Auto & Shop Information

200 Auto & Shop Information practice questions, each with the correct answer and the method behind it.

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In a four-stroke engine, what is the correct order of the strokes?Intake, compression, power, exhaust
The main job of the piston rings is toseal the combustion chamber and control oil on the cylinder wall
The crankshaft in an engineconverts the pistons' up and down motion into rotation
The camshaft controlsthe opening and closing of the valves
An engine's displacement refers tothe total volume swept by all the pistons
A turbocharger is driven byexhaust gases leaving the engine
A diesel engine ignites its fuel bythe heat produced by compressing the air
The fuel filter's purpose is totrap dirt and water before they reach the injectors
A badly clogged air filter is most likely to causea fuel-rich mixture and poor fuel economy
The catalytic converter in an exhaust systemreduces the harmful gases leaving the tailpipe
Most modern gasoline engines meter their fuel usingelectronic fuel injection
While the engine is running, the alternatorkeeps the battery topped up and runs the electrics
The starter motor's job is toturn the engine over until it runs on its own
A spark plug gap that is too wide will most likely causea weak spark and misfiring under load
The battery warning light coming on while driving usually indicatesa fault in the charging system
A spark plug's function is toignite the compressed air and fuel mixture
In a manual transmission vehicle, what does the clutch do?lets the driver break and restore the link to the gearbox
A torque converter is found in a vehicle withan automatic transmission
The differential allowsthe driven wheels to turn at different speeds in a corner
Constant velocity joints are found onthe drive axles
Engine speed rising sharply without a matching gain in vehicle speed suggestsa slipping clutch
The master cylinder belongs to which system?The braking system
An anti-lock braking system works bypreventing the wheels from locking during hard braking
A brake pedal that feels soft and travels close to the floor most likely indicatesair trapped in the hydraulic lines
Shock absorbers in a suspension systemdamp the springs so the vehicle stops bouncing
A tyre worn much more heavily on one edge than the other suggestsan alignment problem
The thermostat in a cooling systemcontrols coolant flow to hold the engine at operating temperature
The water pump in an enginecirculates coolant between the engine and radiator
The primary purpose of engine oil is tolubricate moving parts and reduce friction
An engine that overheats in slow traffic but runs at normal temperature on the open road most likely hasa failed cooling fan
The radiator in a cooling systemtransfers heat from the coolant into the passing air
A torque wrench is used totighten a fastener to a specified tightness
A Phillips screwdriver fits a screw head witha cross-shaped recess
Which tool is designed to grip round stock such as pipe?A pipe wrench
A ball-peen hammer is intended mainly formetalwork, including striking punches and chisels
A micrometer is used tomeasure small dimensions very precisely
A cold chisel is designed to cutmetal
When a file is described by its cut, the term refers tohow coarse or fine its teeth are
A circular saw is best suited tomaking straight cuts through wood
The most important safety precaution when using a bench grinder is towear eye protection
Which saw is best suited to cutting curves in stock?A band saw
The chuck of a drill is the part thatgrips and holds the bit
A ripsaw is designed for which kind of cut?Cutting along the grain of the wood
Plywood is made bygluing thin layers with the grain alternating
A mortise and tenon is a type ofwoodworking joint
Countersinking a screw meanscutting a tapered recess so the head sits flush or below the surface
Soldering differs from welding in that solderingdoes not melt the base metals being joined
A tap is used tocut threads on the inside of a hole
Steel rods embedded in a concrete slab are there togive the concrete strength against pulling forces
A die is used tocut threads on the outside of a rod or bolt
The flywheel bolted to the back of the crankshaftstores rotational energy and smooths out the power pulses
In a V6 engine, the cylinders are arrangedin two banks set at an angle to each other
Which two parts does the head gasket seal between?the cylinder head and the block
Valve clearance that is too tight is most likely to result invalves that never fully close and eventually burn
The connecting rod joinsthe piston to the crankshaft
A supercharger differs from a turbocharger in that a supercharger isdriven mechanically by the engine itself
An engine's compression ratio comparescylinder volume at the bottom of the stroke with volume at the top
The fuel pump's job is tomove fuel from the tank to the engine
