ASE B-5 Mechanical/Electrical

The windshield wipers don't work at all and the voltage reading at the motor reads 0 volts with the wiper and the ignition switches on. Technician A says there is an open in the voltage side of the circuit. Technician B says there is a bad circuit ground. Who is right? A, B, Both, Neither

A There is no voltage at the wiper motor, then there must be an open circuit in the voltage side of the circuit. If there were 12 volts at the motor, but the wipers still did not work, one could suspect the motor itself or a ground fault.

A vehicle has positive caster on the right front wheel and zero caster on the front left wheel. Technician A says this will cause the vehicle to pull left. Technician B says the vehicle will pull to the right. Who is right? A, B, Both, or Neither

A. Technician A only The vehicle will always pull to the side with the least amount of positive caster, or the greatest amount of negative caster.

All of the following are procedures for removing air from a hydraulic system EXCEPT: A. bench bleeding B. power bleeding C. manual bleeding D. vacuum bleeding

A. bench bleeding Bench bleeding is a procedure for removing air from the master cylinder only. All of the other procedures remove air from the entire system.

When doing A/C work, recovery refers to: A. removing refrigerant from a vehicle B. saving all the oil in the system C. recharging the A/C system D. saving old parts

A. removing refrigerant from a vehicle Recovery is the operation that removes the refrigerant for recycling.

A vehicle has excessive body roll. Which of the following components is used to control body roll? A. sway bar B. ball joints C. shock absorbers D. body mounts

A. sway bar The sway bar, also known as the stabilizer bar, is used to control body roll. The ball joints, body mounts and shock absorbers affect ride and handling but have no effect on body roll.

Which is the proper brake fluid to use on most vehicles? A. DOT 5 B. DOT 3 or 4 C. ABC 3 or ABC 4 D. DOT 2

B DOT 3 or DOT 4 is specified for most vehicles. DOT 5 does not absorb moisture so it does not control corrosion in the brake system.

The right disc brake caliper and pads must be replaced during collision repairs. What other actions must take place? A. polish the rotor before installation B. replace he brake pads on the left side to maintain equal braking force C. measure the brake pads on the left side to see if they are serviceable D. replace the same components on the left side

B Equal braking force must be maintained side-to-side. This requires keeping the same type pads on each side.

When making a solder repair to wiring, Technician A says to use acid core solder. Technician B says to use rosin core solder. Who is right? A, B, Both, Neither

B Rosin core solder is the only solder that should be used when making any wiring repairs. This is crucial to the longevity of the repair and the safe operating condition of the vehicle. Acid sore solder will cause corrosion to form at the repair.

A battery has to be recharged. What is the best procedure? A. start the engine and let it idle for some time B. check the fluid levels in the battery and slow charge overnight C. check the fluid levels in the battery and quick charge D. replace the battery

B Slow charging a battery at 2 amps is the least destructive action. Quick charges are hard on battery plates. Unless the battery is damaged, it does not need replacement.

During A/C refrigerant recovery, 1 oz of oil has been recovered from the system. Which of these is the correct procedure? A. return the oil to the system B. replace the oil with new oil C. ignore such a small amount of new oil D. change all the oil in the system

B. replace the oil with new oil New oil should be used to restore the proper amount. Also replace additional amounts for any components replaced.

The proper instrument to check for voltage in a circuit is: A. A test light connected to the battery B. A DMM C. Analog volt-ohmmeter D. a battery load tester

B. A DMM A Digital Multimeter (DMM) should be used to check any circuit. Test lights and analog volt-ohmmeters could pass current through circuits. This could cause damage to microcircuits designed to operate with very small amounts of currents.

Active restraint systems include the following: A. door impact beams B. seat and shoulder belts C. interior lighting D. all of the above

B. seat and shoulder belts The active restraint systems are those devices that restrain passengers in a vehicle during a collision. They differ from passive restraints in that their function is constant regardless of what happens to a vehicle. A passive restraint system in an air bag, which deploys in the event of a collision.

