Lamp test for CA

Question 1

On vehicles 1968 and older tail lamps must be visible for how many feet ?

Answer 1

500 feet

Question 2

Tail lamps on vehicles built since 1969 must be visible of a minimum distance of how many feet ?

Answer 2

Minimum visible distance 1000 ft

Question 3

aux DRIVING lamps can only operate with

Answer 3

the cars high beams

Question 4

Are head light covers / grills allowed over head lights ?

Answer 4

No covers lens or grills are allowed on cars built after 1968

Question 5

Head lamp minimum and maximum heights measured to the center of the headlights

Answer 5

22” minimum and 54” maximum .. this can be an issue with lowers or lifted cars or trucks .

Question 6

Tail lamp mounting height requirements min and max.

Answer 6

minimum 22 “ maximum 72” this also applies to stop lamps

Question 7

In what year where back up lamps REQURIED ?

Answer 7

After Jan 1st 1969 one or more back up lights are required

Question 8

Are high beam indicators required to be working ?

Answer 8

Yes all cars since 1940 have them and they must work.

Question 9

what are the fog lamp mounting location requirements ?

Answer 9

12’ to 33” high below the center line of the low beams and more than 4 inches from the turn signals lamps .

Question 10

what is the minimum height of side marker lamps , turn signals and reflectors ?

Answer 10

They all are 15 “ from the ground with no maximum

Question 11

Turn signals shall flash with in a certain rate what is it ??

Answer 11

Turn signals shall flash at the rate of 60 to 120 flashes per minute. That’s equal to once our twice per second.

Question 12

How would you aim a motorcycle headlamp ?

Answer 12

Motorcycle held upright strait ahead with guard rails .
Weight of the rider on the bike and the screen if used 25 ft away .
Engine running at speed if generator driven.

Question 13

What is the correct mechanical aim for HIGH BEAMS ? Using a screen at 25 feet ?

Answer 13

High beams should be 0 inches down and 0 inches to the right or left . In other word straight ahead.

Question 14

What are the three types of head light aimers ?

Answer 14

mechanical / attaches to the headlamp

aiming screen / 25 ft in front of the car

optical / lens type in a machine that sits in front of the light.

all require a flat surface with calibration of equipment .

Question 15

What is V.H.A.D. ?

Answer 15

Vehicle Headlamp Aiming Device . A built in level attached to the head lamp housing to assist in aiming . this may be used to aim the headlamps on a LEVEL surface.

Question 16

what are rear fog lamps ? can they be combined with other rear lights ?

Answer 16

Rear fog lights are red tail lamps that are brighter than regular tail lights. They have to be behind separate lenses.

Question 17

How should the car or truck be prepped before a headlight aiming ?

Answer 17

Equipment calibrated , Tire pressure must be correct 
tires of the correct size . 
 No excess mud ,snow or tar, 
suspension not collapsed
work area level

Question 18

If a bulb is labeled D1 or D2 is it legal for use ? HID

Answer 18

Yes it is a xenon bulb . High voltage that uses a transformer.
It may make a buzzing sound and that is to be expected.

Question 19

Are headlights that project blue light legal ?

Answer 19

No the only color that is legal is white or amber.

Question 20

Can trailers built after 1973 and are less than 30 inches wide have only one tail and stop light ?

Answer 20

YES THEY CAN !

Question 21

What is the required candle power for a high beam indicator ?

Answer 21

2 candle power .

this is not measurable

Question 22

For a lamp lens to be legal in CA does it need to be DOT , SAE or ECE rated ?

Answer 22

All ratings are legal for or use in CA . “E” with a number in a circle stands for ECE ( Economic Commission for Europe ) It is also legal.

Question 23

Are 2 tail lamps required on all cars ?

Answer 23

No . prior to 1958 2 where not required. One was legal.

Question 24

Single head lamp refers to a lack of a high and low beam .

Was this ever legal ?

Answer 24

Yes it was ….prior to September 19 1958

Question 25

Fog lights are to be aimed straight ahead and how far down ?

Answer 25

4 inches below the center of the lens.

Question 26

Turn signal and warning lamps must be visible from what angle ?

Answer 26

At 45 degree angle form the right or left side .

Question 27

What 5 steps must be taken after headlamp adjustments have been made ?