The exhaust manifoldcollects exhaust from the cylinders into one pipe
The muffler in an exhaust systemreduces the noise of the exhaust
Thick black smoke from the tailpipe usually means the engine isburning too much fuel for the air available
The ignition coil in a vehiclesteps battery voltage up to many thousands of volts
In an older ignition system, the distributorroutes the spark to the correct cylinder at the correct moment
The headlights are bright but the engine only clicks when the key is turned. The most likely cause isa battery too weak to supply cranking current
A fuse in a vehicle's electrical system exists toopen the circuit before excess current damages the wiring
Heavy white or green corrosion on the battery terminals willadd resistance and make the engine hard to start
The purpose of a transmission is tomatch engine speed to road speed through different gear ratios
The driveshaft carries powerfrom the transmission to the differential
Selecting a lower gear gives the vehiclemore torque at the wheels and less top speed
A transfer case is fitted tofour-wheel and all-wheel drive vehicles
A grinding noise each time a gear is selected in a manual vehicle points toworn synchronisers or a clutch not fully releasing
In a disc brake system, the pads press againstthe rotor
Rack and pinion describes a type ofsteering system
A tyre run persistently under-inflated will wear moston both outer edges of the tread
Balancing a wheel correctsvibration that appears at higher speeds
In a drum brake, the friction surfaces are calledshoes, which press outward against the drum
Adding antifreeze to the cooling systemlowers the freezing point and raises the boiling point
The oil filterremoves particles from the circulating oil
The radiator cap on a modern cooling systemholds pressure in the system to raise the coolant's boiling point
A serpentine belt typically drivesaccessories such as the alternator and water pump
In an oil grade such as 10W-30, the two numbers describehow the oil flows when cold and when hot
A box-end wrench is generally preferred over an open-end wrench because itgrips all six corners of the fastener
When using an adjustable wrench, it should be positioned so thatthe pulling force is taken by the fixed jaw
A centre punch is used before drilling in order tomake a dimple so the bit does not wander
A hacksaw is designed to cutmetal
Locking pliers, often called vise grips, are used toclamp onto work and hold without being gripped
A combination square is used chiefly tocheck and mark 90 and 45 degree angles
A feeler gauge is used to measurethe width of a small gap or clearance
A pilot hole is drilled before driving a screw in order toguide the screw and stop the wood splitting
An orbital sander is used tosmooth a surface before finishing
Kickback on a table saw happens whenthe workpiece binds on the blade and is thrown back at the operator
A twist bit is used fordrilling round holes in wood or metal
A dovetail joint is valued mainly because itresists being pulled apart in one direction
A glued wood joint reaches its full strength when it isclamped tightly while the glue cures
The distinction between hardwood and softwood is based onthe type of tree the wood comes from
The pilot hole for a wood screw should be about the diameter ofthe screw's solid core, not counting the threads
Galvanising protects steel bycoating it with a layer of zinc
A bench vise is used tohold work securely while it is cut or shaped
Sheet metal is bent to a clean straight angle usinga brake
Annealing a piece of metal makes itsofter and easier to work
The cylindrical chamber in which a piston travels up and down is called thecylinder bore
The pin that connects a piston to its connecting rod is called thewrist pin
Main bearings in an engine supportthe crankshaft where it rides in the block
The oil pan bolted to the bottom of the engine blockstores the engine's supply of oil
A knocking noise from the bottom of the engine that grows louder as rpm rises most often points toworn main or rod bearings
The component that rides on the camshaft lobe and transfers its motion to the valve is thelifter or follower
A timing belt or timing chain keepsthe camshaft and crankshaft rotating in the correct relationship
An engine that suddenly will not start, cranks normally, but produces no compression in any cylinder most likely hasa broken timing belt
Before adjusting valve clearance by hand on many engines, the correct first step is tobring the piston in that cylinder to top dead center on its compression stroke
An inline-four engine arranges its cylindersin a single straight row
A boxer or flat engine has its cylinder banks arrangedhorizontally opposed at 180 degrees
Bore refers tothe diameter of the cylinder
Stroke refers tothe distance the piston travels between top and bottom of the cylinder
Compared with a gasoline engine of similar size, a diesel engine typically runsa much higher compression ratio
