Auto Diagnostics for Women: Understanding Car Symptoms

Ladies, you know what you do when your child is ill. You feel their head, check for a fever, and then ramble through the cabinets for the perfect anecdote. Sometimes the problem can be solved with a little TLC and a day of rest and sometimes you have to make a trip to the doctor.

The key to determining what needs to be done is having an understanding of the symptoms. Tummy aches signify one thing while headaches and fevers mean something completely different.

Your car is no different.

Here are some tips we've learned from our Auto Clinics and our female mechanic:

The mechanic is not the expert of your vehicle ---- you are! You drive it everyday, you know how it rides and you know how you drive it. So although you have to utilize a mechanic, remember he or she is the professional, but you are the expert.

When you go in for auto repair, ride with the mechanic to ensure that they hear the same thing you hear. What sounds like a knock to you, might be a click to them.

Regular maintenance and upkeep is the best way to keep a car running well and for a longer period of time.

5 Common Automotive Repair Symptoms and Things to Check for:

Symptom : Vibration
Check : Tires, Front End Parts, Brake Rotors

Symptom : Pulsation
Check : Brakes (may need turning)

Symptom : Hesitation
Check : Determine when the hesitation is occurring

Symptom : Smoking
Check : Type of smoke first

White Smoke (often okay, may be condensation)
Black Smoke
Blue Smoke (some type of oil is burning)

Symptom : Grinding or Squealing
Check : Higher grade brake pads

This gives you some general ideas of what might be occuring and some thoughts on what you might check first. This information does not take the place of having a certified mechanic you trust diagnose your individual situation.