Vehicle Maintenance, Servicing and Inspection
This domain tests planned maintenance and inspection: daily checks, periodic services, fluid and filter replacement, brake and tyre inspection, battery care, lighting, emissions and documentation. Expect practical specification questions.
Core rules
- Follow the manufacturer's service interval, usually whichever comes first: distance or time. Record the service in the job card and reset reminders only after the work is done.
- Check engine oil level on level ground with the engine off and settled. Overfilling can cause foaming, seal leaks and catalyst damage.
- Inspect tyres for tread depth, pressure, cuts and uneven wear. The legal minimum tread depth in India is 1.6 mm; measure at several points across the tread.
- Check brake pad thickness, disc condition, brake fluid level and moisture; inspect brake lines for cracks and leaks.
- Test battery terminals, electrolyte level where applicable, charging voltage and lights. Replace the air filter, fuel filter and cabin filter at specified intervals.
Worked example
A tyre measures 2.0 mm at the centre and 1.4 mm at the inner shoulder. Reasoning: the lowest reading governs safety and legality. At 1.4 mm the tyre is below the 1.6 mm minimum and must be replaced. The uneven wear also suggests an alignment or suspension fault, so the cause should be checked after fitting the new tyre.
Traps
Checking oil immediately after stopping, overfilling engine oil, setting tyre pressure when tyres are hot, ignoring brake fluid moisture, and resetting a service light without doing the service are common errors. A vehicle can pass a visual inspection yet still have a safety defect, so measure rather than assume.