A carburettor meters fuel into the engine mainly by relying ona vacuum created by air flowing through a narrowed throat
A fuel injector that is partially clogged on one cylinder typically causesa rough idle and a misfire on that cylinder
On most modern fuel-injected vehicles, the fuel pump is locatedinside the fuel tank
An engine that starts fine but dies after a few seconds, then is hard to restart, may havea failing fuel pump losing pressure
The vented cap on a fuel tank is designed tolet air enter the tank as fuel is drawn out
The air filter's main job is tokeep dust and debris out of the engine's intake air
The sensor that measures the volume or mass of air entering the engine is themass air flow sensor
The component bolted directly to the cylinder head that collects exhaust gases from each cylinder is theexhaust manifold
The device that stores electrical energy for starting a vehicle is thebattery
The small electromagnetic switch that engages the starter motor's drive gear with the flywheel is thestarter solenoid
A single rapid click from under the hood when the key is turned, with no cranking, often points toa weak battery or a failing starter solenoid
A battery's cold cranking amps rating describeshow much current it can deliver to start a cold engine
The device that steps up battery voltage to the tens of thousands of volts needed to jump a spark plug gap is theignition coil
On engines that still use one, the distributor's rotordirects high voltage to each spark plug wire in firing order
An engine that misfires only when it rains or after the car is washed often hasmoisture tracking across old or cracked spark plug wires
When gapping a new spark plug before installation, the correct step is tomeasure the gap with a gauge and adjust it to specification before fitting the plug
Dim headlights at idle that brighten as engine speed increases suggesta weak or failing alternator
A battery that keeps going dead overnight even though the charging system tests normal while driving suggestsa parasitic draw from a component left on
The disc that presses against the flywheel to transmit engine power in a manual transmission car is theclutch disc
The pressure plate in a clutch assemblyclamps the clutch disc against the flywheel with spring force
A clutch pedal that feels spongy and low, similar to a hydraulic brake fault, on a car with a hydraulic clutch suggestsair trapped in the clutch hydraulic line
Shifting a manual transmission without fully depressing the clutch pedal will most likelygrind the gears as they fail to mesh smoothly
The fluid that lubricates and transmits power inside an automatic transmission is calledautomatic transmission fluid
Inside a torque converter, fluid is used totransmit engine power to the transmission without a rigid mechanical link
An automatic transmission that shifts harshly and produces a burnt smell from the fluid often indicatesold or low transmission fluid
Park in an automatic transmission works bylocking a pawl into a gear on the output shaft to prevent the wheels from turning
A limited-slip differential differs from an open differential in that ittransfers some torque to the wheel with more traction when one wheel starts to spin
The shafts that carry power from the differential out to the driven wheels are calledaxle shafts
In a disc brake system, the rotating metal disc that the pads clamp onto is called therotor
In a drum brake system, the curved friction linings that press outward against the drum are called thebrake shoes
The caliper in a disc brake systemsqueezes the brake pads against the rotor using hydraulic pressure
A brake pedal that pulses up and down under hard braking usually indicatesa warped brake rotor
The master cylinder convertsthe driver's pedal force into hydraulic pressure for the brake lines
Brake fluid slowly disappearing from the reservoir with no visible puddles under the car suggestsan internal leak past a caliper or wheel cylinder seal
Bleeding the brakes refers to the process ofremoving trapped air from the hydraulic lines
The wheel speed sensors used by an anti-lock braking system feed information tothe ABS control module, which modulates brake pressure at each wheel
The ABS warning light staying on after starting the car usually meansthe system has detected a fault and disabled anti-lock function, though normal brakes still work
The component that converts rotation of the steering wheel into side-to-side motion of the front wheels is thesteering rack (or steering gear)
The radiator cap on a cooling systemmaintains system pressure, which raises the coolant's boiling point
An engine that overheats immediately after starting from cold, even at idle, most likely hasa thermostat stuck closed
An engine that takes unusually long to reach normal operating temperature, and runs cooler than normal, often hasa thermostat stuck open
The device that circulates oil under pressure throughout the engine is theoil pump
