Talk Shop #2: Vehicle Maintenance Inspections (VMI)

Vehicle Maintenance Inspections check the general well-being of a vehicle. It is recommended that you have a VMI twice a year, once to prepare for Summer and once to prepare for Winter as these seasons can present extreme weather conditions. It’s easy to schedule a VMI during an Oil Change, or while you’re getting your Summer/Winter tires changed or any other service. Watch the video clip below to see what’s involved in a typical VMI.

Technicians follow a VMI Checklist to check the following:

• Tail lights
• Head lights
• Windshield washer & wipers
• Windshield for damage, cracks, etc.
• Interior lights
• Battery (low-test the battery and get a print-out) – also look at top of battery to see if it needs to be serviced – a lot of batteries will carry corrosion (normal acid build up)
• Radiator, fan belt, heater hoses,
• Even spark plugs if they’re easily accessible
• Air filters
• Manual transmission – have to lift up into the air to check the transmission fluid
• And more!

Question #1: Tire Treads – When should you replace your tires?

The depth of tire treads is used to determine if a tire should be replaced. Tire treads are measured in 32nds of an inch. A brand new tire tread for a standard size car will be between 10/32-11/32 of an inch. Tires specifically designed for winter driving are usually even thicker. The absolute minimum for tread depth is 2/32 of an inch. Anything close to this or below should be replaced with a new tire.

Question #2: Why is it important to replace tires when they are worn?

When the tread depth of a tire is too shallow the tire will not grip the driving surface as well. This can be dangerous in weather conditions of snow or rain, or hot or cold.

Tip #1: It’s easier to check everything while the vehicle is in the air

A good thing is to take everything apart and make sure everything is free before you do anything.

For example, to do a report on the brake they are looking at the struts, ball joints, control arms and tie rods ends while the vehicle is up in the air. They’ll also check manual transmission gear oil and other aspects visible while the vehicle is in the air.