SOME SHOW ME TELL ME QUESTIONS:
This fact sheet is the intellectual property of Peter Hurley 22 August 2020
Hurley School of Motoring: phone 01646 694364 or 07816669128 or email peter@hurleyschoolofmotoring.co.uk
Show me or demonstrate:
S: Test the footbrake? This actually refers to testing the brake servo which is on all modern cars but not on all cars.
A: Pump the brake pedal until the pedal goes hard. Start the engine and if the pedal goes down a little the foot brake is working properly.
This test only checks the condition of the servo and not the condition of the overall braking system.
S: Test the handbrake.
A: Put your foot on the footbrake and keep it there to make sure that the car does not move and take the handbrake off. Then reapply the handbrake. Only when the hand brake is properly on can you take your foot off the footbrake.
S: Show me how to adjust the head restraint.
A: Demonstrate how you can lift and lower the head restraint when the button is pushed in and tell the examiner that your eyes must be level with the centre height of the head restraint or if it is as low as it will go then below or at central height.
S: test the power assisted steering.
A: Make sure that the engine is on and just move the steering a little to make sure that the car is supplying power to it.
S: Open the bonnet.
A: This is different in different cars so you will have to know how to do this with the car that you use for your test. There is usually a bonnet pull in the car under the dashboard and a catch between the bonnet and the slam plate. After opening the bonnet make sure that the bonnet prop is located safely and properly before answering questions about the engine and when you close the bonnet make sure that it’s shut properly so the wind can’t catch it when the car is moving.
S: show me where the dipstick is.
A: You must be able to point to the dipstick, the oil filler cap, the coolant expansion tank, the brake fluid reservoir, the screen wash reservoir and the tyre vales.
S: You must know how to use the hazard lights, the horn and all the other controls that are needed for driving.
Show me whilst driving:
You must be able to use all the controls that are on the move such as lights and demisters whilst you are driving because the examiner could ask you to do this on your driving test.
KIA Rio controls:
The headlight switches are on the left steering column stalk which is used for the indicators. Rotate the top away from you once for automatic, twice for sidelights and three times for headlights. For main beam is push the stalk away from you and towards you to dip. A small lever on the top of the stalk operates the fog lights. The windscreen wiper controls are on the right steering column stalk. Up once for intermittent and twice for continuous. Towards you for front wash wipe and away from you for rear wash wipe. Rotate the end of the stalk away from you to turn the rear wipers on; once for intermittent and twice for continuous. A small lever on the stalk controls the time space of the intermittent function and you press down on the stalk to turn the front wipers off or give one wipe.
Tell Me:
This is explaining things to the examiner to answer questions.
Q: How often must you check your tyres?
A: At least once a week and before a long journey.
Q: how do you check the tyre pressure?
A: When the tyres are cold. You will find the correct tyre pressure in the owners manual which is part of and must be kept in the vehicle.
Q: What is the minimum depth of tread on a car tyre?
A: 1.6 millimeter. This must be at least .75 of the width of the tyre, all the way around and tread must be visible the full width of the tyre.
Q: What else do you look for on the tyre?
A: cuts, tares, bulges or any other damage.
When the bonnet is open you must only point and describe. Do not pull an oily dipstick out or open anything!
Q: How do you check the oil level?
A: Take the dipstick out and clean it. Put it back in and remove it again. This time examine the end of the dipstick and look to see where the oil level is. It should be in between the minimum and maximum marks. This must be done on level ground or a false reading will result. For actually doing it refer to the owners’ manual because it’s more complicated.
Q: Where do you put the oil?
A: The oil filler cap which is usually on the top of the engine.
Q: How do you check the brake fluid level?
A: The brake fluid reservoir is located in front of the servo which is on the bulkhead. Check that the level is between the maximum and minimum marks. Unless you really know what you are doing leave topping this up to a mechanic and don’t drive the vehicle if it is low or going down quickly.
Q: How do you check the coolant level?
A: The expansion tank containing the coolant will have a minimum and maximum mark and the coolant level should be between these marks.
Q: Where do you put the screen wash?
A: This is normally a hinged blue cap on the top of a tube and you just flip the cap open and pour the screen wash in.