The questions you're too nervous to ask your mechanic but should

While owning a car is a privilege, we aren’t all mechanics either. Whether it’s your first car or your fifth, there are questions that you might be too timid to ask or not even know to ask.

But never fear, we have a list of things you might have thought about, or maybe even the odd thing you have never thought twice about!

Remember, there is nothing wrong with asking your mechanic any car-related question or raising a concern with them about your car, no matter how silly you may think it is!

Before paying, ask the mechanic to break down the charges for you. Doing so helps ensure you are only paying for the maintenance done on your car and will allow you to avoid hidden costs.

I recently did this when I took my car in for a service. I was told that I needed my brakes replaced, however after getting the brake pads reviewed by another mechanic, I was told there was still a safe amount of brake pad left, and unless I was hearing a high-pitched squeaking sound, they would last until my next service.

I always like to assume the person I am dealing with is an expert, but with the cost of living rising and things being so expensive, it’s good to get a second opinion if you think what you’re being told isn’t necessarily correct.

If you’re new to the car scene and don’t have any experience in the automotive world, this might be a good question to ask so you can know firsthand how well your car is functioning.

You also have the right to ask to see any parts before and after being replaced, and although most of the time you will get honest work, there have been instances of mechanics charging for parts they did not replace, so asking these questions and asking to see the replaced parts can help you avoid being overcharged and overpaying.

Another car-related issue I had no idea about until it happened to me firsthand, and I had to go see the mechanic. Thankfully, it’s nothing serious and just means the bulb has burned out and needs replacing.

You will be able to hear it, as the blinker sound changes and speeds up quite a bit. However, it’s an easy fix and should cost you no more than $20 to replace. Replace the bulb and it will return to blinking normally. No further action is needed!

This is a car issue I stumbled across relatively early in my car-owning journey. After buying my very first car and driving it up and down the east coast of Australia – travelling for uni and visiting my hometown – I realised this was something I was going to get looked at.

The owner’s manual will have information on this for your specific vehicle model, however, it’s recommended to change your timing belt every 60,000km to 100,000km.

This can be a costly exercise too, so make sure you ask your mechanic the right questions before booking in, as sometimes you don’t need it changed as soon as you hit 60,000km.

Have you ever been driving and heard a squeak every time you hit the brakes? It might mean it’s time for a brake pad replacement.

Brakes are made of pads and rotating components that are always moving, and as to be expected, these components begin to wear down and vibrate over time, and you will be able to hear when this happens.

However, it’s important to pay attention, because if you happen to hear a grinding noise when touching the brakes, it could mean a more serious issue is happening. Gridding would indicate the brake pads have been so worn down that it is now metal on metal. It shouldn’t be a shock to find out that this is bad and can cause further damage to the rotors.

So, stay alert and make sure you get your brakes changed when required.

This one I am most guilty of because checking my tyres and the pressure isn’t usually high on my list – even though it should be! However, after some issues with my tyres I have made it a good rule of thumb to check the pressure every time I fill up at the petrol station, or at the very least once a month.

You can tell if you need tyres by checking the tread depth, look for the tread wear indicators (little bridges across the grooves). If the tyre is worn to the point that the tread wear indicators are making contact with the road, this means the grooves are less than 1.5mm in depth and the tyre needs to be replaced.

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