The Interior Inspection: Eight Points

The interior inspection confirms the machine is mechanically sound — much of it the routine version of Lessons 5.2–5.5's tests.

#	Point	Note
1	Brakes	Adjusted; handbook = engine on + manoeuvres; thorough = Lesson 5.2's three tests
2	Steering	Full range, effectively turns the front wheels (Lesson 5.4)
3	Indicators	All work; fast-flash = failed bulb (Lesson 5.5)
4	Transmission/gears	Shifts into very gear
5	Oil level	Level ground, engine cold, via the dipstick
6	Coolant	Between the marks — cold, never the hot cap (scalding steam)
7	Battery	Terminals secure, corrosion-free; sluggish cranking is the early warning
8	Leaks	Glance under: dark = oil, green/pink = coolant, clear near a wheel = maybe brake fluid

Two carry a safety warning worth stating plainly:

Coolant is checked cold — never by opening a hot radiator cap, which releases scalding steam under pressure.
Leaks — the under-car glance is the highest-stakes item. Fresh drips have colours: dark = oil, green/pink = coolant, and clear near a wheel = possibly brake fluid — the one that ends the journey (Lesson 5.2's sinking-pedal rule).

Key takeaways

The interior eight, in handbook order: brakes · steering · indicators · gears · oil · coolant (cold, never the hot cap) · battery · leaks
The leak glance is highest-stakes: clear fluid near a wheel can be brake fluid — the do-not-drive fault, confirmed by the sinking-pedal test

Quick check

The morning check shows a small fresh puddle under the front wheel area — clear and slightly oily. Which fluid matters most to rule out, and why?

A) Coolant — because it's toxic

B) Engine oil — because it's the most expensive to replace

C) Brake fluid — a hydraulic leak is the do-not-drive fault; confirm with the 20-second pedal test (a slowly sinking pedal means a leak, and the journey ends there)

D) Washer fluid — because it leaves stains