ASE Test Prep Guide: In-Depth Review and Practice Questions
An engine makes a knocking noise with the transmission in DRIVE.
The knocking noise is not heard in PARK or NEUTRAL. Which of these
could be the cause?
A)Excessive main bearing clearance
B)Low oil pressure
C)A cracked flexplate
D)A broken piston ring - correct answer ✔✔C)A cracked flexplate
An engine is overheating and has white smoke coming from the tail
pipe. The cooling system is pressure tested and will not hold pressure.
This could be caused by:
A) a blown head gasket.
B) a restricted piston oil nozzle.
C) a stuck-open thermostat.
D) an incorrect PCV valve. - correct answer ✔✔A) a blown head gasket.
An engine compression test identifies that one cylinder has low
compression. During a leak down test of the cylinder, excessive leakage
is observed and air is heard coming out of the tail pipe. Which of these
could be the cause?
A) Broken piston rings
B) A blown head gasket
C) A leaking exhaust manifold gasket
D) An exhaust valve not seating - correct answer ✔✔D) An exhaust valve not seating
A technician is reassembling a cylinder head.
,In the illustration shown, which of these is the
technician measuring?
A) Installed stem height
B) Valve spring squareness
C) Installed spring height
D) Valve spring pressure - correct answer ✔✔C) Installed spring height
An engine produces blue smoke when accelerating from a stop.
Technician A says that worn exhaust valve guides could be the cause.
Technician B says that worn exhaust valve seats could be the cause.
Who is right?
A) A only
B) B only
C) Both A and B
D) Neither A nor B - correct answer ✔✔D) Neither A nor B
To determine piston-to-cylinder wall clearance, the diameter of the
piston shown should be
measured at:
A)W
B)X
C)Y
D)Z - correct answer ✔✔C)Y
Technician A says that the setup shown can be used to check cylinder
taper.
Technician B says that the setup
shown can be used to check cylinder
out-of-round.
,Who is right?
A) A only
B) B only
C) Both A and B
D) Neither A nor B - correct answer ✔✔C) Both A and B
An engine overheats at higher rpms and returns to normal temperature
at lower rpms. Which of these could be the cause?
A) A stuck-on cooling fan relay
B) A worn water pump belt tensioner
C) A restricted heater core
D) An incorrect coolant concentration - correct answer ✔✔B) A worn water pump belt tensioner
A fuel-injected engine has low fuel pressure at the fuel rail test port.
This could be caused by a:
A) restricted fuel filter.
B) restricted fuel injector.
C) stuck-closed fuel pressure regulator.
D) shorted fuel injector. - correct answer ✔✔A) restricted fuel filter.
An engine with a variable valve timing (VVT) system has stored a VVT
performance DTC. Any of these could be the cause EXCEPT a:
A) stuck-open oil filter bypass valve.
B) restricted oil control solenoid screen.
C) sticking camshaft actuator/phaser.
D) restricted oil pump pickup screen. - correct answer ✔✔A) stuck-open oil filter bypass valve.
An automatic transmission does not hold in PARK.
Technician A says that misadjusted shift linkage could be the cause.
, Technician B says that a roller clutch installed backwards could be the
cause.
Who is right?
A) A only
B) B only
C) Both A and B
D) Neither A nor B - correct answer ✔✔A) A only
A vehicle with an automatic transaxle and a properly tuned engine
accelerates poorly from a stop. Acceleration is normal above 35 mph.
Which of these could be the cause?
A) A worn front pump
B) A failed torque converter
C) A worn planetary gear set
D) A low fluid level - correct answer ✔✔B) A failed torque converter
The transmission slips when cold. Which of these could be the cause?
A) A shorted low/reverse pressure switch
B) Line pressure is at maximum in 1st gear
C) A disconnected line pressure sensor
D) Low line pressure - correct answer ✔✔D) Low line pressure
The automatic transaxle upshifts harshly during normal acceleration.
The cause could be a failed:
A) oxygen sensor.
B) idle air control valve.
C) throttle position sensor.
D) intake air temperature sensor. - correct answer ✔✔C) throttle position sensor.