Caster on one side of a unibody vehicle is out of specification. The LEAST likely cause is: A. a misaligned crossmember B. a bent idler arm C. a damaged lower control arm D. a damaged strut rod

B. a bent idler arm A bent idler arm is the least likely problem. All the other choices could cause a caster problem.

A seat belt pre-tension device is activated in an impact. The restraint system works with which of the following devices? A. a pre-loaded spring B. an explosive charge C. a catapult D. none of the above

B. an explosive charge A pre-tensioner is activated in an impact much in the same way as an airbag. There is an explosive charge that will tighten the seat belts on passengers in the car, which will keep them in the proper position in the collision. Airbags will not perform properly if the passengers are not securely in their respective seats.

The first step in bleeding brakes is to: A. check the parking brake adjustment B. check the master cylinder fluid level C. start the engine and pump the brakes D. start the wheel farthest from the master cylinder

B. check the master cylinder fluid level The fluid level will have to be monitored as it is removed during the process, so always start with a full reservoir. Bleeding the farthest wheel first is good practice, but not the first thing to do.

Air intake systems perform all of the following functions EXCEPT: A. filter air for the interior of the vehicle B. control noise from the intake system C. filter air to the engine D. smooth the air flow into the intake system

B. control noise from the intake system Air is filtered for the interior on some vehicles, but this is not a function of the air intake system.

The rear thrust line reads to the left (driver's) side while the vehicle is at normal ride height. If the wheels were pointing straight ahead, which direction would the vehicle tend to wander? A. veer to the left B. veer to the right C. wander to both left and right D. no change occurs

B. veer to the left If the thrust line is to the left and the steering wheel is held straight, the vehicle will veer to the right. This happens because the rear wheels will travel towards the left, which will force the front of the vehicle to the right.

Technician A says that a bump steer condition is caused by an out-of-level center link or rack-and-pinion. Technician B says that bump steer is most noticeable when the front wheels hit a bump. Who is right? A, B, Both or Neither

Both Bump steer is caused by a sudden change in front wheel toe settings as the vehicle goes through jounce and then rebound. The toe change is due to an out-of-level rack-and-pinion or center link, which can be caused by damage to the center link, or steering arm or rack-and-pinion mounting location misalignment.

Technician A says the incorrect rear wheel camber and toe settings may cause bump steer. Technician B says they may cause a tracking problem . Who is right? A, B, Both or Neither

Both A and B. The vehicle must react to the way the rear wheels are going, and rear wheel camber and toe can affect tracking. If these angles are off, changing the thrust angle, the front wheels will have to be turned in one direction or the other to keep the car going down the road straight, causing a tracking problem.

After repairing a vehicle, it is found that camber is out of spec on one side of the vehicle. Technician A says that there might be suspension mounting locations out of spec. Technician B says that before adjusting camber, SAI and included angle should be checked and compared side-to-side. Who is right? A, B, Both, or Neither

Both Technician A and B. A number of conditions can cause a camber reading to be off, such as damaged parts or a distorted suspension mounting location. A visual examination of the parts is all that's needed in cases of severe damage. However, the only way to be sure is to check both SAI and included angle readings to determine where the damage is.

A circuit is wired in series. Technician A says the resistance of the circuit is equal to the sum of the individual resistances. Technician B says the current flow through each part of the circuit is the same. Who is right? A, B, Both or Neither

Both technicians Current remains constant throughout a circuit, and the resistance of the circuit is equal to the sum of the individual resistances.

To check for fault codes in an ABS system, Technician A uses a scan tool. Technician B follows the service manual procedure for interpreting flashes of the ABS light to determine fault codes. Who is right? A, B, Both or Neither

Both technicians Either method will work. If the service manual has a procedure for getting the ABS light to flash a code number and the technician uses the service manual to interpret the code, this is an appropriate procedure. So too, is using the scan tool to read fault codes from the system memory.

