Auto Maintenance & Light Repair Flashcards

A technician measures brake pedal free play and finds it excessive. On a manual-adjust drum system, this most likely indicates:

Answer: Worn or out-of-adjustment shoes needing adjustment

Excessive pedal travel on drum brakes often means the shoes are worn or need adjustment.

Which of the following best describes the function of a vehicle's thermostat?

Answer: It regulates engine coolant temperature by controlling flow to the radiator

The thermostat opens and closes to regulate coolant flow to the radiator, maintaining proper engine temperature.

A torque-to-yield (TTY) head bolt is being reused after removal. The correct practice is to:

Answer: Replace it with a new bolt

TTY bolts stretch permanently when torqued and must be replaced, not reused.

When jump-starting a vehicle, the final clamp connection should be made to:

Answer: An unpainted metal ground point away from the dead battery

Connecting the last clamp to a remote engine ground reduces the risk of igniting battery gases.

A tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) warning light flashes for about 60–90 seconds at startup, then stays on solid. This indicates:

Answer: A TPMS system malfunction such as a failed sensor

A flashing TPMS light at startup that then stays on signals a system fault, often a failed sensor.

What is the main reason to replace both the cap and rotor (where used) during an ignition tune-up?

Answer: They wear from electrical arcing and carbon tracking

The cap and rotor erode from high-voltage arcing and carbon tracking, degrading spark distribution.

A customer's vehicle uses 0W-20 synthetic oil per the owner's manual, but the shop only has 10W-30 conventional. The technician should:

Answer: Obtain the specified 0W-20 to meet the manufacturer requirement

Using the manufacturer-specified viscosity protects engine components designed for that oil and preserves warranty coverage.