How Well Do You Know These Words and Phrases Used By Mechanics?
Quiz completed!
Here are your results...
🥁You're a star!
Well done!
Good effort!
Not too bad!
Better luck next time!
You scored
out of
Question 1
Fill In The Blank: A Car That Won't Start Has A Dead ___?
Question 1
What Does A Mechanic Mean By A "Lemon"?
Question 1
What Does "Flooring It" Mean When Talking About A Car?
Question 1
What Does A Mechanic Mean By A "Clunker"?
Question 1
What Is Someone Doing If They "Jack Up" A Car?
Question 1
What Does It Mean To "Top Off" Your Fluids?
Question 1
What Is Someone Doing If They "Detail" A Car?
Question 1
What Does A Mechanic Mean By A "Daily Driver"?
Question 1
What Does "Money Pit" Mean When Talking About A Car?
Question 1
Fill In The Blank: A Car With Lots Of Miles Is Called "High ___"?
Question 1
What Does A Mechanic Mean By A "Tune-Up"?
Question 1
What Is Someone Doing If They "Pump The Brakes"?
Question 1
What Does A Mechanic Mean By "Swapping" A Part?
Question 1
What Does It Mean When A Mechanic Says A Car Is "Thirsty"?
Question 1
What Does A Mechanic Mean By A "Grocery Getter"?
Question 1
What Does A Mechanic Mean By "Nickle And Diming" A Car?
Question 1
Your Mechanic Says "It's Got Good Bones" — What Do They Mean?
Question 1
Fill In The Blank: A Car That Barely Runs Is Called 'On Its Last ___'?
Question 1
Your Friend Says "It's Running Rough" — What Are They Telling You?
Question 1
What Does "Riding The Clutch" Mean In Garage Talk?
Question 1
Which Word Means The Same As "Bald" On A Tire?
Question 1
What Does "Pulling To One Side" Mean On A Car?
Question 1
What Does "Redlining" Mean When Mechanics Talk About Engines?
Question 1
What Is A "Shade Tree Mechanic"?
Question 1
What Is A 'Parts Car' In Garage Slang?
Question 1
Which Word Means The Same As "Peel Out" In A Garage?
Question 1
Which Phrase Means A Car Engine Has Completely Stopped Working?
Question 1
Which Phrase Means A Car Has Never Been In An Accident?
Question 1
Fill In The Blank: A Car Leaking Oil Has A Bad ___?
Question 1
What Is Someone Doing If They "Bleed The Brakes"?
Question 1
What Is Someone Doing If They "Pull The Codes"?
Question 1
What Does "Cherry" Mean When Describing A Used Car?
Question 1
What Is Someone Doing If They "Burn Off" Their Brakes?
Question 1
Which Word Do Mechanics Use For A Temporary Fix?
Question 1
Your Mechanic Says "It's Running Rich" — What Does That Mean?
Question 1
What Is Someone Doing If They "Bench Test" A Part?
Question 1
Which Word Means The Same As "Knocking" In An Engine?
Question 1
Your Mechanic Says "She's Throwing A Rod" — What Does That Mean?
Question 1
Your Mechanic Says "It's Vapor Locked" — What Does That Mean?
Question 1
What Does "In The Weeds" Mean In A Garage?
Question 1
What Is A "Grenade" When Mechanics Talk About Engines?
Question 1
Which Phrase Means A Car Is Using Too Much Oil?
Question 1
What Does It Mean To "Drop The Transmission"?
Question 1
What Is A "Widow Maker" In Garage Slang?
Question 1
Which Phrase Means A Car Engine Is Fully Warmed Up?
Question 1
What Does "Shotgun" Mean When Mechanics Talk About Diagnosing A Car?
Question 1
What Is A "Creeper" Used For In A Garage?
Question 1
What Does A Mechanic Mean By "Throwing Parts" At A Problem?
Question 1
What Is Someone Doing If They "Feather" The Gas Pedal?
Question 1
Which Phrase Means A Car Has Been In A Collision Before?
