FORUMS! / Articles / SAFETY / Keep BAT Alive! / Help / About Us
Navigation Home Disclaimer Links & Technical Our Links Scanner & Program info Technical Index Timing Belt Interval Manufacturer's List Small Block Chevy Info Misc. Technical info Auto A/C Tools Trouble Codes Acura Alfa Romeo Audi BMW Cadillac Chrysler Daihatsu Eagle Ford GM GM Import Honda Hyundai Infiniti Isuzu Kia Land Rover Lexus Mazda Mercedes Mitsubishi Neon Nissan OBD2 Peugeot Porsche Saab Saturn Subaru Suzuki Toyota Volvo Volkswagen Yugo
Get an AlldataDIY Repair Info Subscription Special Thanks To: AC Kits.com/AutoACforum.com

So you have a problem with your vehicle that you cannot determine the problem or it is beyond your experience. What do you tell your mechanic to help provide him/her the information they need to fix your car?

Before you read the rest of this article, Roy wrote an excellent article that would be an excellent prolog to this article, see Intermittent Electrical Problems.
We'll go a little further into some of the things that can help save alot of unnecessary chasing down problems.

We'll use a spark loss situation as an example of some of the things you might write down for your mechanic. Yes, you should write it all down, make notes on when it has the problem, the time of day, if it does it when it is cold or hot. Even little things that you think the mechanic may not find interesting or of help may be the key.

Ok, so we have our vehicle and we go out to start it and it won't start. Now think about the questions you would ask.
I only said it wouldn't start. The questions are going to be in bold.
This is purely a hypothetical situation as each situation will be different, but the questions will probably be similar. We'll assume this is a vehicle that has lost spark.
So the first thing they need to know is, Does the engine crank? In our case, we will say yes.
If there is a voltage gauge, what is the voltage? We'll say it is just above the 12V mark.
Does it sound like the engine is cranking over faster than normal or slower than normal? We'll say no.
Does the engine sound like it wants to try and start or fire? Again, we'll say no.
Does it backfire? We'll say no.
Now understand that your mechanic will more than likely confirm all of this, but you have assisted your mechanic in going in the direction that he/she needs to be in.

Some common questions of vehicle starting problems will be:

• Does it start?
• Does the engine crank?
• Does it sound like the engine is cranking over faster than normal or slower than normal?
• If it doesn't crank over, can you hear anything click and do the lights in the dash dim when the key is turned to start?
• Is there a voltage gauge and is the voltage above 12 volts?
• If it turns over, is there any indication that it wants to fire, like popping, trying to start or backfiring?
• When was the fuel filter last replaced?

Remember that your mechanic needs as much information as he/she can get about your problem. If it is a noise, try and determine what area it is coming from, when it happens and whether it is a dull thud or a metallic noise.
If it is a vibration, when does it happen? All speeds, low speeds, high speeds, going up hill or going down hill?
Engine problems, try and note the common things about when it occurs. Things like if it only happens in the morning when the vehicle is cold or after it has been on the highway for a while.

Remember that normally, the mechanic has not driven your vehicle. They will have to spend time locating the actual problem and you will be paying the diagnostic fee, which is usually by the hour. So any information you can provide to the mechanic to help them locate the problem, may help save you some money.
In instances where you are dealing with a service writer/service manager, you may want to write down the things you think are important for the mechanic to know on a piece of paper and ask that it be attached to the repair/work order. This may insure the mechanic sees the info directly from you. Remember when a service writer/service manager writes things down on a repair/work order, they may have done a lot of writing and sometimes will write things on the work order in their own version of shorthand. Something they can read, but often not what the mechanic can understand.

This article should in no way be considered a guide, as it would take hundreds of pages to really go in-depth on this subject. The hope is that it helps to educate folks to what some of the things there mechanic will want to know.