator support panel • This placard is often called the VECIlable [Vehicle Emission Control Information]

7. Parking brake • Prior to driving the car into the shop apply the parking brake when the vehicle stopped in an area where there is room for the vehicle to move safely if the parking brake does not hold • Put the transmission into drive and release the foot brake • The vehicle should not move when there is no pressure applied to the gas pedal

8. Parking brake • It should take about 5 clicks in the parking brake ratchet for the brake to be tight enough to prevent the vehicle from moving.

9. Parking brake – manual transmission • Find a place in the parking lot where it will be safe to test the parking brake • Apply the parking brake • With the engine running put the transmission into 1st gear • Without depressing the gas pedal slowly engage the clutch • The engine should stall and the vehicle should not move • If the vehicle moves the parking brake is not working properly

10. Parking brake • After testing the it’s holding ability release the parking brake and check to see if the vehicle rolls freely • Vehicles with automatic transmissions should creep normally when the foot brake is released • Vehicles with manual transmissions should coast when the vehicles is moving slowly [ 1 to 2 mph] and the clutch pedal is fully depressed

11. Warning lights • As you are driving the vehicle into the shop check the instrument panel for any unusual warning lights

12. Brake warning light • If the brake warning light remains illuminated when the parking brake is off it is likely that there is a problem with the brake hydraulic system • If the fluid level in the master cylinder reservoir is low enough to trip the warning light there is a leak somewhere in the brake hydraulic system

13. Brake warning light • Some vehicles have two brake warning lights • One light is used to indicate if the parking brake is set • The other light indicates a brake hydraulic system failure Parking brake indicator Hydraulic system failure indicator

14. Brake pad warning light • Some vehicles have wear sensors embedded in brake pads • When the pads wear down to the minimum thickness the warning light is tripped • A separate warning indicator light is used to distinguish pad wear from hydraulic failure

15. ABS warning light • If the ABS warning light is illuminated when the brakes are not applied and the car is not in motion there is a failure in the ABS system • If the ABS system is deactivated the brakes will work normally but if a wheel were to begin to lock during a stop the ABS system could not prevent the wheel from locking, which could result in a loss of steering control • The ABS warning light will usually flash when a fault is detected. On some vehicle the ABS light will flash a code indicating what component has failed

16. Tire pressure warning indicator • All cars built since MY 2007 have a wireless Tire Pressure Monitoring System [TPMS] • The TPMS warning light illuminates when the pressure in any tire drops below 80% of the nominal air pressure • Resetting the tires to the correct pressure should turn the warning light off

17. Charging system indicator • The charging system indicator illuminates when the charging system voltage drops below 13.5 volts • A broken serpentine belt is the most common cause of a charging system failure but a defective alternator / voltage regulator can also cause the light to come on • Since the serpentine belt also drives the water pump and power steering pump the vehicle should never be driven when this light is illuminated

18. Oil pressure warning indicator • The oil pressure indicator is typically illuminated when oil pressure is below 10 psi • When oil pressure is between 10 and 15 psi the light may flicker • Driving the vehicle with an illuminated oil pressure light could severely damage the engine

19. Coolant temperature warning light • The coolant temperature warning light normally illuminates when the temperature of the coolant exceeds 230 degrees F. • Some vehicles have a coolant level sensor that has a slightly different symbol and normally is labeled ‘low coolant’ or ‘check coolant’ • Never open the radiator cap when the engine is hot!

20. SIR warning light • If the SIR light is illuminated the system has failed its power on self test and the SIR system has been disabled by the SIR module • In the event of an accident none of the air bags will inflate • In some systems the SIR light flashes when a system failure is detected and is illuminated constantly if the SIR module is disconnected • The air bag system is called the Supplementary Inflatable Restraint system [SIR]

21. Check Engine light • The ‘Check Engine’ light indicates that the vehicle’s self diagnostics system has detected a failure that will cause the vehicle’s emissions to exceed 150% of the federal emissions limits for that model / year • The vehicle will not pass a state emissions test if the check engine light is illuminated • In most cases you can continue to drive the vehicle although performance and fuel economy may be diminished

22. Check Engine light • A flashing ‘Check Engine’ light indicates a engine misfire that is severe enough to damage the catalytic converter. The vehicle should not be driven until the misfire has been repaired • If the ‘Check Engine’ light is illuminated connect a scan tool to the vehicle’s OBDII diagnostic connector to read the code

23. Service reminder lights • Service reminder lights are commonly used for oil change intervals and are driven by the accumulated mileage since the service reminder was reset • Some service reminders such as belt wear indicators are driven by sensors that are triggered when a component reaches it’s wear limit

24. Warning light prove out mode • This allows the operator and the service technician to verify that all of the bulbs [LEDs] in the instrument cluster are working properly • The instrument control module sends power to all of the warning lights in the instrument cluster for about 3 seconds after the ignition key is turned from off to run

25. Record any illuminated warning lights • If there are any warning lights illuminated in the comments block of the inspection report