Following an airbag deployment, Technician A says that airbag and possibly the clockspring should be replaced. Technician B says that the manufacturer may also recommend replacing the crash sensors. Who is right? A, B, Both or Neither

Both the Technician A and B Following airbag deployment, the airbag module must always be replaced. In fact, it is illegal to repair, paint or otherwise alter the appearance and/or function of any Supplemental Restraint System (SRS). Check the manufacturer's recommendations for replacing the sensors and the clockspring. Any visible damage to either forward sensors or their harnesses is an indication for their replacement. If the clockspring to the airbag module connector is scorched, the clockspring should be replaced.

An A/C system is being inspected. The condenser was punctured in a collision. What is the proper repair? A. replace the condenser with a salvage part B. send the condenser to a radiator shop for repair C. replace the condenser with a new part and replace the drier D. replace the condenser with a new part

C If the system was open from the time of the accident, the drier must also be replaced.

A repaired vehicle has an intermittent fault in a taillight. Technician A says to check the connectors and jiggle the wires until the trouble is found. Technician B says to check the bulb filament. Who is right? A, B, Both, Neither

C Both An intermittent fault could be caused by a bad connector, a fault in the wiring harness or a bad bulb. As is often the case in a collision, bulb filaments are jarred loose in the impact, alternately causing an open and closed circuit. Replace any bulbs that you suspect are damaged.

If the SRS (airbag) warning light is illuminated after a collision in which the system is deployed, which service procedure is indicated? A. Take the vehicle to a new car dealer's service department B. call an airbag specialist for a sublet repair C. R/R the airbag and clear the code with a scan tool D. have the customer take it to an authorized dealer

C R&R the airbag and clear the code with a scan tool Servicing airbags is no longer a task that can't be done in a body shop with the proper equipment and training. A generic non-proprietary scan tool can be used to clear fault codes such as that which lights the SRS indicator.

Before servicing an airbag system, Technician A says to follow the manufacturer's recommended procedure for disarming. Technician B says to disconnect the negative battery cable. Who is right? A, B, Both, or Neither

C. Both Technicians Always follow the disarming instructions that are specific to the vehicle. Since the vehicle battery is the main power source, all procedures include disconnecting the battery.

A vehicle with a MacPherson strut suspension is damaged in a collision impact to the right front. An analysis with a frame/body measuring system shows the top of the strut tower was moved toward the vehicle centerline by 14mm. This damage would result in change to which of the following alignment angles? A. front wheel toe B. caster C. camber D. SAI

C. camber Moving the top of the strut directly inboard (toward the vehicle centerline) without moving it any other direction will affect the camber angle and cause the top of the wheel to lean inward. This is negative camber. Assuming the camber angle only is affected and the top of the strut does not move forward or back in the impact, no other angle would be affected.

The fuel filter may be located in all of the following locations EXCEPT: A. in the tank B. just outside the tank C. on the fuel rail D. inside the engine compartment

C. on the fuel rail Fuel filters can be located anywhere in line, but they are not placed near heat sources.

A driver's side airbag was cut during a collision but did not deploy. What is the proper action? A. use plastic repair adhesive to repair the cut and refinish the bag B. return the bag to the manufacturer for recycling C. replace the bag with an OEM part, deploy the old bag before disposal D. replace with a salvage part

C. replace the bag with an OEM part, deploy the old bag before disposal Only OEM parts should be used. Any damage to an airbag module requires replacement.

An eight-year old vehicle showing high mileage on the odometer is in the shop for repairs after a right front collision impact. The right front suspension assembly must be removed and replaced. During this procedure, the right front caliper flexible brake line was slightly damaged and shows visible signs of such. However, the brakes still work. What should a technician do at this point? A. advise the customer that the car should be taken to a mechanical service dealer B. replace the brake line C. replace the brake line, change the brake fluid and bleed the system D. take no action

C. replace the brake line, change the brake fluid and bleed the system Any visible damage to a brake system component should be repaired with the installation of a new part. Because the car has relatively high mileage and brake fluid is subject to contamination, it should be changed. While an insurance claim may not pay for this service, the work should be suggested to the customer regardless. Chances are good that a car owner will pay for the brake service procedure out of pocket.

