Show Me/ Tell Me (2)
Here is the second set of 'Show Me/Tell Me' Questions, as promised last week, relating to the outside of the car.
Tell me how you would check the brake lights
Turn the ignition lights on, press the brake. Ask someone to check the rear lights, or, look at a reflection.
Show me how you would check the Headlights/Tail lights. Show me how you would check the indicators.
Turn the key so that the ignition lights are illuminated on the dashboard. Turn the lights on. Close the door of the car behind you. Walk around the car to check the lights are working.
When is it necessary to use Main Beam Headlights? How would you illuminate them?
Use the main beam headlights on unlit roads at night to improve your ability to see into the distance. You MUST dip your headlights before they dazzle oncoming traffic. When you illuminate the main beam then a Blue symbol will appear on the dashboard.
Show me how you would illuminate the rear fog lights, and explain the conditional requirements for their use.
Turn on the headlights, then the rear fog light. It is bright, and should only be used when visibility is less than 100 metres, or approx. 25 car lengths.
How would you check the screenwash level?
Look at the reservoir. It may be hidden, so try to squirt some water against the screen. If nothing comes out, top it up with diluted screenwash.
Tell me how you would check the oil level.
Cold Engine. Level road surface. Pull out the dipstick and wipe it clean. Reinsert the dipstick, pull it out again and the oil level should be between the minimum and maximum markers. If it is low, top up the oil a little bit at a time through the filler cap. Keep re-checking the level as you fill it up. If the level is too high, you may need to remove some oil via the nut under the engine (check the manual for this).
How would you check the engine coolant/anti-freeze?
Cold Engine. Level road surface. Check the reservoir. The level should rest between the minimum and maximum marks. If the engine is hot, and the level is low, wait for 5 minutes for it to cool down before topping up.
Show me how you would check the brake and clutch fluid.
Look at the reservoir and the level should be between the maximum and minimum mark. If it is low, then you need to find out why. Go to a mechanic.
What is ABS? How would you know if it was malfunctioning?
ABS stands for Anti-Lock Braking System. If it is malfunctioning then the warning light will illuminate when the engine is running.
Tell me how you would check the tyre pressures, and the tread depth.
The tyres must be cold for you to get a true reading, so check before your journey. Apply a pressure gauge to the valve of each tyre. The pressure shown in the gauge should match that which is recommended in the drivers manual of the vehicle. Tread depth should be no less than 1.6mm (although 3mm is a safer limit). Tyres often have a rubber gromit which projects to 1.6mm, so that when the tyre is worn, the gromit is visible. Also check tyres for cuts, blisters, bulges, and sharp puncture causing materials.
Tell me how you would fix the head restraints
The head restraints should be level with the back of your head, so that in the event of an emergency stop, or collision, your neck will not be damaged by tipping back over the seat.
Show me how you would check the horn.
Press it. It should be loud enough to startle pigeons.
Drink Driving
This is a true story from Queensland, Australia.
Recently a routine police patrol parked outside a local neighbourgood tavern. Late in the evening the officer noticed a man leaving the bar so intoxicated that he could barely walk. The man stumbled around the car park for a few minutes, with the officer quietly observing. After what seemen an eternity and trying his keys on five vehicles, the man managed to find his car which he fell into.
He was there for a few minutes as a number of other patrons left the bar and drove off. Finally he started the car, switched the wipers on and off (it was a find dry night), flicked the indicators on, then off, tooted the horn and then switched on the lights.
He moved the vehicle forward a few cm, reversed a little and then remained stationary for a few more minutes as some more vehicles left. At last he pulled out of the car park and started to drive slowly down the road.
The police officer, having patiently waited all this time, now started up the patrol car, put on the flashing lights, promptly pulled the man over and carried out a breathalyzer test. To his amazement the breathalyzer indicated no evidence of the man having consumed alcohol at all!
Dumbfounded, the officer said 'I'll have to ask you to accompany me to the police Station, this breathalyzer equipment must be broken.'
'I doubt it,' said the man, 'tonight I'm the designated decoy'.
If you want some more driving test info, check my website at:charltondriving.com
If you need to email me about anything driving related then please do. Please do not cancel lessons via email though, as I may not receive the notification in time. neil@charltondriving.com
For further information still, this is a great website: smartdriving.co.uk