Vehicle Controls, Mechanical Knowledge, and Pre-Trip Checks (Nepal DOTM Category B)
Questions in this domain test whether you can tell a normal noise from a warning, and whether your pre-trip check would actually catch a fault. Because Nepal's test includes hill driving, brake and gear questions are frequent.
Controls
Right-hand drive: clutch on the far left, brake in the middle, accelerator on the right, gear lever to your left, handbrake between the seats. Press the clutch fully before changing gear and release it smoothly.
Gears and engine braking
On a long descent, select a low gear before the slope begins and let the engine hold the car back. Do not coast in neutral and do not ride the brakes - they overheat, fade, and then you have nothing left.
Pre-trip walk-around
- Tyres: pressure checked cold, visible tread, no cuts or bulges.
- Lights: head, tail, brake, indicators, hazards.
- Fluids: engine oil, coolant, brake fluid, washer.
- Brakes, handbrake, steering play, horn, mirrors, wipers.
- Fuel, documents, spare wheel, jack and warning triangle.
Dashboard warnings
Oil pressure, battery, coolant temperature, brake and ABS lights. A red light that stays on after starting means stop and investigate, not "drive to the garage later".
Worked example
The brake pedal feels spongy and sinks towards the floor. Reasoning: the hydraulic system is losing pressure - air, a leak or low fluid. The car is unroadworthy; do not drive it. Check the fluid level and have the system bled or repaired.
Traps that cost marks
Checking tyre pressure after a long hot run. Relying on the handbrake alone on a steep slope. Ignoring a temperature gauge climbing on a hill. Believing a warning light that goes out means the fault never happened.