Continuous personal development is often top of the mind at this time of year, so make 2022 the year when you learn “mechanic jargon”.
My guys and I have come up with seven of the top jargon terms and have helpfully translated their meanings.
| Jargon term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Your big end has gone | Your ‘big end’ is not in reference to too much Christmas snacking, it is a large bearing (the semi-circular sleeve of metal inside the engine) that has worn out and failed. Loss in this part can result in further damage to other parts of the engine. That is what that loud knocking noise is, especially when you accelerate. |
| Excessive play | Sadly, this meaning is not as fun as it first sounds. The mechanic is referencing the steering or suspension parts. ‘The play’ typically means excessive movement of a part. A part that could be moving more than it should or moving when it should not be moving at all. |
| Diagnostic check/ charge | The technician may plug a diagnostics system into your car to assess any faults; this sounds technical, and mechanics can use it to mask the cost of an hour’s labour, but it usually entails no more than plugging a laptop into the car, taking minutes. |
| Your bushes on the wishbone are going | This is not a reference to the long-forgotten Christmas turkey. The bushes are the little rubber flexible parts. They help when you drive over bumpy roads, and the bushes attach to suspension parts, including the triangular components called wishbones. The little rubber parts can easily perish and wear out. They are not an expensive fix, however. |
| You’ve got mayonnaise under your oil cap | If water or condensation under the oil cap mixes with engine oil, it creates thick, white-coloured gunk that collects there; this could indicate that there is an issue with the head gasket, which is quite a severe problem. |
| Spongy brakes | There is truly little resistance when the brake pedal is depressed, indicating that the brakes are not working properly, usually due to a lack of brake fluid |
| I need to access your CAN-bus | The mechanic is asking to access the electronics system or the brain of your car. This system allows the vehicle’s engine management computer to ‘talk’ to other parts of the car. |
If there is something wrong with your car, visit us and we will take a free look.
We promise we will not lose you in translation as we will use plain English, and we are very transparent with the work that needs doing and more importantly, you can trust our pricing.
MRT Autos is here to help
We are here for you and open as normal for MOT bookings or advice on battery maintenance, or to arrange a winter health check. For this check, we will report on the health of a vehicle’s battery and other vital factors for winter driving, such as tyre condition, coolant/antifreeze, lights, wiper blades and screen wash.
My guys wear face masks, safe distance, and hand sanitise. Let me reassure; we take every precaution not to cross-contaminate or re-contaminate anyone’s vehicle. All equipment is either disposed of or sanitised between other bookings. And, before returning, we will have given your car’s surfaces a sanitising cleanse.
My guys are here to help. Get in touch if you need an MOT, repair, or advice. Call us on 01628 788 880 or book via info@mrtautos.co.uk, message us on Facebook, or find us on NEXTDOOR.
