Vehicle Maintenance
Daily checks, tires, oil, coolant, inspection stickers (shaken)
The horn should be tested regularly to ensure it works when needed.
🔧 Vehicle Maintenance Cheat Sheet
Key facts from this topic. Print this page for quick offline reference.
TRUE: In Japan, vehicles must undergo a mandatory inspection called "shaken" at regular intervals.
Shaken (vehicle inspection) is a mandatory safety and emissions inspection in Japan.
TRUE: Driving with an expired shaken sticker is illegal and can result in severe penalties.
Driving with expired shaken is equivalent to driving an unregistered vehicle.
TRUE: You should check your tire pressure at least once a month.
Tire pressure should be checked at least monthly and before long trips.
TRUE: The minimum legal tread depth for tires in Japan is 1.6 mm.
The minimum legal tread depth in Japan is 1.
TRUE: You should check engine oil level as part of your daily pre-drive check.
A daily pre-drive check should include engine oil level, coolant level, tire condition, brake fluid, lights, windshield wipers, and mirrors.
TRUE: Brake pads should be inspected regularly and replaced before they wear down completely.
Brake pads wear down over time and must be inspected regularly.
TRUE: All lights on the vehicle (headlights, tail lights, turn signals, brake lights) must be in working order.
All vehicle lights must function properly.
TRUE: The shaken inspection sticker should be displayed on the front windshield.
The shaken inspection sticker (kensa hyoushiki) must be displayed on the upper portion of the front windshield.
TRUE: Low tire pressure increases fuel consumption.
Under-inflated tires create more rolling resistance, which means the engine works harder and uses more fuel.
TRUE: The steering wheel should have minimal play (free movement) before the wheels start to turn.
Excessive play in the steering wheel (too much free movement before wheels respond) indicates worn steering components.
FALSE: A new car in Japan requires its first shaken inspection after 2 years.
A new car in Japan has its first shaken inspection after 3 years from the date of first registration.
FALSE: It is acceptable to mix different types of tires (summer and winter) on the same vehicle.
Mixing different types of tires (summer/winter, different sizes, different brands) on the same vehicle is dangerous because it creates uneven grip.
FALSE: Windshield wipers do not need to be replaced unless they are visibly damaged.
Wiper blades deteriorate over time due to UV exposure and use, even without visible damage.
FALSE: The coolant level should be checked when the engine is hot for the most accurate reading.
NEVER open the radiator cap when the engine is hot — the pressurized coolant can cause severe burns.
FALSE: A warning light on the dashboard can be ignored if the vehicle seems to be driving normally.
Warning lights indicate potential problems that may not be immediately noticeable while driving.