Level 3 Light Vehicle Maintenance

Start with the safety habits every workshop depends on. You’ll learn how to spot common hazards, use personal protective equipment, handle tools correctly and keep your working area safe. You’ll also see why planned maintenance matters for keeping a vehicle reliable and roadworthy.

Learn the routine checks that keep a car running smoothly between services, including fluid levels, filters, wiper blades, lights and belts. You’ll understand how service intervals work and how regular attention prevents small issues from turning into expensive repairs.

Find out what your car’s warning lights are telling you. This module explains the difference between red, amber and green indicators, which warnings mean you should stop driving, and how dashboard lights can point you towards the system that needs checking.

Explore tyre construction, sidewall markings, correct pressures and wheel care. You’ll learn how to check tread depth against the UK legal minimum of 1.6mm, recognise uneven wear patterns, and understand what those patterns reveal about alignment and suspension.

Understand how a petrol or diesel engine turns fuel into motion, including the four-stroke cycle and the main engine components. You’ll also learn why engine oil is so important, what oil grades mean, and how to check and change oil correctly.

Learn how the radiator, thermostat, water pump and coolant work together to stop an engine from overheating. You’ll look at common cooling problems such as leaks, blockages and failed thermostats, and the warning signs to watch for.

Follow fuel on its journey from the tank to the combustion chamber. This module covers the fuel pump, filter, lines and injection system, and helps you recognise the symptoms of fuel delivery problems, such as poor starting, hesitation and rising fuel consumption.

Get to know the battery, alternator, starter motor, fuses and wiring that power a modern vehicle. You’ll learn how the charging and starting systems work together and how to recognise common electrical faults before they leave you stranded.

Discover how engine power reaches the wheels through the clutch, gearbox, driveshafts and differential. You’ll compare front-wheel, rear-wheel and all-wheel drive layouts and learn the noises and symptoms that point to drivetrain wear.

Learn how disc and drum brakes, pads, shoes and hydraulic brake fluid work together to stop a vehicle safely. You’ll understand the role of the master cylinder and callipers, and how to spot early signs of brake wear and fluid problems.

Move from knowing how an engine works to finding out why it isn’t working properly. This module introduces a structured diagnostic approach: gathering symptoms, carrying out checks and tests, and confirming the cause before any parts are replaced.

Revisit engine fundamentals in greater depth, including the cylinder head, valves, pistons, crankshaft and timing components. A stronger understanding of how these parts move together makes it much easier to interpret faults and plan repairs.

Take a closer look at how cooling and lubrication protect an engine from heat and friction. You’ll learn how oil pressure, oil flow and coolant circulation are maintained, and what happens to engine components when either system starts to fail.

Understand how the ignition system creates the spark that starts combustion, from the battery and ignition coils to the spark plugs. You’ll learn how ignition timing affects performance and how to recognise misfires and other ignition-related faults.

Bring your knowledge together with a logical, step-by-step troubleshooting process. You’ll practise working from symptom to cause on common problems, such as a car that won’t start, rough running and overheating, so you can solve faults methodically rather than by guesswork.

Explore how manual and automatic transmissions, the vehicle frame and the steering system work together to give a car control and stability. You’ll learn the main steering components and the signs of transmission and steering wear.

Learn how springs, shock absorbers, control arms and bushes keep a car stable, comfortable and in contact with the road. You’ll understand how worn suspension affects handling, braking and tyre wear, and how to recognise the warning signs.

Study the systems that bring air and fuel into the engine and carry exhaust gases away, along with the clutch that connects the engine to the gearbox. You’ll learn how each system affects performance and emissions, and how to identify common faults.

Build on your electrical knowledge with practical maintenance of batteries, lighting, fuses, connectors and wiring. You’ll learn safe methods for checking electrical components and how to approach electrical faults in a logical order.

Put your knowledge of wheels, tyres and brakes into practice. This module covers inspection and maintenance routines, how to judge when parts need replacing, and why these safety-critical systems should always be checked to a high standard.

Learn how to plan a restoration project before picking up a spanner. You’ll look at how to assess a vehicle’s condition, set a realistic budget and timeline, source parts, and decide which jobs to tackle yourself and which to leave to specialists.

Discover how to bring a tired interior back to life, from seats, carpets and trim to the dashboard and headlining. You’ll learn the order of work, how to protect original features, and how to achieve a clean, professional finish.

Explore bodywork restoration, from dealing with rust and dents to preparing surfaces and refinishing paintwork. You’ll also learn how to restore chrome, trim, lights and glass so the outside of the car matches the quality of your mechanical work.

Follow the process of restoring an engine, from removal and strip-down to inspection, cleaning and rebuilding. You’ll learn how to judge which components can be reused and which need replacing, and why careful reassembly matters.

Bring the whole project together. This module covers reassembling the vehicle in the right order, carrying out final safety checks, and completing a careful test drive to confirm everything works as it should.

Find out what makes a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) different from a conventional car, and why hybrids have become so popular on UK roads. You’ll explore well-known hybrid models and how hybrid technology has developed over time.

Learn how hybrids combine an engine, electric motor and battery pack. This module explains the main hybrid layouts, how energy flows between the engine, motor and battery, and how regenerative braking helps recover energy.

Take a closer look at parallel hybrids, where the engine and electric motor can both drive the wheels. You’ll understand how the two power sources share the workload and the advantages and limitations of this design.

Explore other hybrid designs, including series and series-parallel systems. You’ll compare how each layout works and why manufacturers choose different approaches. The module also highlights the specialist training needed before working on high-voltage components.

Get an overview of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER) and what they mean for workshops. You’ll learn who has legal duties, what counts as work equipment, and why the regulations matter for everyone who uses tools and machinery.

Learn how to choose equipment that is suitable for the job, the working environment and the people using it. You’ll also understand conformity requirements, such as UKCA and CE marking, and why equipment must meet safety standards before it’s used.

Explore the features that make equipment safe to use, including guards on dangerous parts, controls, emergency stops, stability and lighting. You’ll learn how to keep equipment in safe working order and why training and clear information are essential.

Find out how to inspect, maintain and keep records for workshop equipment. You’ll learn how regular monitoring identifies wear and risks early, and how to review equipment safety so it stays compliant and fit for purpose.