Chapter 7: The Basics – Getting to Know Your Car — theory test questions and answers

Answer A: To keep the car safe and avoid big repair bills by following the maker’s recommendations. The manual tells you how to read the panel, check tyres, change wheels, service the car and choose fuel; ignoring the maker’s recommendations can mean a large repair bill.

Answer B: A serious problem. Listen, look, smell and feel your car; noise from the brakes or engine at idle indicates a serious problem.

Answer D: At the front; most run on petrol. The engine is usually mounted at the front and runs on petrol, diesel or gas; most passenger cars run on petrol.

Answer B: Sealing the gap between cylinder wall and piston. Oil lubricates, cools, seals (between cylinder wall and pistons) and cleans the engine.

Answer C: Because of the hot climate, even though special oils exist for high temperatures. Regular oil changes are essential in the hot climate; check the oil with the dipstick and change oil and filter as the manual instructs.

Answer A: To cool the engine and keep it at the correct operating temperature. The cooling system, using ethylene-glycol and water, keeps the engine at the correct temperature and helps prevent rust inside it.

Answer A: If the water is boiling you could be badly burned. Stop, let the temperature fall to about 90°C, and be extremely careful undoing the radiator cap; boiling water can burn you badly.

Answer A: It can easily crack the cylinder block. Top up with hot water; filling a hot radiator with cold water can crack the cylinder block.

Answer B: Turn it off to prevent overheating and gain extra power. Turn off the A/C or climate control on a steep hill to prevent overheating and get extra power; on hot days use the recirculated-air function.

Answer C: “Special” Green 95 octane. Three grades are sold: E Plus 91, Special 95 and Super 98. All cars can run on Special 95; some high-performance cars need Super 98.

Answer A: The fuel’s anti-knocking performance. Octane numbers measure a fuel’s anti-knocking performance; lead is no longer added because of health and environmental harm.

Answer A: They can cause cancer. Fuel fumes can cause cancer; wash thoroughly if you get fuel on your skin.

Answer C: Converts carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxide into harmless compounds. The catalytic converter uses a catalyst to convert harmful compounds into harmless ones; carbon dioxide and sulphur are still emitted, and such cars must use unleaded petrol.

Answer C: A colourless, odourless and poisonous gas. Carbon monoxide is colourless, odourless and poisonous; a corroded exhaust can let it seep into the passenger compartment.

Answer A: Carbon monoxide may be sucked into the passenger compartment. Driving with the boot open can suck carbon monoxide into the passenger compartment; never run the engine in an enclosed space longer than necessary.

Answer B: The silencer is damaged or cracked. An abnormally loud exhaust may mean the silencer has been damaged or has developed a crack; have the exhaust checked at each service.

Answer A: Produces the electrical power, which is stored in the battery. A generator connected to the engine by a drive belt produces the electrical power, which is stored in the battery; a badly adjusted belt lowers output and lights a warning lamp.

Answer D: The fuse. Electrical components are almost always protected by a fuse to prevent fire; if a component fails completely, check the fuse first.

Answer C: It must be of the same voltage as yours. When jump-starting, the other vehicle’s battery must be of the same voltage; take care, as battery acid is corrosive.

Answer B: To the cylinder block or another earth point on the discharged car, not the battery. Connect the final black lead to the cylinder block or similar earth of the discharged car; a spark at the battery could detonate hydrogen gas around it.

Answer D: In darkness, except with oncoming vehicles or when close behind a vehicle in your lane. Full beam may be used in darkness except with oncoming vehicles or when close behind another vehicle; you need not dip for pedestrians.

Answer B: Orange-yellow: two front, two rear and one on each side. All cars must have orange-yellow indicators — two at the front, two at the rear and one on each side.

Answer B: Yes, in fog or heavy rain; they may also be used together with dipped headlights. Fog lights may be used instead of dipped headlights in fog or heavy rain, and both can be used together.

Answer C: Only in thick fog, heavy rain or similar; they can dazzle and be mistaken for stoplights. Rear fog lights can dazzle drivers behind and be mistaken for brake lights; use them only in thick fog, heavy rain or similar.

Answer D: Brake condition: worn brake pads or low brake fluid. Lamp 1 is the brake condition light, warning of brake pad wear or low brake fluid level.

Answer D: Oil pressure is dangerously low or oil is not circulating. The oil pressure lamp shows the oil is dangerously low or not circulating; it lights when the ignition is on and should go out as the engine starts.

Answer C: A problem with the electrical charging system. The ignition (charging) warning light shows a problem with the electrical charging system, e.g. a slack generator belt.

Answer D: Engine (water) temperature — it can warn of overheating. The temperature gauge measures water temperature and can tell you if the engine is overheating.

Answer A: You are running on a low fuel level. The fuel gauge lamp warns that you are running low on fuel.

Answer B: High beam (full beam) is on. The high-beam indicator light is usually blue; remember to dip for oncoming vehicles.

