How to Communicate Vehicle Symptoms Clearly for Faster RSA Triage MyMechanic

Location: Highway name, KM marker with decimal, and direction (e.g., “PLUS KM 213.8 southbound”), plus one landmark (exit/R&R/toll/petrol).
Vehicle: SG plate, make/model, colour.
Problem: One line that matches a symptom set below.
Safety: “Passengers safe. Triangle placed.” Mention narrow shoulder, darkness, or rain.

No-start symptoms

“Press start: one click, lights dim.” (weak battery)
“Rapid clicking, dash flickers.” (deep discharge/terminal issue)
“No sound or lights.” (dead battery/main connection)
“Cranks but doesn’t fire.” (fuel/ignition—say if low fuel on)

Loss of power while driving

“Hesitates under throttle, no warnings.” (fuel/air restriction)
“Sudden power loss with temp rising.” (cooling/overheat)
“RPM surges, speed doesn’t rise.” (transmission slip—state type)

Overheating or hot smell

“Temp climbing, A/C weak, hot smell—no steam seen yet.”
“Steam from bonnet edge.” (say if visible)
“After a climb, power dropped and temp rose.” (heat stress)

Steering and braking feel

“Steering suddenly heavy, battery light came on earlier.”
“Brake pedal feels long/soft.” (stop driving)

Tyre and wheel issues

“Loud thump, car pulls, tyre looks low/flat.”
“Vibration increases with speed, worse after pothole.”

Noises that help triage

“High‑pitched squeal with speed, changes when braking.”
“Grinding only when braking.”
“Knock/metallic clunk over bumps, low speed.”
“Whine that rises with speed, not with revs.”
“Rattle at idle, smooths out with revs.”

Smells that matter

“Burning rubber.”
“Sweet smell.” (coolant)
“Fuel smell near rear/side.”
“Rotten egg.” (battery venting—do not jump)

Photo checklist for faster triage

Scene/location: wide shot with triangle; close-up of nearest KM marker or landmark sign.
Dashboard: warning lights, temperature, fuel.
Issue area: tyre damage, fluid leak, engine bay overview (only if safe), or a broken/loose part close-up.
Extras: tow truck job card and plate if a tow is underway.

Copy‑ready scripts

“PLUS KM [].[], [northbound/southbound], near [Exit/R&R/Toll]. SG plate [___], [make/model], [colour]. Passengers safe, triangle placed.”
“Symptom: [one clear line from sets above].”
“Shoulder is [wide/narrow], lighting [good/poor], weather [clear/rain].”

What not to say

Avoid “The car spoilt.” Say “Press start—one click, lights dim.”
Avoid “Something wrong with engine.” Say “Hesitates when accelerating, no warning lights.”
Avoid “Very noisy.” Say “Grinding only when braking, front left.”

Overheating with steam.
Battery swollen, strong sulfur smell, or fluid leak.
Transmission slipping under light throttle.
Brake pedal long/soft or steering suddenly heavy.
Shoulder narrow, dark, or near a blind bend.

Symptom mapping: short phrases route the right responder.
Location precision: prompts for KM marker, direction, and a landmark cut search time.
End‑to‑end updates: from dispatch to arrival to workshop handover.

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