Know your spongy breaks from your screaming fanbelt? If not, you’re not alone. More than half of drivers get confused by the language mechanics use to describe faults in their cars.* It can often feel like they’re speaking another language.
The motoring industry has lots of jargon only mechanics understand. We’ve busted these fun but baffling terms to tell you what they really mean, so you know what’s going on with your car.
Remember, we cover your servicing and maintenance as part of your all-inclusive package, to keep your vehicle running perfectly.
If they say: “Your ABS are faulty”
They mean: There’s a problem with your anti-lock braking system.
Why it matters: This helps stop the wheels from locking up when you brake. Often, dirt can get into the sensors and activate the ABS light. It’s usually simple to fix.
If they say: “Your brakes are spongy”
They mean: When you push down on the brake pedal, it feels soft, with little resistance.
Why it matters: This is usually caused by air in the brake lines, which can stop brake fluid from working properly.
If they say: “Your big end has gone”
They mean: The bearings inside the large end of a connecting rod in your engine are worn out.
Why it matters: This rod powers the back-and-forth motion of the piston into the rotating crankshaft. If you ignore this, it can damage other parts of your engine.
If they say: “Your little end has gone”
They mean: The smaller end of a connecting rod in your engine is showing signs of wear.
Why it matters: This is the same rod as above. It powers the back-and-forth motion of the piston into the rotating crankshaft. It’s not a big job to replace this.
If they say: “Your dampers are shot”
They mean: Your car’s shock absorbers are worn out and need to be replaced.
Why it matters: These keep your car’s tyres in contact with the road and dampen the shock of uneven surfaces.
If they say: “Your DPF is clogged”
They mean: Your Diesel Particulate Filter is not stopping soot from escaping from the exhaust.
Why it matters: This lowers harmful emissions into the atmosphere. It’s often caused by lots of short journeys at low speeds. Your mechanic will burn the soot off to fix this.
If they say: “You’ve got excessive play in the steering”
They mean: Your steering is not responding like it should. It might turn more than you want it to or feel like it moves from side to side when you’re driving fast.
Why it matters: There’s likely a problem with your vehicle’s front suspension. You need this for a smooth ride, stable handling and good control.
If they say: “It’s misfiring”
They mean: Your engine is not running smoothly, which can make your journey jerky.
Why it matters: This could be because the spark plugs are worn or there’s a problem with the ignition system.
If they say: “Your tracking’s out”
They mean: The angle and direction your vehicle’s wheels are set at is off. Your tyres are misaligned.
Why it matters: This can happen when you drive over potholes. It’s usually simple to realign these.
If they say: “You’ve got mayonnaise under the cap”
They mean: Water has mixed with your engine oil to create a sludgy white substance under the oil filler cap. This could mean your head gasket – which keeps coolant and oil from mixing – needs replacing. It could also be a result of repeated short journeys, but it’s best to get it checked.
If they say: “Your cambelt needs changing”
They mean: The strong rubber belt in your vehicle needs to be replaced.
Why it matters: This keeps your engine parts in sync with each other. It’s known as a ‘cambelt’ or ‘timing belt’.
If they say: “Your sump is dripping”
They mean: The oil pan at the bottom of your engine is leaking onto the ground.
Why it matters: This stores and circulates oil to lubricate, cool, and clean your engine’s moving parts. It’s likely the drain plug needs to be tightened or replaced.
If they say: “Your fan belt is screaming”
They mean: The large rubber band connecting parts of your engine might need to be replaced.
Why it matters: When this becomes worn, it can cause friction and make a screeching noise when you accelerate.
If they say: “You’ve got a blown gasket”
They mean: The seal between the cylinder block and head in the engine is not working.
Why it matters: This is known as a ‘head gasket’ and keeps coolant and oil from mixing. If you leave this untreated, it can cause significant engine damage.
If they say: “You’ve got mayonnaise under the cap”
They mean: Water has mixed with your engine oil to create a sludgy white substance under the oil filler cap.
What it matters: This could mean your head gasket needs to be replaced. It can happen because you make short journeys often, but it’s best to get it checked.
If they say: “Your cylinder head needs skimming”
They mean: The cylinder head overheated and distorted. It might need to be ground down.
Why it matters: This sits above the cylinders, creating a tight seal with the cylinder block. It’s like a roof on the combustion chamber. Grinding it down is cheaper than replacing it.
If they say: “The bushes on the wishbone are going”
They mean: Triangular ‘wishbones’ in your vehicle’s suspension are cracking and wearing out.
Why it matters: The bush is the rubber liner that keeps your suspension joints in good order. It’s simple to replace them. The wishbone is a suspension part that looks like a chicken bone.
If they say: “You’re going to need a re-gas”
They mean: Your vehicle’s air conditioning has lost refrigerant gas over time.
Why it matters: “It means your air conditioning has stopped blowing cold. It’s simple to fix. They’ll just replace the old gas with new refrigerant.”
If they say: “Your car’s throwing a code
They mean: Your car’s computer spotted a problem. It’s using a code to show what’s wrong.
Why it matters: It’s telling someone who knows what each code means exactly what’s wrong. It’s best to get it checked out, as this could be different things.
Now you’re in the know
We hope our breakdown made those terms much easier to understand. Next time you hear these, you’ll feel more confident and have a clearer idea of what’s happening with your car.
* Source: Car mechanic jargon is too confusing, claim majority of drivers
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