Question 1
What Is A "Rat Rod" In Garage Slang?
Question 1
Your Mechanic Says "It's Weeping Oil" — What Do They Mean?
Question 1
What Does "Buttoned Up" Mean When A Mechanic Finishes A Job?
Question 1
What Is Someone Doing If They "Chase A Rattle"?
Question 1
What Does A Mechanic Mean By A "Sleeper" Car?
Question 1
What Is Someone Doing If They "Gravity Bleed" The Brakes?
Question 1
Your Mechanic Says "It's Got A Tick" — What Are They Telling You?
Question 1
Which Word Means The Same As "Sludge" In A Car Engine?
Question 1
What Is A "Knuckle Buster" In Garage Slang?
Question 1
Fill In The Blank: A Mechanic Who Fixes Only One Brand Is Called A "___ Specialist"?
Question 1
What Is Someone Doing If They "Pull A Motor"?
Question 1
What Is The 'Dead Pedal' Found In Many Cars?
Question 1
What Is Someone Doing If They 'Marry' Two Parts Together?
Question 1
What Does A Mechanic Mean When They Say An Engine Has Been 'Bored Out'?
Question 1
What Does A Mechanic Mean By A 'Ghost' Problem?
Question 1
Your Mechanic Says 'It's Sucking Air' — What Do They Mean?
Question 1
What Is A 'Hammer Job' In Garage Slang?
Question 1
What Does It Mean When A Mechanic Says A Car 'Wallows'?
Question 1
Which Phrase Means A Repair Was Done Quickly And Cheaply?
Question 1
What Does A Mechanic Mean By A "Soft Pedal"?
Question 1
What Is Someone Doing If They "Dry Fit" A Part?
Question 1
Your Mechanic Says "It's Hunting" — What Do They Mean?
Question 1
Which Word Means The Same As "Squeal" From A Brake?
Question 1
What Does A Mechanic Mean By A "Widow Maker" Belt?
1
Battery
2
Starter
3
Fuel Pump
4
Alternator
A dead battery is the single most common reason a car won't start — cold winter mornings are the number one time mechanics get called out.
1
A Stolen Car
2
A Fast Car
3
A Classic Car
4
A Defective Car
The word "lemon" for a bad car became so common that Congress passed the federal Lemon Law in 1975 to protect buyers.
1
Replacing The Floor Mats
2
Pressing The Gas Fully Down
3
Checking Under The Car
4
Lowering The Suspension
The phrase literally refers to pushing the accelerator pedal all the way down until it touches the floor of the car.
1
An Old Worn-Out Car
2
A Noisy Exhaust
3
A Cracked Engine Block
4
A Loose Wheel
The term became nationally famous during the 2009 Cash for Clunkers government program that paid people to trade in old vehicles.
1
Washing The Underside
2
Speeding It Up Fast
3
Lifting It Off The Ground
4
Filling The Gas Tank
The scissor jack became standard equipment in cars by the 1920s, letting drivers lift a wheel solo to change a flat tire roadside.
1
Test Them For Quality
2
Drain And Replace Them
3
Refill Them To Full
4
Flush The Entire System
Topping off means adding just enough fluid — oil, coolant, or washer fluid — to bring it back up to the recommended level.
1
Replacing Interior Trim Pieces
2
Inspecting The Engine Bay
3
Deep Cleaning It Inside And Out
4
Adding Custom Paint Accents
Professional detailing goes far beyond a regular car wash and can add thousands of dollars to a used car's resale value at auction.
1
A Rental Car
2
A Delivery Vehicle
3
A Brand New Car
4
Your Everyday Car
Mechanics use "daily driver" to separate a car you rely on every day from a project or weekend car sitting in the garage.
1
A Car With A Big Engine
2
A Car That Keeps Costing You
3
A Very Expensive New Car
4
A Hard-To-Find Spare Part
The 1986 Tom Hanks movie "The Money Pit" about a crumbling house helped cement this phrase in everyday American vocabulary.
