NABTEB Motor Vehicle Mechanics study guide
NABTEB Motor Vehicle Mechanics · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
NABTEB Motor Vehicle Mechanics is a trade subject in the National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB) craft-level certification route, taken by candidates in technical colleges, apprenticeship centres and vocational training institutions in Nigeria. It is designed for people who intend to earn a living diagnosing, servicing and repairing cars, light commercial vehicles and workshop equipment - not for hobbyists. The NABTEB Motor Vehicle Mechanics study guide has 8 sections and about 3,045 words.
01Workshop Safety, Tools and Equipment
Workshop safety is the systematic control of hazards before they injure people or damage equipment. A candidate must understand PPE selection (goggles, gloves, safety footwear, hearing and respiratory protection), the fire triangle, extinguisher classes, safe fuel and solvent handling, correct jacking and lifting, battery hazards, exhaust gas, and electrical safety.
658 words, about 3 min02Engine Construction, Operation and Overhaul
A candidate must know the major components - cylinder block, head, piston, rings, connecting rod, crankshaft, camshaft, valves, and timing drive - and the four-stroke cycle: intake, compression, power, exhaust. Valve timing, firing order, compression ratio, clearance volumes, and valve overlap must be understood.
284 words, about 1 min03Fuel, Ignition and Engine Management Systems
Candidates must compare carburettor and electronic fuel injection, and understand the sensors and actuators used in engine management. Key sensors include mass air flow (MAF), manifold absolute pressure (MAP), throttle position (TPS), coolant temperature (ECT), oxygen (O2), knock, crankshaft position (CKP) and camshaft position (CMP).
297 words, about 1 min04Transmission Systems (Clutch, Gearbox, Propeller Shaft, Differential)
Transmission systems transfer engine torque to the road at useful speed and torque. Candidates must understand clutch operation (flywheel, friction plate, pressure plate, release bearing), manual gearbox shafts and synchronisers, propeller shafts with universal joints, final drive, and differential action.
315 words, about 2 min05Steering, Suspension and Wheel Alignment
Candidates must know steering systems (rack-and-pinion, recirculating ball), suspension types (MacPherson strut, double wishbone, live axle with leaf springs), and wheel alignment angles: camber, caster, toe, and kingpin inclination. Camber is the inward or outward tilt of the wheel viewed from the front; excessive camber wears one side of the tyre.
294 words, about 1 min06Braking Systems
Braking systems convert kinetic energy to heat. Candidates must understand Pascal's principle, master and wheel cylinders, disc and drum brakes, brake fluid, bleeding, and ABS.
321 words, about 2 min07Auto Electrical and Electronic Systems
Candidates must apply Ohm's law and understand series and parallel circuits, battery construction, starting systems, charging systems, relays, fuses, and automotive electronics. In a series circuit, current is the same and voltages add; in parallel, voltage is the same and currents add.
308 words, about 2 min08Vehicle Maintenance, Fault Diagnosis and Repair
Vehicle maintenance keeps safety, reliability and emissions within specification. Candidates must know service schedules, fluid checks and replacement, filter changes, tyre inspection and rotation, brake inspection, battery care, lubrication, cooling-system service, and record keeping.
568 words, about 3 min