What to Say to Your Auto Mechanic
Have you had a situation when you know you need to bring your car into an auto shop, but you are putting it off, because you don’t really know what to say to the automotive technician or you are worried that your car won’t be fixed properly? I know a lot of people, who have experienced this, especially when they have to bring their car to a mechanic they don’t know. Most of the time this apprehensiveness is the result of yourself not knowing cars and being afraid that you will be judged for it, so let me tell you how to quit worrying about this and how to know what to say to your auto mechanic.
With each year vehicles are becoming more and more complex in their build, which is why communication with your auto mechanic is very important, because if you don’t say what you think is wrong with your car, even if it is a weird sound that pops up once in a while, there is a chance that the mechanic won’t notice this problem, too. So follow these steps to have a great communication with your mechanic and to get your car your back from the auto shop as good as new.
1. Write down what is wrong with your vehicle
The first step of having a good and clear communication is to know what you want to say to your car mechanic. So before you bring your car to the shop or even call the mechanic, take a few minutes to gather your thoughts and write down everything that you think is wrong with your car. It doesn’t have to be in car jargon, just write it down in your own words or in a way that best explains the problem. And try to be as specific as possible, for example under what conditions your car makes a certain sound and so on, so the mechanic can understand what might be wrong with your car.
2. Schedule a meeting
Now that you know what are the problems you want to be addressed you can go to the auto shop of your choice and see an auto mechanic. I would recommend to call first, though, because chances are that your mechanic won’t have time for you right away, so schedule a meeting. Specific meeting time will guarantee that your mechanic will be able to give you his full attention and you and the mechanic together will be able to figure out what’s the best course of action to fix your car is.
3. Ask questions
Lastly, after you have explained the problem and after your mechanic has suggested the best course of action, don’t be afraid to ask questions. Even if you know barely anything about cars, still ask anything that seem important to you. Some examples, that you should consider asking are: what are the causes for the problem your car has, will the problem can simply be repaired or will you need to replace a certain car part, can the repairs affect other parts of your car, how long will it take to fix your car and how much will it cost. All these questions are important not only so you know how much money to bring once the repairs are done, but also so you know more about your car and can help find the problem next time something breaks, because no car mechanic can remember what he fixed to every single car he worked on.
So remember write it down, schedule a meeting and ask questions and no more worrying about bringing your car to the auto shop.
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I like that you suggest to write down everything that you think is wrong with you car, so that when you go to the mechanic, you remember what to say. I can see why this would be helpful if you are hearing different noises in different parts of the car and aren’t sure what it is. My brother has been telling me that he has been hearing a scratching noise on the back-right side of his car and then an occasional clumping noise from the engine. I’ll have to tell him to write this down and go to the mechanic to take a look.
This is some really good information about talking to your auto mechanic. It does seem like a good idea to ask questions. It does seem like a good thing to be aware of what is happening to your car.
Thanks Billy, this is a good blog post and good questions to ask your mechanic. I would also suggest when you do find a good auto mechanic, make sure your keep using them for all your repair needs that way they get to know you as well. Send them referrals and new customers, leave good online reviews. Your mechanic will like you better and always do a good repair job and want to help you out in return.
Writing down what’s wrong with your vehicle is the best thing someone can do when going to an auto repair shop. Same goes for when you go to a doctor. When you tell the mechanic every little symptom you wrote down that your car is having, they will diagnose the problem much faster. Great advice..
You mentioned how it is important to write down what is wrong with your car before going to see the auto repair service since it provides good and clear communication. I never thought about how helpful it could be to write down the problems but now that you mention it, I could also help if you forget easily or if it the service isn’t finding the problem. Thanks for the great idea. I wil have to use that next time I take my car in.
I like your advice to write down what is wrong with your car so that you do not forget. As you talked about, communication is key when working on your car, and your technician cannot help if he does not know what is wrong. My son loves to take his car to the shop and get it altered, so I think that this would be a great thing for him to know. Thanks again!
I like that this article pointed out that you don’t have to know car jargon to record your problem. I also think the idea of having it written down can help you out as well, because you may forget on the spot how to explain the problem. I also think you could give it to the mechanic after explaining so he can remember what’s going on. My friend recently bought a new car and wants to get it checked out by the mechanic, so I’ll share this with her.
I like your tip to write down what you want to say. That way you won’t forget. Also, make sure to visit your mechanic every season.
It’s good to know how to find a mechanic. We’re going to need one in our new neighborhood soon, so this is great. I like how you said that we need to calling to set up an appointment. Having an official meeting like that would be pretty helpful, I bet.