Mini Mokes in Australia

This blog will help you to get to know your Moke, troubleshoot problems with your Moke and show you how to do general maintenance and repairs to your Moke. There will be lots of how-to's and tips on common Moke problems and things that can be done to fix them. 

Photo taken by Melanie Beets

For you to get the most out of this blog, leave comments with anything you would like to know or any questions. I will start with some basics but please let me know, in the comments, what you want to know about.

This first blog will provide you with, what I think is, the most important part of owning a Moke: 

A Safety and Maintenance Check List.     

As we all know, driving a Moke is great fun but there is always some finger crossing and hoping when the time comes to drive the Moke after it has been sitting for a few months through the Winter weather. We need to be confident that our Moke's battery has got enough charge to start it, that it hasn't got a flat tyre and that the oil and water levels correct.

Before driving a Moke that has been sitting a while, you should always do these safety and maintenance checks. It will make your Moking experience a pleasurable one.

Check your Battery 

Photo from Google Images

Preferably the day before you want to use your Moke.  You will not be enjoying a spring time drive if the battery is flat or well on the way to flat. Check your batteries voltage with a multimeter, you can get them starting at $10 from most electronics shops. If your battery voltage is below 12.5v, connect a battery charger and let the battery charge overnight or until fully charged.

If, like me, you enjoy spontaneous Moke drives, it might be wise to invest in a good quality trickle charge battery charger, which can be left on the Moke during the longer periods when you don't use it and keep the battery topped up. 

Check your Tyre Pressures 

Picture from Google Images

You don’t want to get half way down your street before you realise you have a flat tyre and ruin an expensive mag wheel in the process. Check your tyre pressures with a tyre pressure gauge, digital or analogue, as long as it is accurate. A good way to check accuracy is to compare it to your local service stations tyre pumps gauge (pump up your tyre to the recommended amount with the service station pump, put your own gauge on and make sure the gauges both read the same amount). If you have a problem tyre that has a habit of losing a bit of air if left for a week or two but not going dead flat, buy a cheap hand or foot pump from a department store or supermarket and use that to put enough air in your flat tyre to get you to a service station where you can pump it up properly. Tyre pressure should be set to what your tyre manufacturers advise, usually between 32-40 PSI. If you do have a flat tyre and no pump available check out this How-To - Change a Wheel guide and take your faulty tyre to a service station to pump it up or a tyre place to get fixed if needed.

Check the Oil and Water

Photo taken by Melanie Beets

This means lifting the bonnet. Find the engine oil dipstick and remove it from its pipe (not while the engine is running). Wipe it clean, reinsert it and pull it out again. Make sure the oil level is up to the maximum line on the dipstick. If the oil level is low, put some oil in the engine by removing the oil cap on the rocker cover and carefully pouring oil in. The difference between minimum and maximum on most Moke dipsticks is only about 1 litre so be careful you don’t put too much in. Wait a few minutes before checking again as it can take some time for the oil to reach the sump and therefore give an accurate reading. 

Photo from Google Images

Check Lights and Wipers – As your Moke has been sitting for a while, it can’t hurt to check your lights and wipers. Turn on your Mokes ignition and try your wipers. If they don’t work, check the How-To - Fix Wipers. While your ignition is still on, check your lights. You may need help to check your brake lights or if you can reverse up to a window or reflective surface you will be able to check them yourself. Make sure indicators are all working as well as headlights, park lights and tail lights. There is a How-To - Replace Globes if you have any problems.

These few simple checks could make the difference of arriving at your destination safely and on time, or damaging yourself or your Moke, breaking down or getting a fine for driving a unroadworthy vehicle.