STUDY MATERIAL

Lights, Reflectors, and Horn

Lights and reflectors must be clean and intact, and all lights must be functional. Lights in a pair must have the same color and brightness.

Low Beam Headlights

• 2 lights.
• Emit white or yellowish light.
• Shine asymmetrically. Must not be symmetrical.
• Illuminate the road at least 30 meters ahead.
• Drop of 1 cm per meter = 1%.
• Must not blind oncoming traffic.

High Beam Headlights

• 2 lights.
• Emit white or yellowish light.
• Illuminate the road at least 100 meters ahead.
• Should blind (when used appropriately).

Position/Parking Lights

• 2 lights.
• Emit white or yellowish light.
• Must be visible from a distance of 300 meters.

Rear of the Car

• 2 red reflectors at the rear of the car – must not be triangular (triangular reflectors are only for trailers).

Taillights

• 2 lights.
• Emit red light.
• Visible from a distance of 300 meters.

Brake Lights

• 3 brake lights, older cars only 2. Emit red light.
• Must shine significantly brighter than the taillights.

License Plate Lights

• License plate lights must have at least one white light that illuminates the rear license plate so it can be seen from a distance of 20 meters.
• If there are multiple, they must all be functional.

Turn Signals

• 6 lights (2 front, 2 side, and 2 rear).
• Must emit yellow light.
• Must be clearly visible in sunlight.
• Must flash 1-2 times per second.

Hazard Warning Lights

• The hazard warning lights must be able to activate all 6 yellow turn signals simultaneously.

Horn

• Must have a clear and constant tone.

Steering

• Must operate easily, safely, and quickly.
• There must be no play in the steering wheel in newer cars (with rack and pinion steering). You check for play by rolling down the driver’s side window, getting out of the car, closing the door, turning the steering wheel slightly while looking at the left front wheel, which must immediately follow the movements. The wheels must be in a straight-ahead position, and the engine must be started when performing this check.

Brakes

• Must operate safely, quickly, and effectively.
• The brake booster/vacuum booster is checked by pressing the brake pedal about 5 times with the engine off. Then, start the engine while keeping your foot on the brake pedal, which will sink to its normal level.
• The brake pedal must not be able to be pressed to the floor when pressed hard and must not sink while held down with constant pressure. The covering on the brake pedal must be rough. There must be no play in the brake pedal allowing it to be moved sideways.

Engine and Exhaust

• The engine block must not be soiled by leaking oil.
• The engine must not produce unnecessary smoke or noise.

Coolant Reservoir

• Symbol on the cap is a thermometer.
• Fluid level between min. and max.

Washer Fluid Reservoir

• Symbol on the cap is a windshield with a sprayer. There must be sufficient washer fluid in the reservoir.
• Checked by sitting in the driver’s seat and activating the washer fluid switch. If no washer fluid comes onto the windshield, the reservoir is empty and needs to be refilled.

Brake Fluid Reservoir

• Fluid level between min. and max.! If the fluid level is at min., new brake pads are needed. You must not refill fluid yourself in this reservoir.

Power Steering Fluid Reservoir

• In cars where a power steering reservoir is present, the fluid level must be between min. and max. This reservoir is not found in all cars, as some cars are equipped with electric power steering.

Engine Oil

• Read on the dipstick and must be between min. and max. Engine oil is added at the top of the engine block.

Exhaust

• The exhaust system must be tight and securely attached, and must not produce unnecessary noise or smoke.

Shock Absorbers

• Cars are equipped with springs and shock absorbers at all four wheels. A shock absorber is checked by standing next to the wheel and pressing hard and briefly down on, for example, the hood directly above the wheel. The car will then sink and quickly return to its normal position. If the car continues to bounce slightly, it indicates a defective shock absorber. There must be no noise or strange sounds from springs, bearings, or shock absorbers.

Tires

• Tires, rims, and wheel bearings must be intact and undamaged.
• There must be a minimum of 1.6 mm tread on all tires. All 4 tires must be the same type and mounted in the correct direction of rotation.
• Tires must be inflated to the correct tire pressure (car manufacturer’s specifications).

The Slightly Shorter Version (Practical Driving Test Focus)

In practice, the examiner will ask about the above. Based on section 1 of the Category B (standard car) driving instruction plan, you must know the following for the practical test:

1.1.1 Operating Equipment

• Contact for steering wheel lock, ignition, electric starter, windshield wipers and washer, horn, lights, fan, electric rear window defroster.
• Contact for position lights, high beams, low beams, turn signals, and hazard warning lights.
• Pedals for clutch, accelerator, and brake.
• Gear stick, including gear positions, as well as parking brake lever and steering wheel.
• Seat belt attachment points and buckle.

1.2.2 Steering System

• Normally, there should be no play in the steering wheel. This is checked by ensuring the wheels immediately follow the steering wheel’s movement (in cars with power steering, the check is performed with the engine running).
• The fluid level in any power steering reservoir must comply with the car manufacturer’s specifications. This is checked either by the fluid level being between the min. and max. marks or by the warning light not being illuminated.

1.2.3 Brakes

• The brake pedal must not be able to be pressed to the floor when pressed hard. Pedal travel also depends on the car manufacturer.
• The brake pedal must not sink while held down with constant pressure.
• For brakes with a vacuum booster, however, the brake pedal (after pressure equalization) must sink a small distance while held down, and the engine then started.
• The fluid level in the brake fluid reservoir must be between the min. and max. marks, or by the warning light not being illuminated.

1.2.4 Lights, Reflectors, and Horn

• All lights and reflectors must be intact and clean, and all lights must be functional.
• The low beam lights must not blind (judged by the top edge of the light boundary falling 1 cm per meter).
• The brake lights must give significantly stronger light than the taillights.
• The turn signals must flash with yellow light that is clearly visible in sunlight.
• The hazard warning lights must be able to activate all turn signals simultaneously.
• License plate lights must have white light that can illuminate the rear license plate.
• Lights in a light pair must have the same color and brightness.
• The horn must have a clear, constant tone.

1.2.5 Engine and Exhaust System, etc.

• The engine must not produce unnecessary smoke or noise.
• It must not be soiled by leaking oil.
• The exhaust system must be tight and securely attached.
• Engine oil must be filled in sufficient quantity, read on the dipstick’s max. and min. marks or according to the instruction manual.
• Coolant must be filled in sufficient quantity as judged by the instruction manual.

1.2.7 Supporting Parts

• Tires must have at least 1.6 mm depth in the main tread pattern on all wheels, possibly judged by wear indicators.
• Shock absorbers must be effective on all wheels, judged by the car immediately coming to rest after a strong impact on the shock absorbers.

• Washer fluid must be filled in sufficient quantity (enough for the trip to be driven).