Show Me Tell Me
 
As Part of the practical test you will have to answer two vehicle safety check questions (show Me/Tell Me).

Your examiner will ask you two questions about general maintenance and safety checks on your car. There will be one Tell Me and one Show Me, one or both answered incorrectly will count as one driving fault being recorded.

We will practice these questions over the course of your lessons.

To Download the DSA official Vehicle safety questions,  Click Here
you may also find other informaion in this link useful.

Open bonnet and point to dip stick. Tell examiner - I would take it out, wipe it clean and put it back in,  I would take it out again and check the level is between the min & max marks. I would do this once a week, and before a long journey. I would do this on level ground, when the engine was cold. If it was low I would top it up with the approprtate engine oil.

2  Open the bonnet & show me where the brake fluid reservoir is & tell me how you would check that you have safe level of hydraulic fluid?

Open bonnet & point to the brake fluid reservoirs min & max marks. Tell examiner - I would check level was between min & max marks, I would do this once a week, on level ground. If it was low I would take to a garage.

3  Open the bonnet & show me where the screen wash reservoir is & tell me how you would check that you have sufficient screen wash?

Open the bonnet & point to the screen wash reservoir. Tell the examiner - I would take off the lid and if I couldn't see the fluid I would top it up with appropriate ratio of water & screen wash. I would check weekly.

4  Open the bonnet & identify the engine coolant reservoir & tell me how you would check that you have the correct level of engine coolant?

Open the bonnet & point to the engine coolant reservoir. Tell the examiner - I would check the level is between the min - max marks. I would do this when engine is cold as level higher when hot, I would not take filler cap off when hot as it would be under pressure, I would check weekly & before a long journey, if necessary I would top up with appropriate ratio of water & engine coolant.

5  Tell me how you would check the headlights & tails lights are working on this car.

Tell the examiner - I would switch on the headlights, I would walk around the car and check that the  2 headlights and 2 tail lights are working, I would do this weekly and get a bulb fitted if necessary.

6  Show me how you would check that the direction indicators are working on this car.

Switch on hazard warning lights, walk around the car and point to the front x 2,  side x 2 and back x 2 indicator lights, at the same time tell examiner -  I would do this weekly and fit bulbs if necessary,  I could use arm signals until bulb is fitted, the first clue a bulb has gone when driving, is a rapid ticking noise.

7  Show me how you would check that the horn is working on this car.

Point to horn (don’t press unless asked to). Tell the examiner - I would check regularly.

8  Show me how you would check that the brake lights are working on this car

Get in the drivers seat, switch on the ignition but not the engine, apply the footbrake & ask the examiner to stand at the back of the car to check if all 3 brake lights are working. Tell the examiner that this would be done weekly.

9  Show me how you would check that the power steering is working on this car.

Take up slack on steering with left hand, turn on ignition (talk through as you do this) tell examiner -  there should be a small but noticeable movement,  then move forward about 1 metre steer ¼ turn one way then straighten wheel (talk through as you do this) tell examiner that steering should not feel heavy.

10  Show me how you would check the parking brake for excessive wear on this car.

Apply footbrake, release parking brake, reapply parking brake & tell examiner -  that the parking brake should not travel up too far and not beyond it’s working travel.

11  Tell me where you would find the information for tyre pressure for this car & how tyre pressure should be checked.

Tell the examiner -the information can be found in driver’s manual which is kept in door compartment. I would use a reliable pressure gauge, I would do this weekly and before a long journey, I would do this when tyres are cold, I would refit all dust caps and I would check the spare.

12  Tell me how you would check that the brakes are working on this car before starting a journey.

Tell the examiner - I would start the engine, move forwards and press the brake pedal, it should not feel spongy or slack and not pull to one side. I would check after going through water.

13  Tell me how you would check the tyre tread depth & that the tyres general condition is safe to use on the road.

Tell the examiner - There should be at least 1.6mm of tyre tread depth on central ¾ of tyre and all of the outer circumference.  There should be no cuts or bulges. I would do a visual check daily and proper check weekly.

14  Tell me how you make sure that your head restraint is correctly adjusted so it provides the best protection in the event of a crash.

Tell the examiner - The rigid or middle part should be level with your eyes. Show examiner where button is to adjust head restraint.

15  Show me how you would clean the windscreen using the windscreen washer & wipers. To include both front & back windscreens

Turn on ignition but not the engine – Oporate windscreen washers both front & back.

16  Show me how you would set the demister controls to clear all the windscreens effectively, this should include both the front & rear windscreens.

Explain to the examiner what all the controls do – volume / position / heat / rear window demisters.

17  Show me how you would switch on the rear fog lights & explain when you would use them

Turn on the ignition but not the engine. Turn lights to dipped beam & turn switch to put on rear fog lights. Tell examiner I would use them in seriously reduced visibility. Point to the fog warning light and tell the examiner - the warning light would be on while the fog lights are on.  I would switch them off when the visibility improves.

18  Show me how you switch your headlights from dipped to main beam & explain how you would know the main beam is on whilst inside the car.

Turn on the ignition but not the engine. Switch on lights to dipped beam – switch lights to main beam and show examiner the blue light & explain that it is on when main beam is on.

19  Tell me how you would know if there was a problem with your anti lock braking system

Explain that the warning light would be on permanently if there was a problem.