If a scan tool tells a technician that a MAP sensor is out of range, it means: A. the global positioning system (GPS) is not functioning B. the emissions are unusually high C. the manifold absolute pressure measurement is off D. non of the above

C. the manifold absolute pressure measurement is off MAP stands for manifold absolute pressure. A MAP sensor is not always is not always mounted on the engine and can be damaged in a collision. While a body technician may not know what to look for if told a MAP sensor is bad, having the information on what to order and replace will usually be enough to get the job done.

To properly evacuate an A/C system, the vacuum pump should be operated a minimum of: A. 5 minutes B. 10 minutes C. 20 minutes D. 30 minutes

D. 30 minutes To properly evacuate an A/C system, the vacuum pump should be operated for a minimum of 30 minutes.

A vehicle is in the shop for analysis of a pulling condition in the steering. The owner is unsure if the car was ever in an accident, but is concerned about possible structural damage. The car has had the wheel alignment checked and confirmed that all angles are within spec. Yet the car is constantly pulling to the right. After a test drive the technician notices the right wheel is hotter to the touch than any of the other wheels. The likely cause of the pulling is: A. a toe problem in the steering B. a thrust angle problem C. tire tread problem D. a bad caliper on the right rear

D. a bad caliper on the right rear A caliper that hangs up will cause the brakes to be dragging on one wheel, which increases the rolling resistance, weather it is caused by brakes , low tire pressure or a bad bearing, will cause a car to pull to one side. All axles on the car need to have the same rolling resistance to go down the road straight.

The evaporative emissions control system is designed to: A. keep fuel vapors from escaping the fuel tank B. capture fuel vapors and route them to the catalytic converter, where they are burned C. purge fuel vapors from the charcoal canister to atmosphere D. capture fuel vapors and route them to the engine

D. capture fuel vapors and route them to the engine where they become part of the air/fuel mixture and are burned during combustion The purpose of the evaporative emissions control system is to prevent fuel vapors from escaping the fuel system to the atmosphere. The system is designed to capture these vapors and route them to the engine where they become part of the air/fuel mixture and are burned during combustion

Aiming headlights can be done in all of the following ways EXCEPT: A. computerized headlight aiming equipment B. measurements marked on a wall at 25 feet C. manual, or optical, headlight aiming equipment D. laser ranging and aiming equipment

D. laser ranging and aiming equipment Headlight aiming machines may be manual or computerized. There is also a process for measuring the lights against a wall at 25 feet.

A late model pickup truck was involved in a collision to the left rear bedside. The left rear wheel and tire were also damaged in the accident. The correct course of action would be: A. replace the wheel and tire only B. replace the wheel and tire assembly and check the axle for runout only C. replace the wheel and tire, and check the 4 wheel alignment only D. none of the above

D. none of the above All of the above service procedures have to be performed. Once an impact to the wheel is sustained, alignment can and often will be affected. In addition to possible changes in wheel alignment on the rear axle, an impact to the wheel will transfer the collision energy to the rear axle, bearing the axle housing. The axle and/or the housing could be bent. In addition, the impact to the assembly will often damage the bearing, although it might not be immediately evident when driving the truck. A check of the runout will reveal excessive play in the assembly , a sign the bearing was also damaged.

All of the following could be caused by a misaligned subframe EXCEPT: A. difficulty shifting the transmission B. hard steering C. tire wear D. poor ride quality

D. poor ride quality Many vehicles use subframes to mount the drivetrain and/or suspension and steering. If the subframe is misaligned due to incorrect installation after service or due to collision damage, it can cause binding in the shift and steering linkage. The alignment could also be incorrect, which could cause tire wear. Ride quality would most likely be unaffected.

Deactivating restraint systems requires how long a waiting period before repairs can proceed? A. 60 seconds B. 30 minutes C. 3 hours D. time listed in repair manual

D. time listed in repair manual 30 minutes is the average time, but this may vary so always consult the service manual.

Wheel fasteners should be properly torqued, in sequence. Which of these is the LEAST important reason? A. to prevent warping the disc brake rotor. B. to achieve the proper stretch on the fasteners C. to avoid overtightening D. to adhere to manufacturer's recommendations

D. to adhere to manufacturer's recommendations Following the rules is only important because it leads to the other reasons.

