Fast Triage Questions MyMechanic Asks to Reduce Wait and Tow Time

What happened at the moment of failure?

• “Did it stall while moving, or refuse to start after a stop?”
• “Any sudden noises, smells, or warning lights just before it happened?”
• “Were A/C, lights, or screens flickering or resetting?”

How does the car behave right now?

• “Press start: one click, rapid clicks, or silent?”
• “If it cranks, does it fire briefly or not at all?”
• “Idling smooth or rough? Any surging or misfire feel?”
• “Steering normal? Brake pedal firm or longer/softer than usual?”

• “Any visible leaks, steam, or smoke?”
• “Burning rubber, fuel, or strong sulfur smell?”
• “Tyre shape normal or low/flat? Any bulge or cut?”

What changed on the dashboard?

• “Is there a red warning (oil, brake, temperature) or a flashing check engine?”
• “Was a battery/charging icon on while driving earlier?”
• “Is the temperature rising or stable?”

• “Is there enough room and lighting to safely change a wheel or attempt a jump‑start?”
• “Is the ground level and dry, or sloped/soft/waterlogged?”
• “Is it day or night, raining or clear, and is traffic heavy?”

• Battery/electrical: one hard click, dim lights, or rapid clicks without smells → safe jump‑start; swollen case or sulfur smell → tow.
• Tyre/wheel: clean puncture in wide, lit spot → wheel swap; sidewall cut/bent rim/tight or dark shoulder → tow.
• Overheat: gentle temp rise with no steam → cool‑down and short relocation; steam/leaks/rising temp again → tow.
• Drivability: strong pull, long/soft brakes, or transmission slip → tow; mild low‑speed vibration → careful move to safer bay.

Photo prompts that cut back‑and‑forth

• One wide shot of vehicle and surroundings.
• One close‑up of the issue (tyre/leak/battery terminals/gauge).
• Optional: a second close‑up if there’s a visible crack, cut, or icon.

• “No start—one click, lights dim.”
• “Starts, then dies at next stop—battery light on.”
• “Temp rising, A/C weak—no steam.”
• “Tyre sidewall cut—no safe space to jack.”
• “Severe pull and vibration after pothole.”

• Identify job type (jump, wheel, fluids, tow) in seconds.
• Reduce mis‑sends and second dispatches.
• Choose equipment (flatbed, straps, dollies, ramps) before moving.

Prepare answers in advance

• Keep a five‑line template: event moment, current behaviour, visible/ smelled, warnings, safety space.
• Store a checklist to snap one wide photo and one issue close‑up.
• Keep a headlamp, gloves, and triangle accessible for safe staging.

• Clear routing: jump‑start vs tyre help vs tow in one pass.
• Right gear first try: straps, ramps, dollies, or flatbed chosen from the initial details.
• End‑to‑end clarity: concise updates from dispatch to workshop handover with minimal back‑and‑forth.

Frequently Asked Questions