5 Things Your Mechanic Wants You to Know but May Not Tell You

Whether you’re booked in for a service or your car needs an emergency repair, there are a number of things that you can do that will help your local Lakemba mechanic to carry out the work quickly and efficiently.

Mechanics are usually willing to accommodate customers, especially if your car breaks down and you need it up and running urgently.

However, when some customers consistently bring in vehicles with empty fuel tanks, dirty interiors and missing wheel lock keys and then ask for a job to be done as soon as possible, it can test the patience of even the most accommodating mechanic.

So we’ve put together five things that mechanics would like you to know before you bring your car to the service centre.

1.    Tidy and Clean the Interior of Your Car

If you’re having any interior work done such electrical wiring behind the dashboard, your Kingsgrove mechanic will thank you if you make sure that the interior of your car is clean and tidy.

You wouldn’t like to have to work surrounded by used tissues, empty drinks and food cartons and your smelly gym kit and neither do we!

2.    Make Sure There’s Fuel in the Tank

We often need to test drive your car to replicate and experience the problems that you’re complaining about first hand.

We also test drive your car once we’ve finished the repair. We don’t want to feel that we’re going to run out of fuel and if we do have to put some gas in the tank, you’ll be charged a premium for the inconvenience.

3.    Make Sure Your Wheel Lock Key is Accessible

If you’re booked in for a brake check or you’ve asked us to change or rotate the tyres, we’ll need access to your wheel lock key. We don’t want to spend our precious time searching for it and if we do, the time it takes will be charged.

4.    We Don’t Mind You Calling for An Update

Most mechanics won’t mind if you call for an update. However, always remember that sometimes things are just outside of our control.

It may be that it takes longer to get spare parts than we’d anticipated or that what appeared to be a relatively simple job proves to be more complicated than we originally thought.

Always bear in mind that it may be necessary for you to make alternative arrangements if we can’t complete the work on time.

5.    Don’t be Scared to Get a Second Opinion

We know that sometimes customers feel that mechanics are taking them for a ride. However, reputable mechanics will want to keep their reputation. So feel free to get a second opinion if necessary before you agree to the work.

Build a Relationship with Your Mechanic

Taking the above points into consideration when taking your car to your local Earlwood mechanic will go a long way to help build a good working relationship.
And the better your mechanic knows your car, the better the job they’ll be able to do for you.

Routine Car Maintenance 101

While most car owners in Lakemba rely on their local Lakemba mechanic to service and repair their vehicles, taking the time to learn a few basics about how your car works and keeping on top of routine maintenance tasks yourself can help you to prolong the life of your vehicle.

How Your Car Works

You press the ignition, and the car starts as if by magic. But how does this happen?

Put simply, when you press the ignition the car battery delivers power to the starter. This turns the crankshaft which puts the pistons in motion. These, in turn, fire the engine.

Air is then pulled into a chamber where fuel is added. As you step on the accelerator, the throttle valve opens allowing the gas and air mixture to pass through the intake manifold.

This mixture is then passed into the cylinders where the distributor causes the spark plugs to spark and ignite the gas and air mixture to enable it to depress the piston inside the cylinder and rotate the crankshaft. And it’s this rotation of the crankshaft that causes the wheels to turn.

As you can imagine, as metal turns against metal friction occurs, and that’s why your engine needs oil. In addition, it’s important to keep the transmission well lubricated to ensure that the moving parts don’t cease up.

Routine DIY Tasks

•  Checking Levels of Oil and Transmission Fluids. This involves removing the appropriate dipsticks and ensuring that the fluids are at the levels recommended by the manufacturer. If it’s dropped below the level, it will need topping up.


•  Checking the Air Filter. You can find the location of your air filter by consulting your vehicle’s manual. Remove the filter, check to see how clean it is and replace it if necessary. A clean air filter will enable your vehicle to run more efficiently.


•  Check the belts. If you notice any cracking or other signs of wear and tear, you should take your vehicle to your local Kingsgrove mechanic so that they can be replaced.

•  Inspect the Battery. If your battery becomes corroded, eventually it won’t start. When checking a battery always wear rubber gloves and eye protection. First of all, you will need to remove the battery cables.

Remember to disconnect the black negative cable first, then clean the battery posts by applying a mixture of baking soda and water with an old toothbrush. Further corrosion can be prevented by applying a layer of grease or petroleum jelly to the terminals. When reconnecting the battery always reconnect the positive cable first.

The Bottom Line

Regular oil changes and lubrication are key to keeping your vehicle running at its best. While it’s possible to do these at home, you will need some special tools, and you will need to dispose of used oils correctly and safely.

This is why most Earlwood vehicle owners prefer to take their car to their local Earlwood mechanic to ensure that the job is done properly.

3 Noises Your Brakes Shouldn’t Make!

If you start to hear unusual sounds coming from your vehicle’s brakes, it’s time to take it to the garage or your local service centre. Don’t put your safety at risk – strange noises arising from your brakes indicate that there’s something wrong and that they need attention – fast!

We asked your local Lakemba mechanic for more information about what kind of noises we should be listening out for.

A High Pitched Squeal

Apparently, there are typically three different noises that indicate that all’s not well in the brake department. The first noise that you’re likely to hear is a high-pitched squeal. This usually goes away when you apply the brakes.

So, if you hear this irritating noise but it stops as soon as you touch the brakes, you should take it as your first warning sign. 

If you get your car booked in for an inspection as soon as possible after you first hear the noise, you’ll find that the repair job will be less expensive than if you leave it until you hear the next warning sound, which is…

Grinding or Hard Growling Noises

This noise indicates that the brake pads have worn through completely and that they are now grinding into the rotor. It sounds bad, and it is! So, if you hear an ‘abrasive’ grinding noise, take your car for immediate attention otherwise it’s going to prove to be a very expensive repair.

Even driving with this noise for 2 or 3 days will mean that it’s likely that the calliper will also need to be replaced and that’s a more serious job that can run into several hundreds of dollars.

Squeaking When You Stop

If your brakes squeak when you stop, you can breathe a sigh of relief. While it still indicates that the vehicle needs attention, the squeaking is likely to be caused by poor instalment or insufficient lubrication.

This can be easily resolved by taking everything apart and then putting them back together correctly, or you can simply put up with the noise, although your neighbours and other drivers won’t thank you for it!

Avoid Issues with Your Brakes

One way to avoid issues with your brakes is to book your vehicle in for regular servicing. During a service, your brakes will be routinely inspected, and any defects highlighted. Regular servicing may seem like an unnecessary expense but is likely to be more cost-effective in the long run.

After all, driving with defective breaks is not just illegal but it’s dangerous too, and you don’t want to put yourself or your passengers at risk. 

If you hear any of the noises described above or you haven’t had a recent Car Service Lakemba
car owners should schedule an appointment with your local garage or car service centre. As we all know, it’s better to be safe than sorry!