Tires are worn on the outside of the tread , and have a feathered feel. What is the MOST likely condition? A. too much negative camber B. too much positive caster C. too much fast driving D. too much toe-in

D. too much toe-in Camber would produce a smooth wear pattern; caster has little effect on tire wear.

A vehicle has a blown fusible link. Technician A says to replace it with the same size in-line fuse. Technician B says to replace it with a fusible link two gauges heavier to keep it from blowing again. Who is right? A, B, Both, Neither

Neither Fusible links should only be replaced with another fusible link of the same size. Don't re-engineer the vehicle by changing the size of fusible links. Find the cause first; then replace it.

A repaired vehicle is found to have an SAI difference where one side is within specs and the other side is out. Technician A says to bend the strut on the out of spec side to get it to align. Technician B says that cradle might have shifted. Who is right? A, B, Both, or neither

Neither A nor B While the equipment to straighten bent struts has been on the market for decades, it is common knowledge that struts should never be bent, EVER! If the cradle had shifted, SAI on both sides would have changed an equal amount. If SAI is off, the place to begin looking is the upper and lower mounting points for the strut. One of them will be found to be out of position.

A vehicles cooling system must be opened for repairs. Technician A says to save the old antifreeze and let it sit to allow the contaminants to settle out before placing it back in the system. Technician B says to throw the old coolant out and to replace it with new coolant. Who is right? A, B, Both or Neither

Neither A or B Coolant can no longer be thrown out. It must be recycled using an appropriate recycling system. Letting coolant sit to allow the contaminants to settle out isn't a good idea either. The particles may settle, but the corrosive chemical agents, which would have been removed by the recycler, can still damage the engine. Reusing old coolant that has not been recycled is improper.

One headlight on a vehicle won't light. Technician A says to begin by checking for voltage to the headlight switch. Technician B says to begin checking on the headlight side of the circuit. Who is right? A, B, Both, or Neither

Since only one light is not working, the other headlights are. it is logical to assume that the problem rests in or at the nonworking headlight. Or, in some cases, the headlights are individually fused.

Technician A says that if steering axis inclination is out of specification, a bent control arm may be the cause. Technician B says that if steering axis inclination is out of specification, the spindle can be shimmed to correct the problem. Who is right? A, B, Both or Neither

Technician A A bent control arm would cause the angle of pivots points to change and subsequently change the steering axis inclination angle. Technician B is incorrect because shimming a spindle is not a recommended procedure and it would affect the included angle, not the steering axis inclination angle.

Technician A says that evacuating an A/C system will remove air and moisture from the system. Technician B says that evacuating an A/C system will remove dirt particles from the system. Who is right? A, B, Both

Technician A only Evacuating an A/C system removes air and moisture from the system. The receiver/ drier may contain a filter or strainer to catch and trap foreign particles and dirt, but this remains in the receiver/drier and is not removed during the evacuation procedure.

Technician A says the halfshafts must be replaced if there is noticeable runout. Technician B says they can be straightened on the frame machine. Who is right? A, B, Both, or Neither

Technician A only While halfshafts can be straightened with special equipment, this work is not done in collision shops.

Involved in a front end collision, a late model unibody sedan sustained structural damage. No suspension damage was noted. The repair estimate noted a repair to these structural members. Technician A says a suspension alignment should be done. Technician B says the damage did not affect the steering suspension, and would not require a wheel alignment check. Who is right? A, B, Both, or Neither

Technician A only Any structural damage to a vehicle of unibody construction would indicate the need for a suspension alignment check. As suspension members mount to the unibody structure, any dimensional should be followed by checking the alignment, This also serves as a quality control for the structural repairs.