26. Check the operation of the lights • If the bay that you are working in does not have convex mirrors at both ends you will need an assistant to help you check the lights • Turn the headlight switch to the parking light position to check the operation of the front and rear parking lights and side marker lights • Most modern cars have 2 bulbs at each corner – one facing forward or back and the other facing toward the side. Make sure both bulbs are working

27. Parking lights Wide dispersion forward facing bulb • This vehicle’s headlight control module sends low current to the high beam bulb when the light switch is in the parking light position Narrow dispersion high beam bulb projects light up to ½ mile Wide dispersion sideways facing bulb

28. License plate lights • The license plate lights are powered by the parking light circuit • If there are two bulbs both must be working

29. Brake lights • With the parking lights turned on have your assistant press the brake pedal and check that all 3 brake lights illuminate • If any of the parking lights go out when the brake lights turn on there is likely a bad ground in the parking/brake light circuit

30. Turn signals • With the key in the run position and the headlights turned on apply the turn signals • The turn signals should cycle once every two seconds. The cycle rate in a left turn should be the same as in a right turn • The indicator lights in the instrument cluster should flash at the same rate as the bulbs • Vehicles with side marker lights or lights incorporated in the outside mirrors should flash in unison with the front and rear turn signal lights

31. Turn signals • The functioning of the turn signal lights should be checked with the parking lights on and off • A bad ground in the light assembly is often only apparent when the parking lights are on • The intensity of the right side turn signal light should be the same as the left side light • This may occur if the wrong type of bulb is installed • It can also be caused by a bad ground • The turn signals should also be checked with the brake pedal depressed • A bad ground in the brake light wiring can effect the operation of the turn signals

32. Backup lights • Put the transmission in reverse [key in run - engine off] and check to see if the reverse lights operate • On a manual transmission vehicle you will normally need to depress the clutch pedal fully to get the gear selector to fully engage reverse gear. If the gear lever is not fully engaged the back up light switch will not turn on

33. Headlightslow beam • Turn the headlight switch on and operate the high/low beam stalk • Check the operation of the high and low beams and check that the intensity of the lights is the same – left and right

34. Headlightshigh beam • Ideally the headlights are projected onto the garage door or a uncluttered wall to determine if there are major problems with headlight aiming. • Any irregularities in headlight aiming should be noted

35. Headlights – instrument lights • With the headlights turned on make sure all the instrument lights are working [light bulbs that illuminated analog gauges]. • Turn the instrument light dimmer to the max and observe the gauges to see that all of them are illuminated Blown bulb in this quadrant

36. Headlight covers • Dull, scratched and yellowed headlight lenses [clear plastic covers over the reflector] should be noted

37. Dome light • The light in the ceiling of the vehicle is called the ‘dome light’ • Make sure it illuminates when the door is opened and goes out when the door is closed • If the dome light does not operate make sure it has not been turned off manually by operating the manual control switch on the light

38. Wipers and washers • With the ignition key in the run position operate the wipers on all speeds • Make sure the wiper arms return to the ‘park’ position at the base of the windshield when the wiper switch is turned off • Operate the washer pump and make sure the washer nozzles are not plugged up and are properly aimed

39. Rear wiper / washer • Don’t forget to check the operation of the rear wiper / washer

40. Wipers and washers • Observe the windshield while operating the washers. Heavy streaks of liquid on the windshield are evidence of worn wiper blades • If the vehicle is equipped with a rear window wiper/washer check it’s operation as well

41. Horn • Operate the horn and listen to the tone • Most vehicles have dual horns produce two distinct tones that together make a more pleasant sound • If the horn sounds weak or anemic its possible that only one of the horns is working

42. Centering the vehicle on the lift • The vehicle must be positions as close as possible to the center of the lift B A PCAUTO

43. Setting the vehicle on a lift • Have a spotter help guide you onto the lift • The vehicle must be centered on the lift. If the distance between the drivers door and the left lift post is 2’6’’ and the passenger side is 3’6” the vehicle must be backed off the lift and repositioned so that the distance between the doors and post is nearly equal

44. Centering the vehicle on the lift B A • The vehicle must not be at an angle to the center line of the lift

45. Centering the vehicle on the lift • The weight of most passenger vehicles is concentrated toward the front of the vehicle • The vehicle should be placed so that the center of gravity is as close as possible to a line connecting the centers of the two lift posts • A tire stop plate is normally bolted to the floor where the left front tire should be positioned to set the vehicles center of gravity between the lift posts. • Vehicles with long wheel bases or with a neutral or rearward weigh bias should be place so the left front tire is in front of the tire stop Tire stop

46. Tire stop • Most passenger cars are properly positioned when the left front tire is centered in the tire stop

47. Tire stop position Tire stop Wheel base less than 105” Wheel base 105” to 127” Wheel base larger than 127”

48. Jacking points • For most unibody vehicles the pads for the lift arms should be placed directly under the pinch weld at the bottom of the rocker panel

49. Pinch weld Rocker panel • The pinch weld is the point on the car body where the floor connects to the rocker panels • The rocker panels on a unit body vehicle are made of heavy gauge steel and are the ideal location for the lift pads to support the weight of the vehicle Floor panel Pinch weld

50. Lift pad properly positioned on the pinch weld Pinch weld