Vehicle safety and basic maintenance
Vehicle safety and basic maintenance
This domain tests whether you can spot a vehicle fault before it becomes a breakdown or a crash, and whether you know what the warning lights are telling you.
The weekly check
Walk around the car: tyres (pressure measured cold, tread at least 1.6 mm across the central three-quarters, no cuts or bulges, spare included), all lights and indicators, mirrors, wipers and washer fluid, horn. Under the bonnet: engine oil on the dipstick between the marks, coolant in the expansion tank, brake fluid at the mark. Test the handbrake travel and listen for brake noise.
Warning lights
Red means stop safely and investigate: oil pressure, battery, coolant temperature, brake system, and ABS if it stays on after start. Amber means a fault to check soon: engine management, tyre pressure, glow plugs. Never open a radiator cap on a hot engine.
Handling faults
Blowout: hold the wheel firmly, ease off the accelerator, let the car slow and steer gently to the side without hard braking. Aquaplaning: ease off and avoid steering until grip returns. Brake fade on a long descent: select a lower gear for engine braking. A spongy or long brake pedal points to air or a leak in the hydraulic system.
Worked example
The brake pedal sinks almost to the floor and feels soft. That is a hydraulic fault, not a worn pad, so the car must not be driven. Check the fluid level for a leak, and if it is low or the pedal still sinks when held down, call for recovery instead of pumping the pedal and hoping.
Traps
Over-inflating tyres to save fuel. Ignoring an amber light until it turns red. Trusting a spare you have never checked. Carrying an unsecured load that becomes a missile under braking.