738 - Talking to a Mechanic

Getting your car fixed is one of the necessary evils in life. Learn how to talk to a mechanic in English in this episode.

Slow dialogue: 1:03
Explanations: 3:13
Fast dialogue: 15:32
Mechanic: Hi, I’m the mechanic. What can I do for you?
Amy: My car is making a very weird noise. It sounds like this: gulug, gulug, gulug...
Mechanic: Hm, that doesn’t sound good. Where is it coming from?
Amy: I’m not sure. When I’m in the car, it sounds like it’s coming from the engine, but when I get out of the car, it sounds like it’s coming from directly under the trunk, maybe the muffler?
Mechanic: That’s not a noise a muffler would make. Let me take a look. Can you start the car and pop the hood?
Amy: Sure.
Mechanic: Well, I don’t hear the sound right now, but your battery needs replacing, you have a coolant leak, your carburetor needs adjusting, and your spark plugs are shot. I need to look under the car.
Amy: Okay, go ahead.
Mechanic: Your brake pads need replacing and your tires need balancing.
Amy: But are any of those problems causing that horrible noise?
Mechanic: I don’t know. I don’t hear the noise right now, so it’s hard to tell. But that’s all work you need to have done on this car anyway for it to run right. It’s only a matter of time before your car stops working if you don’t take care of those problems.
Amy: I come in with one problem and you find 10 others. I guess you should go ahead. What else can I do?
Mechanic: Um, buy a bus pass?

Script by Dr. Lucy Tse