An engine makes a knocking noise with the transmission in DRIVE.
The knocking noise is not heard in PARK or NEUTRAL. Which of these
could be the cause?
A)Excessive main bearing clearance
B)Low oil pressure
C)A cracked flexplate
D)A broken piston ring - correct answer ✔✔C)A cracked flexplate
An engine is overheating and has white smoke coming from the tail
pipe. The cooling system is pressure tested and will not hold pressure.
This could be caused by:
A) a blown head gasket.
B) a restricted piston oil nozzle.
C) a stuck-open thermostat.
D) an incorrect PCV valve. - correct answer ✔✔A) a blown head gasket.
An engine compression test identifies that one cylinder has low
compression. During a leak down test of the cylinder, excessive leakage
is observed and air is heard coming out of the tail pipe. Which of these
could be the cause?
A) Broken piston rings
B) A blown head gasket
C) A leaking exhaust manifold gasket
D) An exhaust valve not seating - correct answer ✔✔D) An exhaust valve not seating
A technician is reassembling a cylinder head.
,In the illustration shown, which of these is the
technician measuring?
A) Installed stem height
B) Valve spring squareness
C) Installed spring height
D) Valve spring pressure - correct answer ✔✔C) Installed spring height
An engine produces blue smoke when accelerating from a stop.
Technician A says that worn exhaust valve guides could be the cause.
Technician B says that worn exhaust valve seats could be the cause.
Who is right?
A) A only
B) B only
C) Both A and B
D) Neither A nor B - correct answer ✔✔D) Neither A nor B
To determine piston-to-cylinder wall clearance, the diameter of the
piston shown should be
measured at:
A)W
B)X
C)Y
D)Z - correct answer ✔✔C)Y
Technician A says that the setup shown can be used to check cylinder
taper.
Technician B says that the setup
shown can be used to check cylinder
out-of-round.
,Who is right?
A) A only
B) B only
C) Both A and B
D) Neither A nor B - correct answer ✔✔C) Both A and B
An engine overheats at higher rpms and returns to normal temperature
at lower rpms. Which of these could be the cause?
A) A stuck-on cooling fan relay
B) A worn water pump belt tensioner
C) A restricted heater core
D) An incorrect coolant concentration - correct answer ✔✔B) A worn water pump belt tensioner
A fuel-injected engine has low fuel pressure at the fuel rail test port.
This could be caused by a:
A) restricted fuel filter.
B) restricted fuel injector.
C) stuck-closed fuel pressure regulator.
D) shorted fuel injector. - correct answer ✔✔A) restricted fuel filter.
An engine with a variable valve timing (VVT) system has stored a VVT
performance DTC. Any of these could be the cause EXCEPT a:
A) stuck-open oil filter bypass valve.
B) restricted oil control solenoid screen.
C) sticking camshaft actuator/phaser.
D) restricted oil pump pickup screen. - correct answer ✔✔A) stuck-open oil filter bypass valve.
An automatic transmission does not hold in PARK.
Technician A says that misadjusted shift linkage could be the cause.
, Technician B says that a roller clutch installed backwards could be the
cause.
Who is right?
A) A only
B) B only
C) Both A and B
D) Neither A nor B - correct answer ✔✔A) A only
A vehicle with an automatic transaxle and a properly tuned engine
accelerates poorly from a stop. Acceleration is normal above 35 mph.
Which of these could be the cause?
A) A worn front pump
B) A failed torque converter
C) A worn planetary gear set
D) A low fluid level - correct answer ✔✔B) A failed torque converter
The transmission slips when cold. Which of these could be the cause?
A) A shorted low/reverse pressure switch
B) Line pressure is at maximum in 1st gear
C) A disconnected line pressure sensor
D) Low line pressure - correct answer ✔✔D) Low line pressure
The automatic transaxle upshifts harshly during normal acceleration.
The cause could be a failed:
A) oxygen sensor.
B) idle air control valve.
C) throttle position sensor.
D) intake air temperature sensor. - correct answer ✔✔C) throttle position sensor.
