Technical Checks

There are 10 technical checks in total of which you will be asked to comment on 3 picked at random by the driver tester. These are generally asked in the car park at the driving test centre before any driving commences. The driver tester may not always ask for the bonnet of the vehicle to be raised, if for example it was raining heavily they may forgo lifting the bonnet of the vehicle.

The following is the list of the 10 vehicle checks you may be asked.

  • How to check the engine oil
  • Where to put the engine oil
  • Brake fluid
  • Windscreen washer fluid
  • Engine coolant
  • Power steering fluid
  • Horn
  • Lights
  • Reflectors
  • Tyres

 

These first six checks below are conducted under the bonnet of the car. It is important to note that you must not touch anything under the bonnet, just point to or give a brief explanation of what is asked.

 

How to check the oil ;  Use of the dipstick.  Park your vehicle on a level surface and switch off the engine. Take the dipstick out and wipe it clean. Reinsert it fully and then remove it once again. There are high and low markings on the dipstick and the oil should stain somewhere between those markings indicating if there is sufficient oil present.

 

Where to put the engine oil ; This is usually just a matter of pointing to the oil filler cap.

 

Brake fluid ;   You may just be asked to point out where the Brake fluid resevoir is or you could be asked how would you check the level of the brake fluid. The brake fluid resevoir is usually transparent with maximum and minimum levels marked on the sides. If the fluid level is between these levels you have sufficient amount.

 

Windscreen washer fluid ; Again usually just a matter of pointing to the water resevoir.

 

Engine coolant ; Again you may just be asked to point out the resevoir. If asked how to check the level of coolant you would say that the resevoir is transparent and has maximum and minimum levels marked on the sides. You would know if you had sufficient coolant if you see it somewhere between these levels.

 

Power steering fluid ; Most modern vehicles have electric power steering and do not have hydraulic power steering so there will be no power steering resevoir under the bonnet of the vehicle.

If your vehicle does have hydraulic power steering there will be a fluid resevoir and in most caseswill be transparent with maximum and minimum levels marked on the sides. If the fluid is between these levels you have sufficient. 

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Horn ; You may be asked to press the horn.

 

Reflectors ; The checks for the reflectors are to see if they are clean and not damaged.

 

Lights

a) To check the lights you would just say you turn them on and move around the car and have a look to see if all bulbs are working.

b) To check the brake lights when you are on your own you say that you would reverse towards a reflective surface and press the brake pedal ……. you can see in your rear view mirror if a bulb is not working.

c) When sitting in the car if your indicator begins to flash quicker it signifies that an indicator bulb is not working.

 

Tyres

a) A visible inspection of the tyre threads. The tyre must not appear smooth or worn. The thread depth must be at least 1.6 mm deep.

b) Check the sidewalls of the tyre to ensure no cuts / abrasions or bulges on them. Also tyre sidewalls tend to crack if the vehicle has not been driven regularly for a lengthy period or also because of their age (approx; 6 years or so).

c) Look at the bottom of the tyre where it contacts the ground. If it appears to be spread out this is an indication that it is soft and should be taken and pumped up – about 32 PSI (pounds per square inch) is recommended for the size of tyre on the average family car, bigger vehicles have bigger tyres so greater tyre pressure wouild be required.

d) There must be an “E” marking on the side of the tyre. This is a safety/quality mark on tyres.