tell me Flashcards
- Tell me how you’d check that the brakes are working before starting a journey.
Brakes should not feel spongy or slack. Brakes should be tested as you set off. Vehicle should not pull to one side.
- Tell me where you’d find the information for the recommended tyre pressures for this car and how tyre pressures should be checked.
I would find the recommended tyre pressure in the manufacturer’s guide or on the inside of the car door. I would check and adjust all tyres, including the spare tyre using a reliable pressure gauge after removing the valve caps when the tyres are cold. I would them refit the valve caps.
- Tell me how you make sure your head restraint is correctly adjusted so it provides the best protection in the event of a crash.
The head restraint should be adjusted so the rigid part of the head restraint is at least as high as the eye or top of the ears, and as close to the back of the head as is comfortable. Note: Some restraints might not be adjustable.
- Tell me how you’d check the tyres to ensure that they have sufficient tread depth and that their general condition is safe to use on the road.
No cuts and bulges, 1.6mm of tread depth across the central three-quarters of the breadth of the tyre, and around the entire outer circumference of the tyre.
- Tell me how you’d check that the headlights and tail lights are working. You don’t need to exit the vehicle.
Explain you’d operate the switch (turn on ignition if necessary), then walk round vehicle (as this is a ‘tell me’ question, you don’t need to physically check the lights).
- Tell me how you’d know if there was a problem with your anti-lock braking system.
ABS Warning light should illuminate when you start the car if there is a fault with the anti-lock braking system.
- Tell me how you’d check the direction indicators are working. You don’t need to exit the vehicle.
Turn in the ignition, operate the hazard lights and then walk around the car to check all 6 indicators are working.
- Tell me how you’d check the brake lights are working on this car.
Explain you’d operate the brake pedal, make use of reflections in windows or doors, or ask someone to help.
- Tell me how you’d check the power-assisted steering is working before starting a journey.
Gentle pressure on the steering wheel, maintained while the engine is started, should result in a slight but noticeable movement as the system begins to operate (should feel light not heavy)
Alternatively turning the steering wheel just after moving off will give an immediate indication that the power assistance is functioning.
- Tell me how you’d switch on the rear fog light(s) and explain when you’d use it/them. You don’t need to exit the vehicle.
I’d use the fog light when visibility is less than 100m Turn on the ignition operate the switch (turn on dipped headlights if necessary). Check warning light is on. I’d switch them off once conditions have improved.
- Tell me how you switch your headlight from dipped to main beam and explain how you’d know the main beam is on.
Turn on the ignition use the dipped headlights and then push this stalk away from me to turn on main beam check with blue main beam warning light.
- Open the bonnet and tell me how you’d check that the engine has sufficient engine coolant.
(Open the bonnet and point out engine coolant) the coolant level can be checked by looking at the minimum and maximum levels on the side of the expansion tank. Never do this when the engine is hot as it could be dangerous.
- Open the bonnet and tell me how you’d check that the engine has sufficient engine oil.
(Open bonnet and point out dipstick), I would pull it out and wipe the oil off it and then put it back in, removing it again and the oil should leave an oily mark between the minimum and maximum marker.
- Open the bonnet and tell me how you’d check that you have a safe level of hydraulic brake fluid.
Identify reservoir, check level against the minimum and maximum levels on the side of the brake fluid reservoir.
