ASE A1 (Engine Repair) Practice Exam (Cumulative): Questions
& Answers
1. an engine miss is being diagnosed using a cylinder leakage test. Technician A says that any cylinder
with over 20% leakage has excessive leakage. Tech B says that air leaking from the tailpipe indicates a
cracked cylinder.
A only
B only
Both A & B
Neither A nor B - ANSWER:A only
If cylinder leakage exceeds 20%, check for air escaping the tailpipe, the PCV valve opening in the rocker
arm cover, and the top of the throttle body or carburetor.
Air leaking from the tailpipe usually indicates an exhaust valve leak
23. during a compression test, a cylinder has 40% of the specified compression reading. When the tech
performs a wet test, the compression reading on this cylinder has 75% of the specified reading. The
cause of the low compression reading could be
worn piston rings
a burned exhaust valve
a bent intake valve
a worn camshaft lobe - ANSWER:worn piston rings
if compression increases during a wet test, this indicates worn piston rings. Compression would not
increase if an exhaust valve is burned, intake valve is bent, or camshaft lobe is worn.
35. the customer complains that the engine cranks but does not start; the first thing to check should be
valve train operation
,battery voltage
compression
engine vacuum - ANSWER:valve train operation
if the engine cranks properly, the battery is not the problem. Compression would not be the FIRST test,
and because engine vacuum is low during a crank, a vacuum test would not be conclusive.
40. during a cylinder balance test on an engine with fuel injection, one cylinder provides very little rpm
drop. Tech A says the ignition system may be misfiring on that cylinder. Tech B says the engine may have
an intake manifold vacuum leak.
A only
B only
Both A & B
Neither A nor B - ANSWER:Both A&B
Both a misfiring ignition system and an intake manifold leak could cause a cylinder to contribute too little
power
54. while discussing basic diagnostic procedures, Tech A says the most complicated diagnostic tests
should be performed first. Tech B says that you should first question the customer to obtain as much info
as possible about the problem
A
B
A&B
Neither - ANSWER:B
Always attempt the more simple diagnosis first
57. with the engine idling, a vacuum gauge connected to the intake manifold fluctuates (from 15 to 20).
These fluctuations may be caused by
late ignition timing
,intake manifold vacuum leaks
a restricted exhaust system
sticky valve stems and guides - ANSWER:sticky valve stems and guides
-late ignition timing would result in a low, steady reading
-intake manifold leaks would cause a very low, steady reading
-a restricted exhaust system would cause vacuum to slowly decrease after the engine was accelerated
and held steady
59. oil is leaking from the crankshaft rear main bearing seal on an engine. Tech A says the oil seal could
be faulty. Tech B says the PCV system may not be functioning.
A
B
A&B
Neither - ANSWER:A&B
60. A high-pitched squealing noise is heard during hard acceleration. This may be the cause of:
intake manifold leak
the choke stuck closed
fuel system leak
small leak in exhaust manifold - ANSWER:small leak in exhaust manifold
-intake manifold leak causes a high-pitched whistle at idle and low speeds
-carb choke stuck closed will not cause a high-pitched whistle
-fuel system leak normally would not cause a noise
61. a heavy thumping noise occurs with the engine idling, but the oil pressure is normal. this may be
caused by:
worn pistons and cylinders
, loose flywheel bolts
worm main bearings
loose camshaft bearings - ANSWER:loose flywheel bolts
-worn pistons and cylinders would cause a thumping noise during acceleration
-worn main bearings cause a thump when the engine is started
-loose camshaft bearings would cause a growling noise at all times
A21. after a vehicle is parked overnight and then started in the morning, the engine has a lifter noise that
disappears after running for a short time. this may be caused by:
low oil pressure
low oil level
worn lifter bottom
excessive lifter leak-down - ANSWER:excessive lifter leak-down
low oil pressure would result in a continuous noise
low oil level would result in a continuous noise
worn lifter bottom would result in a continuous noise
A22. when using a compression tester, the readings on the cylinders are all even, but lower than spec.
this could indicate:
blown head gasket
carbon buildup
cracked head
worn rings and cylinders - ANSWER:worn rings and cylinders
-a low reading on two adjacent cylinders may indicate a blown head gasket
-carbon buildup would cause a high reading
-a low reading on two adjacent cylinders may indicate a cracked head
& Answers
1. an engine miss is being diagnosed using a cylinder leakage test. Technician A says that any cylinder
with over 20% leakage has excessive leakage. Tech B says that air leaking from the tailpipe indicates a
cracked cylinder.