The engine cradle (subframe) is damaged in an accident. Technician A says the motor and transaxle should be removed first and pulled with a cherry picker (crane) in the shop. Technician B says the entire assembly can be dropped out of the car from below while the body remains on an above ground lift. Who is right? A, B, Both or Neither

Technician B only A caliper that hangs up will cause the brakes to be dragging on one wheel, which increases the rolling resistance on that corner of the car. Increased rolling resistance

A five-year old vehicle is in the shop for a repair to the front end after a collision. After all the body repairs were completed, the CHECK ENGINE light was illuminated on the instrument panel. Technician A says the car has to go to the dealer for diagnostics and they are the only ones capable of the work. Technician B says his generic scan tool can diagnose the problem. Who is right? A, B, Both or Neither

Technician B only A generic scan tool that can read fault codes on vehicles built after 1996 can read the OBD 11 fault codes and will provide information to guide the technician in the repair. Generic scan tools are more affordable and easier to use than ever.

Technician A says a brake line can be replaced with aluminum tubing. Technician B says the line must be replaced with steel line intended for use as brake line. Who is right? A, B, Both or Neither

Technician B only Aluminum tubing is used for brake line in aviation, but automotive systems only use steel.

Technician A says that negative camber is the tilt of the tire toward the front of the vehicle. Technician B says that negative camber means that the top of the tire is tipped in toward the centerline of the vehicle. Who is right? A, B, Both, or Neither

Technician B only Camber is the inward or outward tip of the tire, as seen from the front of the vehicle. When a wheel sustains an impact from the side, the camber is frequently affected.

Technician A says that all seat belts must be replaced after an accident. Technician B says some manufacturers require that belts be replaced if they were used in an accident. Who is right? A, B, Both or Neither

Technician B only Many manufacturers now require seat belts be replaced if they were in use during a collision.

Technician A says that while salvage airbags can be used, new OEM parts are preferred. Technician B says that salvage parts must never be used in the airbag system. Who is right? A, B, Both or Neither

Technician B only Salvage parts should never be used to repair an airbag system.

Technician A says that when repairing airbag system wiring, always use shrink tubing over the repair. Technician B says to use only factory supplied crimp connectors. Who is right? A, B, Both or Neither

Technician B only Some vehicle manufacturers do allow SRS wiring repair. They specify OEM parts for the purpose. These crimp connectors have redundant mechanical, electrical, and moisture barriers.

A vehicle is brought in with a bent subframe. Technician A says to section the subframe. Technician B says the subframe should not be repaired and must be replaced. Who is right? A, B, Both, or Neither

Technician B only The subframe should never be sectioned, and should rarely, if ever, be worked. It is typically a bolt-on part that does not lend itself to traditional straightening methods. Vehicle manufacturers recommend replacement.

An air conditioning system was damaged during a collision, and all of the R12 refrigerant leaked out. Technician A says to replace the R12 with the more environmentally friendly R134a. Technician B says that only systems designed for R134a should be recharged with R134a. Who is right? A, B, Both or Neither

Technician B only The two refrigerants are not interchangeable. If R134a is put into a system designed for R12, the compressor, seals and other system parts will be damaged. The quick connect ports are different on the two systems to make it nearly impossible for someone to accidentally commingle the two refrigerants.

Technician A says all vehicles can use any type of coolant. Technician B says coolant recommended by the vehicle manufacturer should be used when refilling the cooling system. Who is right? A, B, Both or Neither.

Technician B only There are many types of coolant and only the one specified for use by the manufacturer should be installed.

A front wheel drive vehicle was damaged in a collision, the right front wheel taking most of the impact. The estimate lists the replacement of the tire, wheel, steering knuckle and subframe. Technician A says the outer CV-joint should not be replaced because of the boot is not ripped. Technician B says the condition of the boot is not an indication of damage to the CV-joint. Who is right? A, B, Both, or Neither

Technician B only While a torn boot would indicate possible damage due to lack of lubrication of a CV-joint, it does not necessarily mean the joint is damaged by way of impact. The criteria for replacing a CV-joint would include obvious physical damage, such as broken parts, introduction of foreign matter into the joint itself, damage to the splines and excessive runout.