maintenance by hawkwell driving school

When you have your own car you should each day check that you have enough fuel, sufficient engine oil on your dipstick, engine coolant level is OK, your lights and wind-screen wipers work, and that your tyres have I .6mm tread and pressures are OK.

These are the type of questions which are used on the driving test

Show me how you would check the engine oil level

With the bonnet open - show the examiner where the dipstick is and tell him that you would “pull it out and wipe it, then put it back in, then pull it out again and check that the oil level is between the two marks.”

Tell me how you would check that the power assisted steering is working before starting a journey.

Show the examiner that you can test it by applying pressure to the steering wheel whilst starting the engine – the steering should feel lighter if the power assistance is working. You could also drive the car slowly along, check that it was safe behind and turn the steering from side to side, it should feel normal.

How would you would check the engine coolant level

With the bonnet open – show the examiner where the engine coolant reservoir is and tell him that the level should be between the “max.” and “min“. Marks

Tell me how you would check the windscreen washer level.

With the bonnet open – show the examiner where the windscreen washer fluid reservoir is and tell him that it needs to be filled up to the top to see the level.

Show me how you would check that the horn is working (off road only).

Press it! It is only legal to do this while stationary if you are off-road. On the road you should get moving first.

Tell me how you would check the brake fluid level.

With the bonnet open – show the examiner where the brake fluid reservoir is and tell him that the level should be between the “max.” and “min“. marks.

Tell me how you would check that the brake lights are working.

Tell the examiner that you would turn on the ignition and press the brake pedal to make them work then, make use of reflections in windows, garage doors, etc, or ask someone to help.

Show me how you would check the parking brake is not worn.

Pull on the handbrake without pressing in the button, it should come up no more than 8 clicks, any more than this and it needs adjusting. It should also lock firmly when the button is released.