2026 Edition

ASE G1 Practice Test

Take this free ASE G1 practice test to study for your ASE G1 certification exam.

The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) identifies Auto Maintenance and Light Repair as an individual service area for certification (G1). The following subjects are covered:

Engine Systems
Automatic Transmission/Transaxle
Manual Drive Train and Axles
Suspension and Steering
Brakes
Electrical
HVAC

There are 65 questions on the exam, 55 of which are scored, and 1.5 hours is given to complete it.

To prepare for the ASE G1 exam, use Tests.com's ASE G1 Practice Test. It is written by Dr. John Kershaw, an ASE test question developer and ASE Certified Master Technician. Our interactive test platform allows you to simulate the exam. Take as many practice tests as you need. There's no time limit or recurrent charges.

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Engine Systems

1 A tight timing belt makes what type of noise?

a. Thumping sound

b. Whining sound

c. Slapping sound

d. Will not make noise

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

When the cogs of the belt hit the cogs in the sprocket it is similar to the noise two gears make.

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2 Two technicians are explaining radiator cap service. Technician A says a radiator cap is tested using a cooling system pressure tester. Technician B says when the radiator cap does not hold enough pressure, you can replace the cap gasket. Who is right?

a. A only

b. B only

c. Both A and B

d. Neither A nor B

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

Technician A is right because a defective radiator cap can cause low cooling system pressure; it allows cooling system pressure to escape. Technician B is wrong because the only acceptable repair for a defective radiator pressure cap is replacement.

Automatic Transmission/Trans-Axle

3 A vehicle with an electronically controlled automatic transmission is being road tested for poor shifting. What should be done before doing a road test?

a. Check wires and connectors for disconnects

b. Check for DTCS (diagnostic trouble codes)

c. Hook up the scan tool to the DLC (Data Link Connector)

d. Check transmission/transaxle fluid level

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

The automatic transmission fluid (ATF) must always be verified before a road test.

4 Technician A says the auxiliary automatic transmission oil cooler is a small radiator separate from the engine radiator. Technician B says that if the automatic transmission oil cooler lines are found to be leaking, they are first tightened to specifications. Who is right?

a. A only

b. B only

c. Both A and B

d. Neither A nor B

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

Both technicians are right. Technician A is correct because heavy duty applications will use an auxiliary automatic transmission oil cooler. Technician B is correct because the first step in a leaking fluid line fitting is to tighten it to specifications using a torque wrench. If there is still a leak, then the fitting is defective and needs repaired.

Manual Drive Train and Axles

5 A RWD (rear wheel drive) transmission has a leaking output shaft seal on a vehicle with 25,000 miles on the odometer. The MOST likely cause for the leakage is:

a. excessive bearing wear.

b. naturally occurring evaporation.

c. plugged transmission breather filter

d. poor quality fluid filter

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

A plugged transmission breather filter causing excessive internal pressure is the most likely cause.

6 Of the following, when replacing a CV (constant velocity) joint or boot, what is the last step before clamping the boot?

a. Lubricate the CV joint with chassis grease

b. Mark location of the boot on drive axle shaft

c. Lubricate the CV joint and the boot

d. Burp the air out of the boot

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

Before clamping the last seal on the boot, be sure to release trapped air to prevent the boot from expanding when heated and collapsing when cold (This is sometimes called burping the boot). Clamp the boot according to the manufacturer's specifications. The final step in the process is reinstalling the drive axle shaft in reverse order of removal and torque the drive axle nut to factory specifications.

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Suspension and Steering

7 This question has the word EXCEPT. For this question, look for the choice that would NOT fit the described situation. Read the entire question carefully before choosing your answer. Close visual inspection of the power steering serpentine belt can reveal all the following, EXCEPT:

a. Premature wear due to misalignment

b. Proper belt tension

c. Correct orientation of dual belt application

d. Proper belt seating in the pulley

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

You cannot see proper belt tension.

8 Steering dampers can be used to reduce excessive __________.

a. negative camber

b. toe-in

c. positive camber

d. positive caster

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

High positive caster places the top of the wheel high, so when it lifts, if too high, it will cause wheel kickback.

9 A technician is rotating the tires using the modified X-method of tire rotation on a front-wheel-drive vehicle. Where should the right front wheel be placed?

a. Right front

b. Right rear

c. Left rear

d. Kept at left front

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

This is the standard practice for a modified X tire rotation.

Brakes

10 A spongy brake pedal may be caused by which of the following?

a. ABS Diagnostic Trouble Code set

b. Frozen caliper piston

c. Defective metering valve.

d. Air in hydraulic system

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

Air causes a gap in the hydraulic fluid flow because the fluid has to compress the air before it can apply the piston. This delay causes the spongy feel. The other choices do not affect this concern.

11 Why are drum brakes adjusted?

a. To stop loose wheel bearings

b. To prevent brake fluid evaporation

c. To reduce fluid loss

d. To compensate for lining wear

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

The lining does wear and increases the clearance between the drum and brake lining. A manual or automatic adjustment decreases this clearance.

Electrical

12 The open circuit voltage (OCV) test on a fully charged battery should show which voltage?

a. 9.6 volts

b. 4 volts per cell

c. 1 volt per cell

d. 12.6 volts

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

The standard is 2.1 volts per cell and 2.1 times 6 is 12.6 volts.

13 The starter motor was recently replaced and now makes a whining noise when starting. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?

a. Wrong starter installed

b. Shims left out

c. Defective solenoid

d. Defective flywheel

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

A whining noise is most likely caused by an incorrect clearance between the starter drive pinion and the flexplate or flywheel teeth. Shim (or half shim) may be needed to provide the proper clearance between the flywheel teeth of the engine and the pinion teeth of the starter.

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14 Why should you never touch the tip of a halogen bulb?

a. Oil from a finger can cause shortened bulb life.

b. The glass will crack.

c. You can get a significant burn and personal injury.

d. The glass will melt from the heat of your finger.

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

Oil from your skin leaves a residue on the glass shell to the bulb. When the bulb is turned on, it begins to get hot. Much of this heat is dumped into air around the bulb and is carried away. However, when there is oil on the bulb, it begins to get heated as well. The heat is actually enough to cause oil to boil and its temperature can reach near 1,100 Fahrenheit. This "hot spot" puts a great deal of heat near the glass bulb and can cause glass in the hot spot to warp and stretch. This causes a weak spot in the glass bulb which can break and thus shortening life span. The other choices will not happen.

HVAC

15 This question has the word EXCEPT. For this question, look for the choice that would NOT cause the described situation. Read the entire question carefully before choosing your answer. All of the following cause compressor drive belt edge wear, EXCEPT:

a. Clutch air gap

b. Bent mounting bracket

c. Damaged pulley

d. Worn pulley bearing

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

The clutch air gap has no effect on belt wear.