How to prepare for a technical inspection

It's long been noticed that the stream of cars arriving for a technical inspection swells in spring. That's when car owners become more active. Some suddenly remember they've let all their deadlines slip. Others drive their cars out of the garages where they spent the winter. The rush begins, along with the stress and the hunt for "back-door shortcuts". And yet a technical inspection can be a perfectly calm affair. You just need to prepare for it.

Inspectors are especially thorough about checking the brakes, the running gear and the suspension. That's because these parts of the car wear out fastest as a result of careless driving and the sorry state of local roads. Most of the faults that get fixed, including Hyundai Sonata repairs, are tied to exactly this kind of damage. That's why, during the inspection, a special test rig is used to check the evenness of braking on each wheel axle and how effectively the brake system works.

Inspectors also care about whether a fire extinguisher, a first-aid kit, intact glass and mirrors, working wipers, seatbelts and other required items are present.

The quality of the exhaust gas composition is another important thing checked during the inspection. The proportion of CO in the exhaust is checked either at idle and at raised revs, or with a gas analyser.

On top of that, specialists also pay close attention to the steering. If a car loses steering control on the road, an accident is practically unavoidable, in which case Hyundai repairs, for instance, might turn out to be the easiest possible outcome. Inspectors check how smoothly the wheel turns, calculate the total play in the free travel, look for gaps in the joints of the parts, and check the steering linkage.

If you've had your Hyundai engine repaired on time, you have nothing at all to worry about. Let them check how it runs. The main thing is that the engine shouldn't smoke. As for the compression readings in the cylinders, that's a matter open to some debate.

Before the inspection you should have the wheels balanced, or you definitely won't pass. Dented rims and tyres in terrible condition can also get you turned down for an inspection certificate.

And before heading to the inspection, also pay attention to the driveshaft mounts on your car and the condition of the ball joints. Inspectors will hand down a negative verdict if they're not satisfied these parts are reliable. Losing a driveshaft or a wheel on the road puts everyone around you in serious danger.