ASE A4 Steering Suspension Practice Test

1. On cold mornings, the TPMS warning lamp on a vehicle with a tire pressure monitoring system stays illuminated for several minutes before it goes out. Which of the following is MOST likely causing this condition.

  • A. A clogged TPMS sensor.
  • B. Worn tread on one of the tires.
  • C. TPMS initialization.
  • D. Low tire air pressure.

1.

Answer A is wrong. A TPMS sensor has a port to sense the tire's air pressure. If it becomes clogged, the sensor will indicate low air pressure to the module, and the TPMS light will stay illuminated until repaired. Recommended air pressures are on the sticker on the driver's side door or door jam.

Answer B is wrong. The TPMS sensor senses air pressure, use a tread depth gauge to measure the tread depth of the tire.

Answer C is wrong. Initialization is a process of synchronizing a sensor to the controller. It senses and registers important information like the sensor's ID.

Answer D is correct. When the light stays on for several minutes of driving and then goes out, one of the tires could have low air pressure. As the tire heats from driving, the air pressure increases, and the light goes out. Check all four tires and the spare for proper air pressure.

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2. The front tires change pitch as the vehicle travels over different types of road surfaces. Which of the following is causing this condition?

  • A. Cupped tires.
  • B. Bad wheel bearing.
  • C. Excessive positive caster.
  • D. Excessive negative caster.

2.

Answer A is correct. A cupped or scalloped tire changes pitch from one surface to another. This is true with all tires, but much more pronounced with a cupped or scalloped tire.

Answer B is wrong. A worn wheel bearing will also cause a growling sound in operation. There is a difference. A worn wheel bearing does not contact the road so it doesn’t change pitch on different road surfaces. It makes a growling or whining noise that increases with speed and while turning.

Answer C is wrong. Answer A is correct.

Answer D is wrong. Answer A is correct.

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3. The steering wheel grabs and binds only at specific points around the steering wheel’s rotation. Technician A says the steering shaft universal joint is binding. Technician B says the intermediate shaft is binding. Which technician is correct?

  • A. Technician A
  • B. Technician B
  • C. Both A and B
  • D. Neither A or B

3.

Answer A is wrong. Both technicians are correct. Due to its design, the steering shaft coupling can bind, but only at certain points along a steering wheel’s rotation.

Answer B is wrong. Intermediate shafts also contain universal couplings.

Answer C is correct. Both Technicians are correct.

Answer D is wrong. Both Technicians are correct.

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Inside tire wear.

4. The inside tread of the tire in the illustration shows excessive wear. Which of the following is true about this uneven wear?

  • A. There's too much positive camber.
  • B. There's too much positive caster.
  • C. There's too much negative camber.
  • D. There's too much negative caster.

4.

Answer A is wrong. Too much positive camber causes the outside of a tire’s tread to wear prematurely.

Answer B is wrong. Too much positive caster causes wheel shimmy.

Answer C is correct. Too much negative camber causes the inside of the tire to wear prematurely.

Answer D is wrong. Negative caster is typically reserved for heavy duty vehicles that haul heavy loads.

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5. Technician A says idler arms are found on parallelogram steering systems. Technician B says a loose or worn idler arm results in a shimmy that increases with vehicle speed. Who is correct?

  • A. Technician A
  • B. Technician B
  • C. Both A and B
  • D. Neither A or B

5.

Answer A is wrong. A bad idler arm will affect toe settings.

Answer B is wrong. The idler arm and center link are found on parallelogram linkage systems.

Answer C is correct. Loose steering linkage results in a shimmy or vibration that increases with vehicle speed.

Answer D is wrong. Both technicians are correct.

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