ASE Professional Ethics & Standards 3

Question 1

A shop owner asks a technician to clear fault codes without repairing the underlying issue before a vehicle inspection. The technician should:

Accepted Answer

Refuse and explain that this is deceptive and potentially illegal

Answer

Clearing codes without repair to pass inspection is deceptive, potentially illegal, and violates ASE ethical standards.

Question 2

A technician receives a referral fee from a parts supplier without the customer's knowledge. This practice is:

Accepted Answer

A conflict of interest that should be disclosed

Answer

Undisclosed referral fees represent a conflict of interest that compromises the technician's obligation to act in the customer's best interest.

Question 3

What is the ethical obligation of a technician when they discover a safety defect covered by an active recall?

Accepted Answer

Inform the customer and advise them to contact the dealer for recall service

Answer

Ethical practice requires informing customers of known safety defects so they can take appropriate action at no cost through recall service.

Question 4

A technician with an expired ASE certification continues to advertise as ASE-certified. This is:

Accepted Answer

Misleading advertising that violates professional ethics

Answer

Advertising an expired certification misrepresents credentials and violates both ASE guidelines and consumer protection principles.

Question 5

When a vehicle cannot be safely repaired due to extensive structural damage, the technician's ethical duty is to:

Accepted Answer

Clearly inform the customer that the vehicle is unsafe to return to service

Answer

Technicians must prioritize safety and honestly communicate when a vehicle poses an unreasonable risk to the driver and public.

ASE Practice Test