TX DMV Vehicle Operation and Maintenance 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: How do you check your vehicle's brake fluid level?
- Press the brake pedal and feel for resistance
- Check the level in the master cylinder reservoir under the hood (Correct answer)
- Listen for squealing sounds when braking
- Have it checked only during annual safety inspection
Correct answer: Check the level in the master cylinder reservoir under the hood
Brake fluid is checked by looking at the translucent master cylinder reservoir under the hood, which has minimum and maximum markings.
Question 2: When your battery warning light illuminates while driving, it typically means:
- The battery is fully charged and working normally
- The battery needs distilled water added to its cells
- The charging system is not properly charging the battery (Correct answer)
- The battery is too cold to function
Correct answer: The charging system is not properly charging the battery
The battery warning light usually signals a charging system failure — often a faulty alternator — meaning the battery is draining while you drive.
Question 3: According to Texas law, high beam headlights must illuminate objects at least how far ahead?
- 200 feet
- 300 feet
- 500 feet (Correct answer)
- 1,000 feet
Correct answer: 500 feet
Texas law requires high beams to illuminate objects at least 500 feet ahead, while low beams must illuminate objects at least 200 feet ahead.
Question 4: Texas law requires headlights to be turned on from sunset to sunrise and also when:
- Only in complete darkness on rural roads
- Visibility is less than 1,000 feet due to weather conditions (Correct answer)
- Driving on any highway regardless of time
- Only when it is actively raining
Correct answer: Visibility is less than 1,000 feet due to weather conditions
Texas requires headlights whenever visibility is reduced to less than 1,000 feet due to weather such as fog, rain, dust, or smoke.
Question 5: What should you do if your accelerator pedal sticks while driving?
- Immediately turn off the ignition while at speed
- Shift to neutral, apply brakes steadily, and steer safely off the road (Correct answer)
- Apply the emergency parking brake at full force
- Pump the brake pedal as fast as possible
Correct answer: Shift to neutral, apply brakes steadily, and steer safely off the road
Shifting to neutral cuts engine power to the wheels, allowing you to brake and steer safely to the roadside without loss of power steering.
Question 6: Texas annual vehicle safety inspections check which of the following?
- Only the engine and transmission components
- Brakes, lights, tires, horn, steering, and wipers among other items (Correct answer)
- Only emission-related components in counties with emissions programs
- Only the vehicle identification number and registration
Correct answer: Brakes, lights, tires, horn, steering, and wipers among other items
Texas safety inspections cover a wide range of items including brakes, headlights, taillights, tires, steering, horn, wipers, and mirrors.
Question 7: What does a steadily illuminated 'Check Engine' light indicate?
- It is time for an immediate oil change
- The engine must be shut down right away
- The vehicle's onboard diagnostic system has detected a fault (Correct answer)
- The engine air filter needs replacement
Correct answer: The vehicle's onboard diagnostic system has detected a fault
A steady check engine light means the OBD system stored a fault code requiring diagnostic scanning to identify the specific problem.
TX DMV Vehicle Operation and Maintenance 3
How do you check your vehicle's brake fluid level?