How to explain your vehicle troubles to a car mechanic
Struggling to tell your car mechanic what’s wrong with your car? We’ve got you covered with this list of common car terms and tips to help you explain the issue.
Ever felt like your car mechanic is talking a different language when they try to explain what needs to be done in order to fix your car’s problem? Or, even worse, you get the bill and have no clue what you just paid a small fortune for?
We’ve been there…which is why it’s time to get with the car mechanic lingo and learn how to explain what the problem is that needs to be fixed while also understanding the gist of what the mechanic is talking about when they explain what they did.
Start by telling your mechanic about anything that might sound, smell, look or feel different:
- Describe the problem visually. For example, is there any exhaust smoke and if so, what colour is the smoke?
- Hearing a funny sound? Some descriptive words to consider include knocking, clucking, squealing, grinding, thumping, clicking, and rattling.
- Did you notice any weird odours? Some odours that could be problematic include: burning rubber; fumes; sweet pungent; and rotten eggs.
- Does the car feel different? There might be sluggish acceleration, excessive vibration, and difficulty igniting.
To help you understand mechanic-talk a bit better, take a look at these common terms used in the car mechanic industry:
- Wander: The car drifts on either side
- Surge: Unexpected change in engine’s speed
- Stall: Engine stumbling
- Rough idle: Strong vibrations in the car when it is not in motion
- Fast idle: The engine working faster than usual
- Ride: Motion of car on uneven lands
- Pull: Car drifting on the application of brakes or accelerator
- Misfire: Delay in functioning when the engine is not getting fuel properly
- Backfire: The engine sounds like a gunshot
- Knocking: Fast rattling when the car moves
- Hesitation: Delay in the operation when the car accelerates
- Handling: Car’s performance on the curves
- Bucking: Unsteady movements of the car when switching gears
- Brake grab: Excessive and abrupt reaction of brakes
- Brake fade: Brakes require more pressure than normal
- Brake drag: Brake pads not coming back on their position after application
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