Freeway Driving School, Driver Training & Driving Instructors in Heathrow

Lights

Show Me how you would check the headlights and tail lights are working on this vehicle.

Switch on the cars ignition (not the engine) and turn on the lights to dipped position. Now go and look at the front and back of the car to make sure the lights are on.

Tell Me or Show Me how you would check the brake lights are working.

Turn on the ignition and press foot on the brake pedal. Now you either need someone else to look for you or be positioned in front of something reflective and look in your mirror to see if lights are illuminated.

Show Me how you would check all the indicators are working on the car.

Turn on the Hazard Warning Lights button, get out and walk all round the vehicle checking front, back and sides.

Show me how you would switch your headlight from dipped to main beam and explain how you would know it was on whilst inside the car.

First turn the lights on, then select main beam by pushing the indicator arm away from the wheel (or pull towards you). When the main beam is on a blue light will appear on the display panel. The main beam should be switched back to dipped when other road users are in front to avoid dazzling them.

Show Me how you would switch on the rear fog light(s) and explain how you would use it.

First turn the lights on, then switch on the fog light, labelled by this symbol, an orange light will display on your control panel. Rear fog lights should only be used when visibility is less than 100m. ie: fog or high surface spray. Their purpose is to warn vehicles approaching from behind of your position and distance. Once travelling in a flow of traffic the fog light should be turned off to avoid dazzling following drivers or to be confused with brake lights.

Under the Bonnet

Release the bonnet by first using the bonnet pull located inside the car and then by releasing the safety catch under the bonnet to open the bonnet wide and secure.

Open the bonnet, show me where you would identify the engine coolant level and tell me how you would check the level is correct.

Locate the coolant reservoir and look at the minimum/maximum markers. The fluid level should be between the marks. Low levels can be topped up with water and antifreeze.

Open the bonnet, identify where the brake fluid reservoir is and tell me how you would check you have a safe level.

Locate the brake fluid level and again check the level marker. Locate the brake fluid level and again check the level marker. Below minimum levels should be investigated by your mechanic.

Open the bonnet. Identify where the windscreen washer reservoir is and tell me how you would check the washer level.

Identify the reservoir and by opening the cap look to see where the fluid level is. Low levels can be topped up using screen wash purchased at car shops or filling stations. Sometimes its ready to use and sometimes it needs diluting. Water washing up liquid should NOT be used as it corrodes
the pipes.

Open the bonnet. Identify where you would check the engine oil level and tell me how you would check it has enough oil.

Oil is a lubricant for the engines moving parts and the engine can seize up if there is insufficient amounts and burn oil if too much. The level is checked by using a “Dip stick”. This is located at the front of the engine. Withdraw the stick, wipe it clean and reinsert

it to get an accurate reading when withdrawn for the second time. The level should be between the minimum and maximum marks.

Controls

Show Me/ Tell Me how you would check the power assisted steering is on before starting a journey.

Power steering should always feel light and easy to turn. Before starting the engine put some pressure on the steering wheel which should feel resistant. As soon as the engine starts, that resistance will go and the wheel will turn easily. (Ensure the car is in neutral before starting.)

Show me how you would check the horn is working. (or) Tell me where you would locate the horn on this car.

Locate the horn and if off road press it briefly. It will either be on the steering wheel or on the end of the indicator stalk.

Tell me how you would check the brakes are working before starting a journey.

Press the brake pedal firmly. It should not feel soft or spongy. It should feel hard and resistant.

Tell Me / Show Me how you would check the Parking brake for excessive wear.

(Press the brake pedal down firmly to secure the car.) Release and reapply the park brake (handbrake). It should feel resistant as you raise it and should not need to be raised above a 45 degrees angle. It should secure the vehicle

Show me how you would clean the windscreen using the windscreen washer and wipers.

(Turn on the ignition.) Pull the wiper arm towards you (or away in some models) and hold on long enough for the washer fluid to spray onto the windscreen and the wipers to start. Repeat until windscreen is clean.

Show me how you would set up the demister controls to clear both the front and rear windows.

For the front windscreen, set the air distribution selector to screen, turn the fan on & where possible turn the air conditioning on. Or if no air condition, turn the heat selector to hot. For the rear window, press in the heated rear window button. These should be turned off when demisted to save power consumption & therefore fuel.

Tell me how you would know if there was a problem with your Anti Lock Braking system (ABS)

An orange warning light would remain displayed on the control panel after the engine has started.

Tell Me how you would check the head restraint is correctly adjusted so it provides best protection in the event of a crash.

The head restraint should be raised so the rigid part is behind the ears. (Not all restraints can be adjusted and are therefore larger.)

Tyres

Tell me where you would find the recommended tyre pressures for this car and how tyre pressure should be checked.

This information will be found in the Owners Manual. Check the tyres when cold using a reliable tyre pressure gauge. Remove the dust cap; insert the nozzle on the gauge to take a reading. Inflate or deflate where necessary.

Tell me how you would check the tyres to check they have sufficient tread depth and their general condition is safe to use on the road.

The tread depth (the grooves in the tyre) should be a few millimetres deep & not below 1.6mm across the central breadth of the tyre. The tyre should be free from foreign objects (stones, nail, glass etc) & have no cuts, bulges, cracks or wires showing.