1
Revving
2
Torque
3
Output
4
Mileage
Most mechanics consider a vehicle high mileage once it crosses 100,000 miles, though modern cars regularly run well past 200,000 with proper care.
1
A Major Repair Job
2
Routine Maintenance Service
3
Adjusting The Stereo
4
Painting The Car
The term dates to early engines that needed spark plug timing adjusted — mechanics literally tuned the ignition for peak performance.
1
Replacing Brake Pads
2
Slowing Things Down
3
Checking Brake Fluid
4
Testing The Pedal
Before anti-lock brakes existed, drivers literally pumped the pedal rapidly on ice to avoid skidding, giving the phrase its cautionary meaning.
1
Ordering A New One
2
Cleaning It Thoroughly
3
Replacing It With Another
4
Testing It For Faults
Mechanics often swap a suspected bad part with a known good one first to confirm the diagnosis before spending money on a brand new component.
1
It Burns A Lot Of Fuel
2
The Oil Is Very Low
3
It Needs A Coolant Flush
4
The Battery Is Draining Fast
Calling a car thirsty is a friendly way to warn that your gas bill is about to hurt — large V8 trucks and muscle cars wear this label most often.
1
A Delivery Van
2
A Rental Vehicle
3
A Basic Family Car
4
A Beat-Up Truck
Mechanics use this affectionate term for ordinary, no-frills cars driven purely for everyday errands — nothing sporty about them.
1
Skipping Routine Maintenance
2
Constant Small Repairs
3
Buying Cheap Parts
4
Haggling Over Labor Costs
When repair bills keep coming in small but often, mechanics say the car is nickel and diming you — usually a sign it's time to trade it in.
1
The Tires Are New
2
The Frame Is Solid
3
The Paint Looks Fresh
4
The Engine Runs Great
Borrowed from real estate lingo, mechanics use this phrase to say a car's structural frame is strong even if cosmetic details need work.
1
Legs
2
Bolts
3
Miles
4
Fumes
Running on its last legs comes from old farm life, describing a tired workhorse — mechanics borrowed it perfectly for worn-out vehicles.
1
The Engine Is Misfiring
2
The Wipers Need Replacing
3
The Brakes Are Squealing
4
The AC Is Broken
A rough-running engine usually means one or more cylinders aren't firing cleanly — often caused by a bad spark plug or dirty fuel injector.
1
Driving Too Fast
2
Keeping The Clutch Partly Pressed
3
Skipping An Oil Change
4
Revving The Engine High
Resting your foot on the clutch pedal while driving causes constant friction that wears it out far faster than normal use.
1
Dry Rotted
2
Worn Smooth
3
Out Of Round
4
Overinflated
A bald tire has lost its tread completely — penny tests have been used since the 1950s to check if tires are dangerously smooth.
1
A Tire Is Going Flat
2
The Engine Is Misfiring
3
Steering Drifts Left Or Right
4
The Brakes Are Squealing
A car that pulls usually has uneven tire pressure or misaligned wheels — a quick alignment fix at the shop sorts it right out.
1
Running Out Of Fuel
2
Marking A Part For Replacement
3
Pushing The Engine To Its Limit
4
Overheating The Radiator
The red line on a tachometer marks the maximum safe RPM — engineers literally painted that warning zone red so drivers could see the danger at a glance.
1
A Roadside Assistance Driver
2
A Backyard DIY Mechanic
3
A Certified Master Technician
4
A Dealership Service Manager
The term dates back to when everyday folks fixed their own cars outside under a tree — no fancy shop, just tools and know-how.
1
A Newly Restored Vehicle
2
A Dealer's Loaner Vehicle
3
A Car Awaiting An Inspection
4
A Car Kept For Spare Parts
Savvy car owners buy a cheap identical model just to cannibalize it for parts — it can save hundreds compared to buying new components.
1
Downshift
2
Redline
3
Burnout
4
Backfire
A burnout spins the drive wheels so fast they leave rubber on the pavement — the term dates back to 1950s drag racing culture in the American South.
