Vehicle Technical Condition and Basic Maintenance
Core concepts
A roadworthy vehicle must have functioning brakes, steering, lights, tyres, and emissions controls. Candidates should know legal minimum tyre tread depth, correct tyre pressure practice, the meaning of warning lights on the dashboard, and basic checks a driver can perform: tyre condition, fluid levels (oil, coolant, brake fluid, washer fluid), lights, wipers, and mirrors.
Brakes, tyres, and lights
Brake fluid level and pedal feel indicate brake health; a spongy pedal or warning light means the vehicle should not be driven. Tyres must have adequate tread and no cuts or bulges; pressure is checked cold. Lights must work and be correctly aimed, and headlights must be used in poor visibility without dazzling others.
Traps in questions
- A warning light is not decorative: red usually means stop, amber means check soon.
- Tyre pressure is measured cold; hot tyres read higher.
- Tread depth is a legal minimum, not an optimum.
- A vehicle with defective brakes or steering must not be used on the road, even for a short trip.
Rule of thumb
Use the weekly walk-around: tyres, lights, fluids, wipers, mirrors. If a red warning light appears while driving, stop safely as soon as possible rather than continuing to a destination.