When it comes to car maintenance, you need the basics to be well-versed and you also need to know what questions you should ask the auto repair technician. The internet is awash with memes complaining about how homegrown project cars and installation jobs can take days, when all it usually takes at a mechanic is around an hour or two at most. Which is why, mechanics are the primary person in vehicular maintenance. Without them, some people might not get their oil changed, which will then translate into total disaster for the car. Let’s look at the questions that are imperative that you should ask from your auto repair technician in understanding more about your car, and what can they do best for your car, from repair to modification and whatnot. 

Essential Questions to Ask Your Auto Repair Technician

To keep things short and simple, a mechanic’s main job and responsibility is car maintenance. It does not matter whether the car is an SUV, a sedan, a station wagon, or a sports car. What the mechanic will be interested in is the internals, which people usually can’t figure out. This is where their expertise lies, and this is where they excel: troubleshooting any issues you might have with your car and ensuring it receives proper and due maintenance for optimal performance. However, your role as the customer falls in the ‘asking questions’ segment, and these topics should form the basis for what you might want to enquire from your mechanic. 

1. Questions About Regular Vehicle Maintenance

Basic vehicular maintenance refers to the maintenance procedures required to keep a car running, but ones that aren’t so much comprehensive or technical. In other words, maintenance work that can be done at home with the minimum of tools but apparently people can’t be bothered with it. Checking the fluids of the car (brake, transmission, power steering etc.), topping them off, checking the air pressure in the tires and ensuring the general wellbeing of the vehicle is part of the role of a mechanic in vehicle maintenance. Typically, an apprentice starts their work doing basic maintenance tasks like these before receiving adequate training to move on to the more technical tasks of the job, which will be discussed below. You can always ask your mechanic or apprentice about their qualification in dealing with basic vehicle maintenance like oil changes, tire rotations etc. 

2. Questions About Diagnostics

With both electric and combustion engine cars, diagnoseing the problem is the main part of the job. A knocking sound emanating from the engine bay could mean a lot of things; from piston malfunctioning to oil leakages, it is the job of the mechanic to diagnose correctly what exactly might be causing the vehicle to behave as such. Similarly, a Tesla or a Rivian displaying an error needs to be looked at by a professional who can work out a solution to the error being displayed. Especially for gasoline-powered ICE vehicles, which may or not display such errors and an individual has to rely on audible cues to know more about what the problem is, the mechanic’s job of identifying issues is crucial. And it is your job to ask questions and educate yourself on the many aspects of diagnostics within car repair. 

3. Repair Work

The major role that a mechanic plays in vehicular maintenance. Checking and topping off fluids, ensuring the wiper blades are cleaning well and all that is fine, but where the real expertise lies is the repair work that mechanics are required to do. Everything from cosmetic repair work like mending a damaged bumper or buffing out a dent on the fender to performance work like working on engine or suspension components, or even putting in a new engine, block or pistons comes into the ambit of a mechanic’s work. Repair work is very important; aside from older cars that need to be kept going, newer cars may also develop problems or certain driving conditions might exacerbate a condition which would then require a trip the workshop to get the vehicle in working condition again. Repair work is the major role that mechanics play in both vehicle maintenance and as part of their regular duties. 

4. Modification Work

The final role that mechanics play that might not be related to vehicle maintenance but is still relevant to cars in general is the one part that petrol heads are most fond of: modifications. Yes, everything from a big honking turbo or supercharger or your engine to installing a body kit to your vehicle, these tasks also fall in the ambit of the role of mechanics, and as we suspect, the ones that they might enjoy the most. There is nothing more fun than turbocharging or supercharging a vehicle and taking it out on a test spin to ensure that the car is producing enough power to satisfy the customer’s demands. On the other hand, we have places like the famous West Coast Customs which specialize in body modifications; from installing outrageous body kits to creating custom solutions like lowriders, slammed and other styles, these honestly fun jobs also fall in the responsibilities that a mechanic may have, but one that they might feel an enormous pride in. 

To Conclude, 

These are some of the topics that are essential for the customer or car owner to ask about. Whether you want basic knowledge about oil types and which one might be the best for your car to advanced questions like understanding what an alternator does and how can it be replaced, you asking questions will further motivate the car repair professional into giving their best and treating your car to the highest possible form of care. 

Magnum Autoclub: Vehicle Maintenance Made Easy, Accessible 

As important as mechanics are in vehicle maintenance and ensuring the transport sector keeps operating, they do suffer from a dubious reputation. A reputation that stems from the fact that some mechanics upsell and exaggerate what exactly the car will need just to make a few extra bucks. They have had the tendency to exploit the general nonchalance of the public and their inadequate knowledge of how cars work for their own benefit, which is why, Magnum Autoclub is here to dispel all that conjecture and introduce you to a garage and vehicle maintenance service that aims to please and not to earn. Fall in love with your car again as Magnum Autoclub treats it to the best maintenance ever to make it smooth and powerful as ever, while ensuring that you stay aware of everything that is being done in an honest and transparent manner. Experience what the best of vehicle maintenance has to offer; experience the difference that is Magnum Autoclub.