Technical English I Automotive Industries Unit 4

CA
A B B

D
I

J F

HG
The diagram shows the controls of a manual, right-hand drive car. On the left of the driver’s seat is the
gear lever (1). There are five forward gears and a reverse gear. The car is always started in ‘neutral’ with
the handbrake on. The handbrake (parking brake) (2)is on the floor to the left of the driver. On the floor,
there are three foot-pedals: the left-hand pedal is the clutch
(3), the centre pedal is the footbrake (4), and the right-hand pedal is the
accelerator (5).
On the left of the steering wheel (6)there is a lever (7). This operates the indicator lights and the
headlight beam.
On the right of the steering wheel there is another lever (8). This controls the front and rear
windscreen wipers (9)and, the front and rear windscreen washers
(10).

1 Read the instruction manual. Write the letters (A–J) next to the names of the controls.

2 Write instructions for the controls in 1. Make full sentences from these notes. Use when and
you, and add the and punctuation.
1 push direction indicator up  right-hand indicator lights flash
When you push the direction indicator up, the right-hand indicator lights flash .
2 push the direction indicator down  left-hand indicator lights flash
.
3 pull left-hand lever towards you  headlights flash once
.
4 push right-hand lever up into first position  wipers operate at long or short intervals
.
5 push right-hand lever up into second position  wipers operate at normal speed
.
6 push right-hand lever up into third position  wipers operate very fast
.
7 pull right-hand lever towards steering wheel  front windscreen washers work
.
8 push right-hand lever away from steering wheel  rear windscreen washers work
© Pearson Longman 2008 www.pearsonlongman.com/technicalenglish
 Technical English I Automotive Industries Unit 4

© Pearson Longman 2008 www.pearsonlongman.com/technicalenglish

 Technical English I Automotive Industries Unit 4

3 Match the operating instructions with the diagrams.

1 2 1 3
3 4
6

2 4 R

5 6 7 8

a) Pull the bonnet release handle. 3

b) Press the brake pedal.
c) Slide the light switch to the left.
d) Push the lever away from the steering wheel.
(main headlight beam)
e) Turn the key to the right.
f) Push the gear lever to the left and up.
g) Push the fuel tank release button.
h) Pull the main beam lever towards the
steering wheel. (dipped headlight beam)

4 Complete the instructions for checking and topping up the engine oil. Use some of the verbs more
than once.

add / check / pour / pull / push / put / screw / top up / unscrew /

A Checking the oil level
The vehicle must be on a level surface when you (1) check the oil.
(2)the dipstick out and (3)it with a clean cloth. (4)the dipstick in. Then (5) the dipstick out again and (6)the o
B Topping up the engine oil A
B

(9)the oil filler cap. (10)in some oil. (11) the oil level again, using the dipstick. (12)on the oil filler cap and

5 Undeline the correct answers.

1 When the car is lifted up by the jack, you can/can’t drive it.
2 You can/can’t open the car door when the doors are unlocked.
3 When the car is in first gear, you can/can’t drive forwards.
4 When the car is in neutral, you can/can’t reverse.
5 When the steering wheel is locked, you can/can’t turn it.
6 You can/can’t see the dipstick when the bonnet is down.
7 When the filler cap is off, you can/can’t top up the engine oil.

© Pearson Longman 2008 www.pearsonlongman.com/technicalenglish

 Technical English I Automotive Industries Unit 4

Word List
6 Write the meanings of these words and phrases in your own language.
NOUNS NOUN PHRASES

accelerator filler cap

bonnet foot-pedal

clutch gear lever

dipstick headlight beam

handbrake indicator light

footbrake oil level

lever release button

VERBS steering wheel

control windscreen washer

flash windscreen wiper

operate ADJECTIVES

screw dipped

top up forward

unscrew level

wipe main

neutral

reverse

© Pearson Longman 2008 www.pearsonlongman.com/technicalenglish