1
Topped Off
2
Idling Down
3
Running Lean
4
Seized Up
A seized engine happens when metal parts overheat and fuse together — often caused by running the car with no oil for too long.
1
One Owner Car
2
Clean Carfax
3
Full Service History
4
Low Mileage Title
Carfax launched in 1984 and changed used-car buying forever — a clean report showing no accidents or title problems became the golden ticket for sellers and buyers alike.
1
Caliper
2
Gasket
3
Solenoid
4
Rotor
Gaskets are thin seals sandwiched between engine parts — made from rubber or metal, they can harden and crack after years of heat cycles.
1
Checking Tire Pressure
2
Removing Air Bubbles
3
Tightening Lug Nuts
4
Replacing Brake Pads
Air trapped in brake lines makes pedals feel spongy, so mechanics flush it out with fresh fluid — a process called bleeding.
1
Ordering Replacement Parts
2
Checking The Owner's Manual
3
Reading The Check Engine Light
4
Testing The Car Battery
A small scanner plugged under the dashboard reads fault codes stored by the car's computer — mechanics call this pulling the codes.
1
In Perfect Condition
2
Priced Very Low
3
Recently Repaired
4
Painted Bright Red
Car enthusiasts have used "cherry" since at least the 1950s to describe a used vehicle that looks and runs like it just left the factory.
1
Cleaning The Rotors
2
Overheating The Brake Pads
3
Testing The Brake Lines
4
Replacing The Brake Fluid
Riding the brakes downhill is the most common way to burn them off — mechanics always warn against it on mountain roads.
1
Bandaid
2
Rebuild
3
Overhaul
4
Retrofit
Just like the adhesive strip, a bandaid repair covers the problem without truly fixing it and usually needs revisiting soon after.
1
The Car Has Premium Parts
2
The Engine Is Very Powerful
3
Oil Pressure Is High
4
Too Much Fuel In The Mix
Running rich wastes fuel and can blacken your spark plugs — the opposite problem, too little fuel, is called running lean.
1
Looking Up The Part Number
2
Testing It Outside The Car
3
Checking It While Driving
4
Pricing It At The Store
Mechanics bench test starters, alternators, and batteries on a workbench with a power source — it confirms whether the part itself is bad before reinstalling anything.
1
Idling
2
Pinging
3
Flooding
4
Stalling
Engine knock — also called pinging — happens when fuel ignites too early in the cylinder, and cheap gas is often the culprit.
1
Tires Need Rotating
2
Engine Is Badly Damaged
3
Battery Is Dead
4
Transmission Is Slipping
A thrown rod means a connecting rod inside the engine has broken loose — one of the most catastrophic and expensive failures possible.
1
The Battery Is Dead
2
The Radiator Is Cracked
3
Fuel Can't Flow Properly
4
The Exhaust Is Blocked
Vapor lock was a huge problem in the 1940s and 50s before modern fuel injection systems solved the overheating fuel line issue.
1
Behind On Payments
2
Overwhelmed With Work
3
Waiting On Parts
4
Working Outdoors
Mechanics borrowed "in the weeds" from restaurant servers — both industries use it when the workload becomes completely unmanageable.
1
An Engine That Blew Apart
2
An Engine That Stalls Out
3
An Engine That Burns Oil
4
An Engine That Overheats
When an engine "grenades," connecting rods often punch right through the engine block — one of the most catastrophic failures a mechanic sees.
1
Throwing Codes
2
Jumping Time
3
Burning Oil
4
Running Lean
A car burning oil often leaves a telltale blue smoke from the exhaust — mechanics say worn piston rings are the most common culprit.
1
Shift Into Neutral
2
Replace The Clutch
3
Flush The Fluid
4
Remove It From The Car
Dropping a transmission is one of the most labor-intensive garage jobs — on some vehicles it can take a mechanic an entire full day.
