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About This Quiz
Being a mechanic can be rewarding. Not only can you help people fix one of the most important objects in their lives—their vehicle—but it can also mean great savings for you. For a lot of people, going to the mechanic can cause a great deal of anxiety. Mechanics can also mean a lot of “chiching," as car repairs can very quickly get very expensive. Wouldn’t it be great if in school they taught us about oil changes and other simple mechanical repairs instead of how to calculate the angle of a building's shadow being reflected on the street at a certain time of the day?
That being said, it’s never too late to learn. If you ever thought of becoming a mechanic, there is good news for you: You can! You’ll just have to be ready to be tested on your mechanic knowledge when taking the Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) Certification tests. These tests cover 14 different subject areas, including: diesel and gas engines, trucks, buses, damage repair, auto components and much more.
So, do you think you know these things that mechanics should know? Take this quiz and find out!
If you’re driving and you hear a flapping sound near the engine, which of the following is it most likely to be?
The drive belt might be too loose
The timing belt tension is too tight
The timing belt tension is too loose
The timing belt tensioner, a rubber belt that runs over and through a series of pulleys and gears, is used to keep tension on the timing belt. If it’s making a flapping sound, it’s likely to be something that’s too loose. The timing belt tension is too loose, hence why it makes a flapping sound. Given that it’s near the engine, it’s the timing belt tension that’s too loose.
The drive belt is too tight
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When shifting from "N" to "D" on an electronically controlled 4-speed automatic transaxle, you suddenly experience a shock. Can you identify which of the following will require an OFF-vehicle repair?
A forward clutch
If it’s an off-vehicle repair, then it’ll be a forward clutch. The rest would require on-vehicle repairs because a mechanic would need to have the engine on in order to identify the necessary repairs.
A line pressure test
Checking the A/T fluid temperature sensor
Assessing the control valve assembly
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You have a customer come in and you need to be able to read light duty diesel engine diagnostic trouble codes. Which of the following diagnostic tool connects to the data link connector that will allow you to do this?
Digital Multimeter
Diagnostic Scan Tool
The Diagnostic Scan Tool will allow you to read light duty diesel engine diagnostic trouble codes. You could also use a laptop with interface in order to read the diagnostic trouble codes and connect to the data link connector that will allow you to do this.
Dashboard
None of the above
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Which of the following is most likely to cause an engine noise that sounds like a knock at the side of the engine and gets louder when the engine is cold and fades away once the engine reaches the operating temperature?
Main bearing
Wrist pin
Shop engine fire
Piston slap
A piston slap will cause an engine noise that sounds like a knock at the side of the engine and gets louder when the engine is cold and fades away once the engine reaches the operating temperature. This also happens when there is "too much" room for the piston in the cylinder and the skirt of the piston hits the cylinder's wall.
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All the following tests are preliminary diagnosis on an electronically controlled automatic transmission, EXCEPT for which one?
Stall test
Line pressure test
Control valve test
Flex plate check
Of these options, the flex plate check isn't part of the preliminary diagnosis process. A flex plate is the round metal disc shaped component that transfers power from the engine to the transmission and is used with automatic transmissions, which bolts the engine crank shaft and the torque converter.
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Can you identify which condition is most likely to cause vehicle overheating?
Cold weather
A clogged radiator
A clogged radiator is most likely to cause a vehicle to overheat. That is because the cooling system will have to work double because it’s clogged, thus causing a vehicle to overheat.
Restricted heater core
An electric cooling fan running constantly
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What is an engine likely to do if the cooling system operates at too cool an operating temperature?
It’s likely to have less efficiency
It’s likely to have more torque
It’s likely to produce higher emissions
If the cooling system operates at too cool an operating temperature, then it’s likely to produce higher emissions. There is a specific engine temperature needed in order to consume all of the pollutants.
It’s likely to have ignition detonate
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Can you identify which of the following fluids is leaking if there is an orange colored liquid found under the front of the engine?
