During a pre-hill inspection of a vehicle equipped with air brakes, you should do which of the following?
- (a) Make sure there are no hydraulic fluid leaks.
- (b) Make sure there are no audible air leaks.
- (c) Make sure the compressor maintains full reservoir pressure.
- (b) and (c) ✓
Answer: D. (b) and (c)
You should check both that there are no audible air leaks and that the compressor maintains full reservoir pressure.
Why this is the answer
The handbook's air brake pre-trip list includes checking that the compressor keeps full reservoir pressure and that no air leaks can be heard. Those two checks belong to the air brake system, so a pre-hill inspection for an air-brake vehicle should include both. Hydraulic fluid leaks belong to the separate hydraulic-brake check described in the same passage, not the air-brake list.
Why the other answers are wrong
- A. (a) Make sure there are no hydraulic fluid leaks. — Checking for hydraulic fluid leaks is listed for vehicles with hydraulic brakes, not for the air-brake pre-hill inspection.
- B. (b) Make sure there are no audible air leaks. — Checking for audible air leaks is required, but by itself it leaves out the required check that the compressor maintains full reservoir pressure.
- C. (c) Make sure the compressor maintains full reservoir pressure. — Checking that the compressor maintains full reservoir pressure is required, but by itself it leaves out the required check for audible air leaks.
Remember it
Listen for leaks, then confirm the compressor keeps reservoir pressure up.