1
A Dangerously Faulty Part
2
A Very Loud Exhaust
3
A Heavy Truck Tire
4
A Rusted Brake Line
Mechanics apply this nickname to parts known for catastrophic failure, most famously certain older truck steering components that could snap without warning.
1
Up To Temperature
2
In The Green
3
Ticking Over
4
Running Rich
Cold engines run less efficiently, so mechanics always recommend letting a car reach operating temperature before pushing it hard.
1
Replacing Parts Without Testing
2
Checking All The Fluids
3
A Quick Visual Inspection
4
Using A Diagnostic Scanner
Mechanics borrowed this from hunting — blasting a wide spray and hoping something hits instead of taking one precise aimed shot.
1
Storing Loose Bolts
2
Lifting A Heavy Engine
3
Draining Old Oil
4
Rolling Under A Car
The wheeled mechanic's creeper was patented in the early 1900s and gave workers a flat board on casters to slide under low vehicles comfortably.
1
Ordering New Supplies
2
Fixing Multiple Things At Once
3
Organizing The Parts Bin
4
Guessing Instead Of Diagnosing
This costly habit can turn a simple fix into a $500 mistake — skilled mechanics say a proper diagnosis is always cheaper than random part swaps.
1
Flooring The Accelerator
2
Pumping It Repeatedly
3
Pressing It Very Gently
4
Holding It Halfway Down
Feathering means applying the lightest possible touch — experienced drivers feather the gas on icy roads to avoid spinning tires.
1
Needs A Rebuild
2
Runs Rough
3
High Mileage
4
Has Prior Damage
Mechanics check for prior damage by looking at paint overspray and uneven panel gaps — telltale signs a car was repaired after a crash.
1
A Rusty Junk Car
2
A Deliberately Rough Old Hot Rod
3
A Stolen Vehicle
4
A Cheap Race Car
Rat rods became popular in the 1990s as a rebellious twist on polished hot rods — owners intentionally keep the raw, unfinished look as a style statement.
1
The Oil Is Very Dirty
2
It Has A Slow Seeping Leak
3
It Needs An Oil Change
4
The Engine Is Overheating
Weeping is a small seep that hasn't become a full drip yet — mechanics watch these closely because a weep can turn into a real leak fast.
1
Everything Is Closed Back Up
2
Parts Were Left Over
3
The Car Is Painted
4
The Job Was Abandoned
When a mechanic says it's buttoned up, every panel, bolt, and cover is back in place — the car is fully reassembled and ready to drive.
1
Replacing The Exhaust
2
Tightening All The Bolts
3
Tracking Down A Mystery Noise
4
Inspecting The Suspension
Chasing a rattle is one of the trickiest jobs in a garage — a noise heard at 40 mph can disappear completely once the car is up on the lift.
1
A Fast Car That Looks Ordinary
2
A Car Parked For Storage
3
A Very Quiet Engine
4
An Old Car Needing Restoration
Sleepers are built to fool people — a plain-looking family sedan hiding a souped-up engine is the ultimate garage compliment in the hot rod world.
1
Pumping The Brake Pedal
2
Flushing The Coolant
3
Letting Fluid Drain Slowly
4
Checking Brake Pressure
Gravity bleeding is one of the oldest brake methods — you simply open the bleeder valve and let physics do the work without any tools.
1
The Clock Spring Is Broken
2
The Idle Is Too High
3
A Belt Is Slipping
4
There's A Tapping Engine Noise
An engine tick is usually a small metal part tapping rapidly, often caused by low oil pressure starving the valve train of lubrication.
1
Leaked Coolant
2
Dirty Fuel
3
Clogged Air Filter
4
Gunked-Up Old Oil
Engine sludge forms when oil breaks down from heat and neglect — skipping oil changes is the number one cause mechanics see.
1
A Job That Scrapes Your Hands
2
A Stripped Bolt
3
A Broken Socket Wrench
4
A Rusty Old Part
Any tight, awkward repair where your wrench slips and your knuckles slam into metal earns the nickname — changing spark plugs in a cramped engine bay is a classic example.