Coolant liquid
Coolant can be orange, pink or green. The rest of the listed choices can leak as yellow, brown, red or blue liquids.
Engine oil
ATF
Washer fluid
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When adjusting valve lash on engines with overhead camshaft cylinder heads, all of the following statements are correct except:
The follower or rocker must be on the base circle of the camshaft when it is being measured
Shims can be used to make adjustments
The engine must be cold for all engine manufacturers
The engine must be cold for all engine manufacturers. You must check the OEM procedure for adjusting cold or hot valves—this is dependent on each vehicle.
None of the above
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A customer comes in to drop off a vehicle. Which of the following will cause the fluid to be varnished with a light to dark brown color if you are checking the fluid color on an automatic transmission?
There’s water contamination
There’s oxidation from overfilling
If it's causing the fluid to be varnished with a light to dark brown color when checking the fluid color on an automatic transmission, then there’s oxidation from overfilling. Whether it's under or overfilling, oxidation will cause the fluid to be varnished with a light to dark brown color.
There’s engine coolant contamination
Wear has been caused from friction material
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Which of the following is a valve adjustment necessary for following replacement?
Balancer
Piston
Cylinder head
In this case, a cylinder head will be necessary. Valve adjustment is necessary only after the replacement of any valve train or cylinder head.
Crankshaft
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What has to be done to the valve train right after the surface of a cylinder head has been machined?
A mechanic has to shim the head
A mechanic has to lengthen the push rods
A mechanic has to increase valve spring tension
A mechanic has to grind the valve stems
Right after the surface of a cylinder head has been machined, a mechanic has to grind the valve stems. This is because the distance has been reduced between the rocker and the pushrod.
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A customer brings in a vehicle. As a technician, you hear a knock or thumping at the side. The sound gets louder when the engine is hot and stops when the affected cylinder is shorted out. Can you identify the cause?
Rod bearing
If you hear a knock or thumping at the side, rod bearing is the cause. This will cause the knock or thumping noise at the side that gets louder when the engine is hot and stops when the affected cylinder is shorted out.
Wrist pin
Main bearing
Piston slap
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If an engine makes a knocking sound that fluctuates with RPM and disappears while a cylinder is being tested during a balance test, what’s likely to be the cause?
Rod bearing
Rod bearing is also responsible for this. A bard rod bearing will make a knocking sound that changes in RPM and goes away during the cylinder balance test.
Main bearing
Piston Slap
Burnt valve
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What chemical should be sprayed on a diesel block and crankshaft after being cleaned?
Anti-seize compound
Rust inhibitor
Rust inhibitor is a type of corrosion inhibitor made to slow down the oxidization process in metals that have been exposed to oxygen and water and have begun to rust as a result of this. By spraying this, you can help keep the engine free from corrosion until it’s ready to be assembled.
Engine oil
Assembly lube
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When refilling a cooling system, which of the following steps is least likely to be necessary?
Mixing proper ratio of water to coolant liquid
Checking the radiator cap for proper fit
Bleeding the air out of the system
Mixing both tap and distilled water
Technically, distilled water is not required in a cooling system; this is because it has no effect on the cooling ability of the solution. Therefore, when refilling a cooling system, mixing both tap and distilled water will be the least likely necessary step.
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Can you identify which of the following can be the cause of a line pressure test showing low pressure at idle in all ranges on an electronically controlled automatic transmission?
The oil pump pressure regulator
The oil pump pressure regulator can cause a line pressure test to show low pressure at idle in all ranges on an electronically controlled automatic transmission. The rest of the options don’t have much to do with low pressure.
A maladjusted throttle position sensor
An automatic transmission fluid temperature sensor
An open in dropping resistor circuit
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What does the torque converter do when removing an engine from a vehicle that is equipped with an automatic transmission?
It must be flushed
It stays with engine
It stays with transmission
When removing an engine from a vehicle that is equipped with an automatic transmission, a torque converter stays with transition. If it’s not going to be disassembled, then this is the right procedure to follow.
It must be drained
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What does ABS stand for?
