ASVAB Automotive Information Test
Which system is required to start an automobile?
A car’s electrical system controls lighting, starting, charging, and accessories.
Which of the following is NOT part of an internal combustion engine?
The clutch is part of the drive train system.
In a four-stroke engine, which of the following is NOT one of the four strokes?
Each stroke is the movement of the piston from one end of the cylinder to the other. The four strokes are called Intake, Compression, Power, and Exhaust.
In the diagram above, what is the location of the fuel pressure regulator?
As pictured above, the fuel pressure regulator regulates pressure in the fuel rail according to intake manifold vacuum.
Which part of the fuel system sprays a fuel and air mixture into the engine's combustion chamber?
Fuel injectors atomize the fuel by pumping it through a small nozzle under high pressure. Atomizing the fuel is the process of breaking it into a fine misted spray.
What part of a car's exhaust system is responsible for turning the toxic components of engine exhaust into less toxic compounds?
After being collected in the exhaust manifold, exhaust gases are then sent to the catalytic converter where toxic pollutants are converted into less toxic compounds by catalyzing a redox reaction.
Which of the following is the location of the differential on a drive axle?
A differential allows cars to rotate at different speeds as the car goes around a corner. It helps the drive axle split the power between the two drive wheels.
The brake caliper is an assembly that houses the
Disc brakes slow the rotation of the wheels using friction, which is created by pushing the brake pads against the brake discs with a set of calipers.
The part of the tire that grips the rim of the wheel is the
The bead is the inner edge of a tire. It is normally made with high-strength rubber and is reinforced with steel wire.
If one complete revolution of the steering wheel causes the wheels to turn 20 degrees, what is the steering ratio?
A complete revolution of the steering wheel is 360 degrees. Thus, the steering ratio is 360:20 which reduces to 18:1 (360/20=18).
An internal combustion engine in which the cylinders are aligned in two banks, which are at an angle to each other, is known as a
The angle of the two cylinder banks makes a "V" shape.
Drill bits can be loosened and tightened using a
The chuck is the part of a drill that holds the bit. A chuck key is used to tighten and loosen a drill bit. Handily, the chuck of some drills are now adjustable by hand and do not require a key.
The four strokes of a four-stroke engine cycle are (in the correct order)
During the intake step, the engine receives fuel to burn. Then the fuel is compressed, then the fuel is burned (power), then the exhaust is released.
Welders using the electric-arc welding method wear face shields to protect themselves from
During this process, the electric arc give off a dangerously high-intensity light: ultraviolet light. Welders must use protection or risk burning their skin and eyes.
If the distance between two parallel sides of a bolt head is 3/8 of an inch, which socket drive size should you use?
To loosen or tighten a bolt, you should use a socket that matches exactly the measurement of the bolt.
How does an increase in pressure affect the coolant's boiling point?
The boiling points of liquids are increased with increased pressure. And conversely, liquids boil much more quickly at high altitude (like at the top of Mount Everest) and can leave boiled foods uncooked.
Automatic transmissions transmit engine torque to the transmission via a
The torque converter is a type of fluid coupling that connects the engine to the transmission.
An inside caliper measures
The legs of an inside caliper measure the distance between the two inside edges of an object. This is a tool for measuring the internal size of an object.
The typical type of battery found in most vehicles is a
Lead-acid batteries is composed of lead plates in an electrolyte bath of sulfuric acid and water. While lead-based battery technology is dated, its power profile, dependability, and low cost make it ideal for automotive use.
Which type of hand saw is best for cutting metal?
A hacksaw would be the best choice for cutting metal. A hacksaw generally has a c-shaped frame that holds the blade tight and vary in the number of teeth per inch.
Soldering differs from welding in that it
Soldering involves melting another metal to "stick together" the base metals. Welding uses high temperatures to melt the actual base metals together.
The ECU is known more commonly as the vehicle's
The Engine Control Unit (ECU) is the vehicle's computer; it is responsible for monitoring and controlling most of the vehicles functions. It functions much like a brain.
The pictured tool is a
A wrench is a tool used to loosen or tighten a fastener. A socket wrench is an adjustable wrench with serrated jaws that make it easier to grip soft pipes. It is similar in appearance to a monkey wrench.
What is the ideal air-to-fuel ratio in a typical engine?
The most successful and efficient stoichiometric air-fuel ratio for a gasoline engine is 14.7 pounds of air combined with 1 pound of fuel.
In order to level a surface across a plane, one might use a
A bullseye spirit level is a circular device filled with liquid. The position of a bubble in the liquid serves to level your surface across a plane; when the bubble is in the "bullseye," the surface is level in two dimensions.
Which automotive system uses the following components: battery, distributor, coil wire, and spark plugs?