Answer 27

A ) pound the fender B) horizontal aim must be checked after vertical adjustment and visa versa C) the last turn should be inward D) Aim of a sealed beam needs to be from the lens not the housing E) recheck after replacing trim and bezel .

Question 28

how long is a lamp adjusters license valid ? when does it expire ?

Answer 28

The license is valid for 4 years . | licenses expire on the last day of inspectors birth month.

Question 29

Will a lamp with dirt or moisture inside fail inspection ?

Answer 29

Yes it can . Discoloration can fail it too.

Question 30

Can a cracked or chipped lens emit a white light ?

Answer 30

Heck no !! no white light is to be shown to the rear except for license plate lamps or back up light in reverse.

Question 31

Do stop lamps always have to be red ??

Answer 31

Good question ! prior to 1979 they could be red OR amber.

Question 32

What is the minimum voltage the a lamp can be tested ?

Answer 32

85 % of the design voltage

Question 33

voltage x amps = watts is an example of

Answer 33

``` Ohms law ( 12 volts x 10 amps = 120 watts ) Or watts law ```

Question 34

12 Volts through a 10 ohm resistor will result in how may amps of current flow ??

Answer 34

1.2 amps ( 12 V divided by 10 ohms = 1.2 amps)

Question 35

what is a voltage drop test ?

Answer 35

I messument of voltage in a circuit between two point that should be of equal voltage . if voltage is present that's called the " drop " . This will be a good thing to know about !

Question 36

What is the difference between a class " A " and " BL" lamp inspection stations ?

Answer 36

Class " A " Can test / repair / adjust lights on all vehicles. Class " BL " Is limited to cars and trucks less that 80 inches in width and can not do motorcycles.

Question 37

What classes of licenses are available to Lamp adjuster ?

Answer 37

Class "A" is the only class . the station or facility can be "A" or "BL" ( limited ) .

Question 38

Can you issue a certification to a car not in compliance?

Answer 38

No, of course not but this could be a test question !

Question 39

How should the low beam of a sealed beam lamp be aimed on a screen 25 ft away from the front of a vehicle ?

Answer 39

The "high intensity zone " should fall just below the horizontal center line and the the left of the vertical centerline.

Question 40

When adjusting low beams with a optical or visual screen | do you take lamp height in to consideration?

Answer 40

YES . Below 36 inches its level . Above 36 " but below 48" its a 2" drop . Above 48" a 4" drop .

Question 41

What is the tolerance of the aim at 25 ft ? High beam / low beam up down left and right ??

Answer 41

4 inches or 10 cm .

Question 42

WHAT LAMP IS REQUIRED ON AN AUTHORIZED EMEGENCY VECHICLE ?

Answer 42

A STEADY BURNING ( CLASS A ) RED LAMP VISABLE TO THE FRONT . MOTOR CYCLES CAN HAVE 2 CLASS D LIGHTS.

Question 43

WIG -WAG LIGHTS ( HEAD LAMPS THAT FLASH BACK AND FORTH ) CAN ONLY BE USED ON WICH BEAM ?

Answer 43

HIGH BEAMS ONLY AND ONLY ON EMERGENCY | VECHICLES.

Question 44

What vehicles are allowed to have amber flashing lights ?

Answer 44

Tow trucks , construction vehicles and utility trucks .

Question 45

What flashing lights are REQUIRED on school buses ?

Answer 45

A total of 4 lamps 2 facing the front and 2 to the rear that alternate in flashing . most modern busses will have both RED and AMBER lights on each corner.

Question 46

Can school busses have strobe lights ?

Answer 46

YES they can with in limits out lined in the vehicle code.

Question 47

What colors are required reflectors supposed to display or reflect?

Answer 47

White or amber to the front red to the rear .

Question 48

Can reflectors be tinted or blacked out ?

Answer 48

NO! No smoke , black out or even covered with reflector tape.

Question 49

What distance should you be able to see a reflector from at night with your high beams on ?

Answer 49

500 feet

Question 50

What are the mounting Hight limits for reflectors ?

Answer 50

16" to 60" . ya another number to remember jezzzz ......

Question 51

Are the little blue dots in vintage tail lights legal ??

Answer 51

NOPE ! you wont go to jail but you will also not get a certificate.

Question 52

When is DOT " C2 " tape required ?

Answer 52

On vehicles over 80" wide and 10,000 lbs .