A only
B only
Both A & B
Neither A nor B - ANSWER:A only
If cylinder leakage exceeds 20%, check for air escaping the tailpipe, the PCV valve opening in the rocker
arm cover, and the top of the throttle body or carburetor.
Air leaking from the tailpipe usually indicates an exhaust valve leak
23. during a compression test, a cylinder has 40% of the specified compression reading. When the tech
performs a wet test, the compression reading on this cylinder has 75% of the specified reading. The
cause of the low compression reading could be
worn piston rings
a burned exhaust valve
a bent intake valve
a worn camshaft lobe - ANSWER:worn piston rings
if compression increases during a wet test, this indicates worn piston rings. Compression would not
increase if an exhaust valve is burned, intake valve is bent, or camshaft lobe is worn.
35. the customer complains that the engine cranks but does not start; the first thing to check should be
valve train operation
,battery voltage
compression
engine vacuum - ANSWER:valve train operation
if the engine cranks properly, the battery is not the problem. Compression would not be the FIRST test,
and because engine vacuum is low during a crank, a vacuum test would not be conclusive.
40. during a cylinder balance test on an engine with fuel injection, one cylinder provides very little rpm
drop. Tech A says the ignition system may be misfiring on that cylinder. Tech B says the engine may have
an intake manifold vacuum leak.
A only
B only
Both A & B
Neither A nor B - ANSWER:Both A&B
Both a misfiring ignition system and an intake manifold leak could cause a cylinder to contribute too little
power
54. while discussing basic diagnostic procedures, Tech A says the most complicated diagnostic tests
should be performed first. Tech B says that you should first question the customer to obtain as much info
as possible about the problem
A
B
A&B
Neither - ANSWER:B
Always attempt the more simple diagnosis first
57. with the engine idling, a vacuum gauge connected to the intake manifold fluctuates (from 15 to 20).
These fluctuations may be caused by
late ignition timing
,intake manifold vacuum leaks
a restricted exhaust system
sticky valve stems and guides - ANSWER:sticky valve stems and guides
-late ignition timing would result in a low, steady reading
-intake manifold leaks would cause a very low, steady reading
-a restricted exhaust system would cause vacuum to slowly decrease after the engine was accelerated
and held steady
59. oil is leaking from the crankshaft rear main bearing seal on an engine. Tech A says the oil seal could
be faulty. Tech B says the PCV system may not be functioning.
A
B
A&B
Neither - ANSWER:A&B
60. A high-pitched squealing noise is heard during hard acceleration. This may be the cause of:
intake manifold leak
the choke stuck closed
fuel system leak
small leak in exhaust manifold - ANSWER:small leak in exhaust manifold
-intake manifold leak causes a high-pitched whistle at idle and low speeds
-carb choke stuck closed will not cause a high-pitched whistle
-fuel system leak normally would not cause a noise
61. a heavy thumping noise occurs with the engine idling, but the oil pressure is normal. this may be
caused by:
worn pistons and cylinders
, loose flywheel bolts
worm main bearings
loose camshaft bearings - ANSWER:loose flywheel bolts
-worn pistons and cylinders would cause a thumping noise during acceleration
-worn main bearings cause a thump when the engine is started
-loose camshaft bearings would cause a growling noise at all times
A21. after a vehicle is parked overnight and then started in the morning, the engine has a lifter noise that
disappears after running for a short time. this may be caused by:
low oil pressure
low oil level
worn lifter bottom
excessive lifter leak-down - ANSWER:excessive lifter leak-down
low oil pressure would result in a continuous noise
low oil level would result in a continuous noise
worn lifter bottom would result in a continuous noise
A22. when using a compression tester, the readings on the cylinders are all even, but lower than spec.
this could indicate:
blown head gasket
carbon buildup
cracked head
worn rings and cylinders - ANSWER:worn rings and cylinders
-a low reading on two adjacent cylinders may indicate a blown head gasket
-carbon buildup would cause a high reading
-a low reading on two adjacent cylinders may indicate a cracked head
