Every time you get in your vehicle to drive somewhere, your car is working overtime to keep you safe. In fact, vehicles are equipped with many safety features that are less obvious to us but they play an important role for our overall protection. In this blog, we look at five important vehicle safety features designed to safeguard drivers, their passengers, and the vehicle. We briefly review aspects of each safety component and cover specific ways to keep them maintained or serviced.
Let’s first look at two more complex components in your vehicle that play a safety role – the suspension and braking systems.
Suspension System
What does the suspension system do?
The suspension system is the combination of your steering, tires, shock absorbers, springs, struts, and many other parts and components. Because all road surfaces are not perfectly smooth, the suspension keeps your vehicle connected to the road surface while making turns, driving at higher speeds, or driving in rough road conditions. Rough conditions come in the form of potholes, uneven or bumpy surfaces, railroad tracks, and even road salt. The suspension distributes the friction and bumps into energy within its components vs. into the vehicle cabin.
What can go wrong with the suspension system and how can you keep it functioning?
Because the suspension is subjected to a significant amount of road abuse – over time it can add wear and tear to suspension components.
Some of the more common issues include:
- Damaged springs or struts
- Leaks in the shock absorbers or steering fluid
- Wheel alignment issues and uneven tread wear
Your driving habits play a big role in keeping your suspension system healthy. Problems with the suspension system usually reveal themselves through noise and motion. You may hear unusual sounds when turning or stopping, or the vehicle may nose forward or backwards when braking. Beyond managing your driving routine, there are some key maintenance items you can follow, including:
- Regular tire rotation and wheel alignment service
- Staying alert to steering fluid leaks
- Maintaining tire air pressure
Braking System
What does the braking system do?
Our brakes control the slowing and stopping of our vehicle while in motion. If you recall your early physics education, Newton’s first law of motion states that “An object at rest stays at rest and an object in motion stays in motion with the same speed and in the same direction unless acted upon by an unbalanced force.”
Without brakes to stop your vehicle, the “unbalanced force” would be a stationary object.
Your vehicle brakes slow the vehicle down or stop it by applying pressure on rotors that are part of the wheels.
What can go wrong with the braking system and how can you keep it functioning?
Your vehicle’s braking system is exposed to a significant amount of friction, heat, and motion. These factors can lead to deterioration of your braking components.
Some common issues include:
- Worn rotors or calipers
- Brake fluid leaks
- Dirty or worn brake pads
Again, driving habits and specifically, braking habits, can play a role in keeping your braking system healthy. There are some regular maintenance items that you can also follow to ensure the brakes are functioning the way you want.
These include:
- Getting brake pad and rotor inspections once a year or every 12,000 miles
- Replacing brake fluid every 25,000 miles
- Bleeding brake lines to remove air and dirt
Now, let’s review the three other safety features of your vehicle that are designed to protect you and your vehicle occupants: electronic stability control, airbags, and the tire pressure monitoring system.
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
What does ESC do?
While the ESC differs from your suspension system, it is also designed to help maintain stability of your vehicle in unusual road conditions. If you have ever driven through a wet patch of road and pressed the gas pedal at the same time, you may have seen the ESC warning light. In that situation, your vehicle began to lose traction with the road due to the water and the ESC activated the brakes to regain control.
What can go wrong with the ESC and how can you keep it functioning?
The ESC is an electronic device that operates through the use of various sensors. When problems occur with faulty sensors or wiring, you may experience ESC failure. In those cases, it is best to have your vehicle inspected by a service professional who can pinpoint the issue.
Vehicle Airbags
What do airbags do?
If you are fortunate, you will never have to use your vehicle airbags. However, today’s airbags will function even at lower speed collisions. Your vehicle is equipped with several side and front airbags that deploy during a collision and absorb energy and protect you from impact with the vehicle dash or steering wheel.
What can go wrong with the airbags and how can you keep them functioning?
Vehicle airbags are sometimes subject to manufacturing defects or problems. These issues result of lack of or improper deployment or faulty parts. Auto manufacturers are required to notify all vehicle owners when there are airbag problems, and issue a recall alert. Check with your auto manufacturer or service professional about any specific recalls tied to your vehicle and VIN. Always address airbag issues promptly.
Tire Pressure Monitoring System(TPMS)
What does the TPMS do?
TPMS measures the specific air pressure of your vehicle’s tires and alerts you to any deficiency in air pressure. Each wheel is equipped with a sensor to monitor air pressure and send that information to the driver on the dashboard readout. Some TPMS alerts will even indicate which tire is affected and the current air pressure.
What can go wrong with the TPMS and how can you keep it functioning?
The most common issue you may experience with the TPMS is a faulty sensor. Sensors are in the wheels and can corrode due to heat, water, or dirt. The batteries that control the sensors may also lose power and affect the TPMS. If you experience unusual readings or no readings from your TPMS, have it checked by a service professional.
Hopefully, we shed some light on a few important safety features in your vehicle. Staying on top of these safety features is a good way to ensure your vehicle is operating effectively and you are keeping you and your passengers safe. If you experience any problems with the above features, contact us today to schedule a full inspection with a service professional. Colonial Service Station is conveniently located in Staten Island, New York.