Abstract
Asset Backed Securities
Asset Backed Securities
Anti-lock Braking System
When talking about vehicles, ABS is an abbreviation for Anti-lock Braking System. Basically, your breaks. ABS is a safety system that allows the wheels of a vehicle to maintain tractive contact with the road surface while braking to prevent the wheels from locking up and preventing uncontrolled skidding.
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What does the Adaptive Front-lighting System do?
Curbs sudden acceleration
Keeps body roll to a minimum under hard cornering
Optimizes distribution of light
Adaptive Front-lighting System (or AFS) optimizes distribution of light. Depending on the speed and steering input of the vehicle, the system will point low-beams headlights in the direction the driver intends to travel.
Detects slower vehicles ahead
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Which of the following vehicle body structures has the steel body panel on the side of the windscreen that goes from the bonnet line to the roof?
A Pillar
There are several types of vehicle body structures. The A Pillar is the vehicle body structure that has the steel body panel on the side of the windscreen that goes from the bonnet line to the roof.
B Pillar
C Pillar
None of the above
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Which of the following vehicle body structures has the body panel running from the floor to the roof between the front and rear doors?
A Pillar
B Pillar
There are several types of vehicle body structures. The B Pillar has the body panel running from the floor to the roof between the front and rear doors.
C Pillar
None of the above
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What does ANC stand for?
Absolute Neutrophil Count
Access Network Controller
Active Noise Cancelling
ANC stands for Active Noise Cancelling. This is designed to effectively reduce low frequency noise in the interior and operates whenever the car is running, regardless of whether the audio in a vehicle is on or off.
Absolute Neutrophil Count
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Which of the following is the most likely place for wear when measuring a cylinder for taper wear?
At a right angle to top
Bottom cylinder
Top cylinder
The top cylinder is the most likely place for wear when measuring a cylinder for taper wear. This is because the top of the cylinder is where the maximum temperature is found.
Middle cylinder
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What does BAS stand for?
Basophils
Basic Activity Subset
Binary Attribute Set
Brake Assist System
BAS stands for Brake Assist System. This system can instantly increase braking power in an emergency situation to shorten the braking distance.
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Which of the following is responsible for giving audio and visual warnings to the driver when there is a high risk of collision?
Cornering Brake Control
City Brake Assist
The City Brake Assist, also known as the City Brake Active System. This system not only provides audio and visual alerts, it will also automatically apply the brakes to avoid collision in a high-risk collision situations.
Constant Velocity Joint
Blind Spot Information System
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When an oil filter gets clogged, all of the following will happen except:
Oil pump must speed up
The oil pump must speed up. If a filter gets clogged, all of the above will happen except for the oil pump speeding up.
Oil pump must speed down
Bypass valve will allow dirty oil to lubricate the engine
The operating temperature of the engine increases
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Which of the following characteristics does a Catalyzed DPF (Diesel Particulate Filter) require oil?
With high viscosity index
With high alkalinity
With 0% Sulphur
With low ash content
A Catalyzed DPF (Diesel Particulate Filter) requires oil with low ash content. This is because ash is mostly material left over after oil is burned in the combustion chamber.
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What does CVT stand for?
Constant Voltage Transformer
Continuously Variable Transmission
CVT stands for Continuously Variable Transmission. This is an automatic transmission that can vary drive ratios smoothly by using an internal belt and cone arrangement.
Circuit Validation Test
Carbon V Tail
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What does the Diesel Particulate Filter do?
It helps prevent understeer or oversteer by managing the braking force and engine torque
It removes diesel particulate matter or soot from the exhaust gas of a diesel engine
The Diesel Particulate Filter, or DPF, removes diesel particulate matter or soot from the exhaust gas of a diesel engine. It’s a crucial part of any vehicle that captures and stores exhaust soot to reduce emissions from diesel cars.
It monitors brake pedal force and input speed to determine when emergency braking is happening
It electronically controls and distributes appropriate brake pressure to all brakes depending on the load and braking force
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