Automotive Service Technician

Jack wheel up, grasp top/bottom of tire; movement indicates worn ball joint. On the job, a solid grasp of this concept means faster decisions, fewer errors, and work that passes inspection the first time.

Camber (±1° typical): top-out = positive; top-in = negative; affects tire wear and handling. Memorize this formula and practise substituting values — exam questions often give you three variables and ask you to solve for the fourth.

Caster: tilt of steering pivot line; positive = axis tilted back = self-centering steering. Memorize this formula and practise substituting values — exam questions often give you three variables and ask you to solve for the fourth.

TPMS alerts at ~20% below target pressure to prevent poor handling, fuel consumption, tire damage. On the job, a solid grasp of this concept means faster decisions, fewer errors, and work that passes inspection the first time.

Rotate front-to-back, side-to-side patterns every 10,000-15,000 km for even wear. On the job, a solid grasp of this concept means faster decisions, fewer errors, and work that passes inspection the first time.

AWD: all wheels engaged continuously (car/SUV); 4WD: driver selectable (truck/SUV). On the job, a solid grasp of this concept means faster decisions, fewer errors, and work that passes inspection the first time.

Antifreeze (ethylene glycol) lowers freezing point to -37°C and raises boiling point. On the job, a solid grasp of this concept means faster decisions, fewer errors, and work that passes inspection the first time.

Colors (red/green/orange) are dyes for leak visibility; chemical composition matters for compatibility. On the job, a solid grasp of this concept means faster decisions, fewer errors, and work that passes inspection the first time.

PCV: low-pressure valve routes crankcase gas back to intake to reduce internal pressure and emissions. On the job, a solid grasp of this concept means faster decisions, fewer errors, and work that passes inspection the first time.

Injectors spray fine mist (atomized fuel) for even mixing and combustion. On the job, a solid grasp of this concept means faster decisions, fewer errors, and work that passes inspection the first time.

P0300 = random misfire; P0301-P0308 = specific cylinders. Understanding and applying code requirements correctly ensures your installations pass inspection and meet legal obligations in your jurisdiction.

P0xxx = manufacturer-independent (SAE standard); P1xxx = vehicle-specific. Understanding and applying code requirements correctly ensures your installations pass inspection and meet legal obligations in your jurisdiction.

Current DTC = fault is happening now; pending = happened but not recently; permanent = multiple occurrences. Understanding and applying code requirements correctly ensures your installations pass inspection and meet legal obligations in your jurisdiction.

Thermostat's wax element opens/closes to modulate coolant to radiator, maintaining ~90°C. Knowing what each component does — not just what it is — helps you diagnose failures, specify replacements, and explain your work to inspectors and clients.

Disc brakes: exposed rotor cools fast, resists fade, self-adjusting, better modulation. Troubleshooting is a systematic process: identify symptoms, narrow down causes logically, and verify your diagnosis before replacing parts. This logical approach is what examiners want to see.

ABS: ECU detects wheel lock, pulses brakes rapidly to prevent wheel lockup. On the job, a solid grasp of this concept means faster decisions, fewer errors, and work that passes inspection the first time.

EGR diverts some exhaust back to intake to lower peak combustion temperature, reducing NOx. On the job, a solid grasp of this concept means faster decisions, fewer errors, and work that passes inspection the first time.

Port: injector in port (lower pressure ~40 psi); direct: injector in cylinder (1000+ psi). On the job, a solid grasp of this concept means faster decisions, fewer errors, and work that passes inspection the first time.

Flush removes corrosion scale that reduces heat transfer efficiency. On the job, a solid grasp of this concept means faster decisions, fewer errors, and work that passes inspection the first time.

Strut: damper + spring + steering knuckle attach = integrated suspension/steering component. Memorize this formula and practise substituting values — exam questions often give you three variables and ask you to solve for the fourth.

Balance: add/remove weights on rim to offset heavy spots, eliminating vibration. On the job, a solid grasp of this concept means faster decisions, fewer errors, and work that passes inspection the first time.

Shocks dampen spring bounce; fluid resistance controls oscillation speed. Safety regulations exist because the consequences of ignoring them are severe — injury, death, or legal liability. Know these requirements the way you know your own name.

Bad pump: overheating, coolant leak, grinding/squealing noise, cavitation damage. Troubleshooting is a systematic process: identify symptoms, narrow down causes logically, and verify your diagnosis before replacing parts. This logical approach is what examiners want to see.

Pedal should be firm and responsive; spongy = air or internal seal failure. Memorize this formula and practise substituting values — exam questions often give you three variables and ask you to solve for the fourth.

Springs absorb impact energy, then release to restore ride height. On the job, a solid grasp of this concept means faster decisions, fewer errors, and work that passes inspection the first time.

Compression test: crank engine with plugs out, measure pressure in each cylinder; low pressure = leak. Memorize this formula and practise substituting values — exam questions often give you three variables and ask you to solve for the fourth.

Leakdown: inject air at 100 psi, observe % loss rate and listen (valves = hissing at intake/exhaust, rings = crankcase). Memorize this formula and practise substituting values — exam questions often give you three variables and ask you to solve for the fourth.

Engine vacuum (manifold vacuum) shows health: steady = good; fluctuating = misfire; low = leak. Memorize this formula and practise substituting values — exam questions often give you three variables and ask you to solve for the fourth.

Secondary voltage: transformer steps up to 25-40 kV to arc across ~0.8-1.0mm plug gap. Safety regulations exist because the consequences of ignoring them are severe — injury, death, or legal liability. Know these requirements the way you know your own name.

Control arms pivot at frame and ball joint, allowing suspension travel while maintaining alignment. On the job, a solid grasp of this concept means faster decisions, fewer errors, and work that passes inspection the first time.

Toe: front wheels toed-in (pointing at each other), rear toed-out (splayed) for directional stability. On the job, a solid grasp of this concept means faster decisions, fewer errors, and work that passes inspection the first time.