1
Make
2
Line
3
Parts
4
Fleet
Make specialists often train directly with manufacturers like Ford or Toyota, earning certifications that general shops don't always carry.
1
Towing Another Vehicle
2
Replacing The Starter
3
Removing The Engine Completely
4
Starting A Stalled Car
Pulling a motor is one of the biggest jobs in a garage — mechanics use a chain hoist or engine crane to lift the entire engine out of the bay.
1
A Stuck Brake Pedal
2
A Broken Gas Pedal
3
A Footrest Left Of The Clutch
4
A Loose Clutch Pedal
The dead pedal is a fixed footrest that lets drivers brace their left foot comfortably during long highway drives.
1
Cleaning The Surfaces
2
Joining Them Permanently
3
Replacing One Part
4
Testing Them Separately
Mechanics say 'marry' when two components are bolted or sealed together for good — like mating an engine to a transmission.
1
The Block Was Rebuilt From Scratch
2
Cylinders Were Machined Wider
3
The Heads Were Replaced
4
A Bigger Engine Was Swapped In
Boring out widens the cylinder walls to accept larger pistons, increasing displacement and horsepower without swapping the whole engine.
1
A Hidden Rust Spot
2
An Issue That Comes And Goes
3
A Stripped Bolt
4
A Very Old Engine
Ghost problems are a mechanic's nightmare — the car acts up for the customer but behaves perfectly once it's in the shop.
1
The Filter Is Clogged
2
There's A Vacuum Leak
3
The Tires Are Flat
4
The Radiator Is Empty
Vacuum leaks let unmetered air sneak into the engine, throwing off the fuel mixture — a tiny crack can cause surprisingly big problems.
1
Sloppy Rushed Repair Work
2
Removing A Stuck Part
3
Straightening A Bent Frame
4
Installing New Bodywork
A hammer job means someone forced a fix with brute strength instead of skill — mechanics use this phrase to describe truly ugly repairs.
1
It Sways And Bounces Loosely
2
It Stalls At Low Speed
3
It Overheats Quickly
4
It Pulls Hard To One Side
Wallowing usually means worn-out shock absorbers — the car rocks like a boat on waves, especially going around corners.
1
Clean Bill
2
Full Detail
3
Shade Tree Fix
4
Bench Test
Shade tree fix comes from the image of a backyard mechanic working under a tree with basic tools — no shop, no fancy equipment, just ingenuity.
1
Clutch Is Slipping
2
Brakes Feel Spongy
3
Gas Is Sticky
4
Steering Is Loose
A soft or spongy brake pedal usually means air has gotten into the brake lines, making stopping feel mushy and unreliable.
1
Painting A Panel
2
Cleaning A Gasket
3
Tightening A Bolt
4
Testing Fit Before Sealing
Dry fitting lets mechanics check that parts line up perfectly before applying sealant or torque, saving costly mistakes later.
1
The Car Pulls Left
2
The Idle Is Too High
3
The Engine Revs Up And Down
4
A Part Is Hard To Find
A hunting engine surges and dips in RPM on its own, often caused by a dirty carburetor or faulty idle air control valve.
1
Rumble
2
Ping
3
Knock
4
Chirp
Mechanics call that brief high-pitched brake squeak a chirp — modern brake pads have a built-in wear indicator tab that chirps on purpose to warn you.
1
An Extra Wide Belt
2
A Belt About To Snap
3
A Belt That Squeaks
4
A Hard Belt To Replace
A timing belt that snaps without warning can destroy an entire engine in seconds — mechanics call any critically worn belt a widow maker.
1 / 74
Players who played this quiz:
+
Faster than you:
Wow! You're faster than % of players
Smarter than you:
Amazing! You're smarter than % of players
About us
At DIYMobileAudio, we offer an engaging and interactive way to challenge your knowledge across pop culture, entertainment, history, sports, and more.
Our trivia quizzes are crafted to entertain and educate, providing a fun learning experience that's accessible from anywhere.
With a diverse selection of topics, you're bound to discover something that sparks your interest.