Servicing and Maintenance
This domain covers scheduled servicing, fluid checks and replacement, filters, tyre care, brake inspection, lubrication, service intervals and vehicle handover. The exam tests what is done at a service and why.
Core rules
Follow the manufacturer's interval and severe-duty schedule. Engine oil must meet the specified viscosity and specification; the filter and drain-plug washer are replaced with the oil. Check coolant level and strength, brake fluid condition, battery terminals, belt condition, tyre pressures and tread depth, brake pad thickness, suspension play and lights. Rotate tyres to equalise wear. Reset the service indicator only after the work is complete. Record all checks on the job card.
Worked example
A vehicle has a 10,000 km service interval and the odometer reads 47,500 km. The next service is due at 50,000 km, so the remaining distance is 2,500 km. At that service, the technician replaces engine oil and filter, inspects the air filter, checks brake pads and discs, measures tyre tread, checks all fluid levels and tests the battery. If the car is used mainly for short urban trips, the severe-duty schedule may require the oil and filter at 5,000 km intervals instead.
Traps
Over-torquing the drain plug and damaging the sump; mixing OAT and conventional coolant; ignoring brake fluid that is hygroscopic and absorbs water; and resetting the service light without doing the work. Never substitute engine oil viscosity without checking the specification.