Answer D: The parking brake is on. Lamp 7 shows the parking brake (handbrake) is ON.

Answer B: Rear fog lamps are on. Lamp 8 is the rear fog lamp indicator; only use rear fog lamps in thick fog or heavy rain.

Answer C: The anti-lock braking system is not functioning. The ABS warning light shows the anti-lock braking system is not in function; normal braking still works but wheels may lock.

Answer A: The airbag / SRS system is not functioning. The airbags or SRS (Supplemental Restraint System) light shows the airbag system is not in function.

Answer D: Windscreen washer fluid is low. Lamp 11 warns that the windshield wiper (washer) fluid is low.

Answer D: Fasten the seat belt. Lamp 12 is the seat belt warning light.

Answer D: The engine is disconnected from the transmission and no power reaches the drive wheels. The clutch sits between engine and gearbox; pressing the pedal decouples the engine so no power is transferred until it is re-engaged.

Answer B: Hydraulically, on all four wheels. The main brake acts on all four wheels and is hydraulic (dual-circuit); the parking brake is mechanical.

Answer A: So that some wheels can still be braked if one circuit fails completely. With a dual-circuit system, two or three of the four wheels can still be braked if one circuit fails; if the main brake fails completely, call a breakdown truck.

Answer D: A leak. Brake fluid is not consumed normally; a drop of several centimetres means a leak, while a few millimetres suggests wearing pads.

Answer C: The servo (booster) only works with the engine running, so braking is very difficult. The servo uses engine vacuum to multiply pedal force; with the engine off, braking is very difficult and extreme caution is needed.

Answer B: Prevents the wheels locking and helps you keep steering control. ABS prevents wheel lock and preserves directional stability and steering control; a yellow dashboard light shows if it fails.

Answer A: Check brakes work, check stopping distance and road friction, check brakes pull evenly. Test braking checks that the brakes function, the stopping distance and surface friction, and that the brakes pull evenly — make sure nobody is behind you first.

Answer D: About 3 mm. By about 3 mm of tread the tyre loses grip and aquaplaning risk increases steeply; a new tyre has about 9 mm; TWI markers show when it is bald.

Answer C: The week and year of manufacture. The date code gives the week then the year, e.g. ending 02 for 2002; age matters — a tyre may need changing after 3 years even with low mileage.

Answer D: Higher fuel consumption, harder handling and shorter tyre life. Under-inflation increases fuel consumption, makes the car harder to handle and shortens tyre life; slight over-inflation does not damage the tyre.

Answer B: At least a pair, so each pair of wheels has identical tyres. Change at least a pair at a time and keep to the tread pattern, size and type that came with the car for all four wheels.

Answer C: Twice as fast. The faster you drive the hotter the tyre; tyres wear twice as fast at 120 km/h as at 80 km/h.

Answer C: Wrong wheel alignment. Wrong wheel alignment is the main cause of excess tyre wear; unbalanced wheels also cause wobble and extra wear.

Answer A: Wheels need aligning or one front tyre has too little air. Pulling to one side points to wheel alignment or low pressure in a front tyre; heavy steering can mean a steering-gear fault.

Answer C: Automatic transmission oil (a special high-pressure fluid). Power steering uses automatic transmission oil; never use ordinary engine oil. Never drive with defective power steering.

Answer D: Around 2,000 rpm. Keep the throttle uniform at around 2,000 rpm and use fifth gear where possible; accelerate in each gear to peak torque, normally around 3,000 rpm.

Answer B: Decelerate using engine braking so the light may change to green before you stop. Brake by decelerating (engine braking) and approach so the lights have time to change, avoiding unnecessary stops.

Answer A: Against the front edge, secured so it cannot roll, slip or fall, and checked frequently. Position the load against the front edge, secure it firmly, remember wind effects on tarpaulins, and check frequently; roof loads raise the centre of gravity.

Answer A: It affects cornering, acceleration and braking distance, and overtaking takes longer. A heavy load affects cornering, acceleration and braking distance; overtaking takes longer and braking distance increases downhill.

Answer B: Never. A child should never sit on the lap of an adult in a moving car; never carry more passengers than allowed and never let them obstruct your view or control.

Answer C: It is not roadworthy and should not be driven until all faults are repaired. Until faults are fixed the car is not roadworthy and should not be driven; driving an unroadworthy car can bring a hefty fine.

Answer B: A translation of your UAE licence into foreign languages, issued by Automobile Clubs. An International Driving Licence is a translation of your UAE licence into various languages; Automobile Clubs in the UAE issue it.

Answer D: Third party insurance: injuries and damage to third parties, not your own vehicle. Third party insurance is compulsory; it covers injury and damage to others but not your own vehicle or load, so extra insurance is wise.

Answer C: You may be in shock, and anything you say may be noted and used against you later. Never accept blame on the spot, especially before the police; statements made in shock or confusion may be used against you later.