An oil labeled 5W-30 is described usinga multi-viscosity rating covering cold and hot performance
An oil pressure warning light that comes on at idle but goes out as engine speed rises could indicateworn engine bearings increasing clearance at low pump output
The oil filter's job is toremove contaminants from the oil before it circulates through the engine
The belt that drives accessories such as the alternator, power steering pump, and air conditioning compressor is theserpentine (or accessory drive) belt
A soft, mushy radiator hose that collapses easily when squeezed cold is a sign that ithas deteriorated internally and should be replaced
A serpentine belt that has developed several visible cracks across its ribs is best described asworn and due for replacement before it fails
A wrench with a fixed opening on each end shaped to fit around two sides of a hex fastener is called anopen-end wrench
A ratchet handle used with sockets allowsa fastener to be turned in one direction while the handle swings back freely
A wrench with a closed, ring-shaped opening that fully surrounds a fastener's head is called abox-end wrench
An adjustable wrench is most useful whenthe exact size of open-end or box-end wrench needed is not available
A screwdriver with a flat, single blade tip is called aflathead (or slotted) screwdriver
A screw head with a six-pointed star-shaped recess requires aTorx driver
A hex key, or Allen wrench, is designed to fita fastener with a hexagonal recess in its head
Pliers with jaws that can be adjusted to several different widths by moving a pivot pin are calledslip-joint pliers
Pliers with long, tapered jaws designed to reach into tight spaces are calledneedle-nose pliers
Locking pliers, also called vice grips, are useful because theyclamp onto a workpiece and hold it without the user's continued grip
A C-clamp is used tohold two pieces of material firmly together while work is done on them
The hammer with a claw opposite its striking face, used for driving and pulling nails, is called aclaw hammer
A rubber or plastic-faced mallet is chosen over a steel hammer whenthe work surface needs to be protected from denting or marring
A heavy, long-handled hammer used for demolition and driving large stakes is asledgehammer
A masonry bit is specifically designed to drill intoconcrete, brick, and stone
The spiral grooves along the length of a twist drill bit are designed tocarry waste material up and away from the hole being drilled
Before drilling a hole for a screw, it is common practice to firstdrill a pilot hole slightly smaller than the screw
A table saw is best suited tomaking repeated straight cuts in wood with the workpiece guided along a fence
The fence on a table saw is used toguide the workpiece in a straight line parallel to the blade
An orbital sander is best used forsmoothing a flat wooden surface with a light, swirling sanding action
An angle grinder fitted with a cutting wheel is commonly used tocut through metal stock or rusted bolts
A bench grinder wheel that vibrates and chatters against the workpiece often hasbecome out of round or unbalanced
Hardwoods such as oak and maple generally come fromdeciduous, broad-leafed trees
Softwoods such as pine and fir generally come fromconiferous, cone-bearing trees
The direction that wood fibers run in a board is called itsgrain
A board that splits easily when a nail is driven near its end most likely hasa nail driven too close to the end grain
A dovetail joint is prized in fine woodworking mainly for itsstrong mechanical interlock that resists being pulled apart
A rabbet joint is formed bycutting a step-shaped recess along the edge of one board so another piece fits into it
A dado is best described asa groove cut across the grain to receive the edge of another board
Cutting a dado across a board is most commonly done with arouter or a dado blade set on a table saw
Welding differs from brazing and soldering in that weldingmelts the base metals themselves so they fuse together
In arc welding, the electric arc is struck betweenthe electrode and the workpiece
Brazing is generally chosen over welding whena strong joint is needed on thin or dissimilar metals without melting the base material
Before striking an arc with a stick welder, it is essential to firstput on a welding helmet with the correct shade of lens
A bolt described as having coarse threads, compared with the same size bolt with fine threads, will havefewer threads per inch and a deeper thread profile
When cutting an internal thread with a tap by hand, the correct technique is toturn the tap forward partway, then back it off slightly to break the chips before continuing
A bolt that will not thread into a nut smoothly, binding and feeling gritty partway in, most likely hasdamaged or cross-threaded threads
A tool used to cut straight lines through thin sheet metal by hand is called asnip (or tin snip)