A vehicles ignition system is divided into low-voltage and high-voltage subsystems known as the primary and secondary ignition systems. These systems require a battery, a distributor, coil wires, and spark plugs to operate.
The coil wire in an ignition system
The coil wire moves a high amount of voltage from the secondary coil winding to the distributor cap. From there it is directed to each cylinder in the engine.
An engine's job is to convert fuel into
Cars burn fuel to power the rotation of their tires - to move!
Your woodwork has a slightly uneven plane. Which tool should you use to correct the problem?
A plane is a tool that flattens, reduces the thickness of, or smoothes a surface. This is generally done through the use of an angled blade.
The purpose of a muffler is to
The muffler is a soundproofing device that "muffles" the sounds of the engine and then sends exhaust to the tailpipe.
Which type of nut is this?
A cap nut has a domed top over the end of the fastener.
On which popular type of tire are the cord plies arranged at 90 degrees to the direction of travel?
Radial tires, designed for stability and low rolling friction, are the most common tire design for automotive vehicles.
Which of the following is true of a powered miter saw?
A miter saw is a powered saw with a circular blade that sits on top of a table or bench. It is best for making quick, accurate crosscuts.
A small hole that ensures drilling accuracy is best made by a
A punch is a tool with a pointed end and a blunt end that is usually struck by a hammer. A center punch is best used for making a starting mark, or dimple, on a surface
When accurate measurements of small distances are needed, it is best to use a
Micrometers are clamp-like tools designed to measure accuracy to the thousandth of an inch. They are best for precise measurements of small distances.
What is the most popular cylinder arrangement for 6- and 8- cylinder engines?
A V-type engine is the most popular engine for 6- and 8-cylinder engines. It is shaped like a "V" when viewed along the axis of the crankshaft.
The tool pictured is a
By applying torque, a box end wrench, in contrast to an open-end wrench, loosens a fastener using a ring-shaped opening.
Engine oil viscosity can best be described as
Answer: C Engine oil viscosity can be thought of as its "thickness," or resistance to flow. The viscosity must be high enough to maintain a lubricating film but low enough that it can circulate under all conditions. A number indicates the viscosity of the oil.
A stick welder melts metal with the heat from
A stick welder is used in electric-arc welding. This is a process that uses an electric current to form an arc between the machine's electrode and the metals to be joined; the heat from the current melts both the electrode and the base metals.
During the compression stroke, the piston moves towards which position?
During the compression stroke, the piston moves upwards (towards TDC) and compresses the fuel and air in the cylinder. Once it reaches TDC, the fuel is ignited and that force pushes the piston down, towards BDC. TDC refers to the piston's position at the top of the cylinder (top dead center), while BDC (bottom dead center) refers to its place at the bottom of the cylinder.
When an ABS (or antilock brake system) is in operation, the driver will feel
An antilock brake system is a safety system that prevents car wheels from locking up. This helps a driver avoid unontrolled skidding and maintain control of the vehicle. The system works in the following manner: sensors notice when one wheel is about to lock up (usually when it is deaccelerating rapidly). Then, pressure is reduced to that brake, then increased, then decreased, etc. (this causes the pulsing feeling in the brake pedal. This ensures that the tire slows down at the same time as the car and does not lock up.
The alternator is driven by the engine's
The battery charges while the car is running. This is because the crankshaft in the engine powers a belt that powers the alternator.
A rasp is used to
A rasp is a finishing tools used for shaping or smoothing surfaces. It is usually designed to have a handle attached to a metal bar with teeth. A rasp is similar to a file, but makes coarser cuts.
What is the purpose of a fuel rail?
The fuel rail is essentially a pipe that delivers fuel to each fuel injector in an engine.
The pictured engine component is part of the secondary ignition system. What is it?
The spark plug generates the spark needed to combust the air-fuel mixture in the combustion chamber.
The type of screwdriver pictured is a
A phillips head (or tip) screwdriver is recognizable by its plus-signed shaped head.
Brakes work by converting the car's kinetic energy into
The movement of the car is decreased when pressure is put on the tires; friction turns kinetic energy into heat energy.
A c-clamp is tightened with the
A c-clamp is powered by a simple machine: the screw. When the screw is turned, it tightens or releases the pressure of the clamp, either holding together pieces of a project or releasing them.
The best method for cleaning a surface prior to soldering is to use a
Fluxes are chemical agents used to clean a surface before soldering.
Moderated by the voltage regulator, system voltage during regular car operation is around
Normally, the system voltage is around 14.5 volts. Car accessories increase the demand on the system (dropping the voltage) but this is compensated by the voltage regulator, which increases the alternator's output until the system voltage is back to approximately 15.