Before the first trip of the day, walk round the vehicle and check the tyres, the engine oil, the brakes, the lights and horn, and anything loose or leaking. On an electric Baxy Lion, check the charge level in place of the oil. If anything looks wrong, sort it before you carry passengers or goods.
1. Tyres: look, then press
A tuk-tuk carries its whole load on three tyres, so one soft tyre changes how it brakes and corners. Low pressure also wears the tyre faster and uses more fuel.
2. Engine oil: check it cold and level
Park on level ground and check before you start the engine. Pull the dipstick, wipe it, put it back fully and pull it again. The oil should sit between the two marks.
If it is below the lower mark, top up with the grade listed in your owner's manual. Oil that looks black and thick, or milky, should be looked at by a technician.
On a Baxy Lion, check the charge level on the display instead and plan your charging around the day’s work.
3. Brakes: test before you load
Roll forward at walking pace and brake firmly before anyone gets in. The pedal should feel firm and the vehicle should stop straight. Then park on a slope and check the handbrake holds.
A soft pedal, pulling to one side, or a grinding noise all mean the brakes need attention the same day.
4. Lights, indicators and horn
Switch on the headlamps, both indicators and the hazard lights, and walk round to check each one. Ask someone to press the brake while you check the brake light. Sound the horn. A failed bulb is a cheap fix and keeps you safe on early and late shifts.
5. Look underneath and around
Finish with a slow walk round. These are the four things our technicians most often find that the owner had not noticed.
Drips on the ground
Check where you parked overnight. Fresh spots of oil, fuel or coolant mean a leak to trace.
Loose panels and mirrors
Rough roads shake fixings loose. Tighten them early before a bracket cracks.
Cables and levers
Throttle, clutch and gear cables should move freely with no fraying where they bend.
Battery terminals
White or green crust on the terminals causes slow starts. Clean it off and check the clamps are tight.
Daily checks and regular servicing
A daily check spots problems early. It does not replace a service, where a technician checks the parts you cannot see and keeps your service record up to date. A full service record also helps keep your warranty valid and your resale value up.