How to write an auto repair question

In order to get the best responses to your automotive questions, give as much information as possible.

First, select your vehicle when creating the question.

Second, describe the symptoms. Do not just write "my car won't start" or "my headlights don't work". How can anyone give you any reasonable help with that? You laugh, but look around FixYa and see how many of these short descriptions are out there.

What do you mean your car will not start? Does the engine turn over when you turn the ignition key? Do you hear a clicking sound when you turn the key? Were there any symptoms or funny noises before you shut the engine off the last time? Has anything been done to the car recently? Is the problem continuous, or do you have to do something specific to make the problem occur?

Third, describe the remedies you have tried so far. Did you look for a blown fuse? Did you test the battery? Did you clean the battery terminals? Did you wiggle the switch? Did you add fuel to the fuel tank? A question should fill several lines. Even then, additional information may be necessary to solve your problem.

Below are some examples of automotive questions, both good and bad.

"My car bucks when I drive it." - BAD

"When driving at a continuous speed, and I try to accelerate, the engine bucks and does not have much power. It idles normal and can maintain speed. I replaced the spark plugs, and that made it better, but did not completely eliminate the problem. What should I do next?" - GOOD

"My windshield wipers don't work." - BAD

"My windshield wipers don't work. They move back and forth like they should, but they leave streaks on the windshield. I inspected them and they are clean. What could be the problem?" - GOOD

Remember, you are asking for free help. Without a detailed description of your problem, members of this site cannot offer you meaningful help. They will skip your question and move on to the next one. Believe me, there are plenty of other people out there with automotive problems. However, if you post a detailed description of your problem and ask for help, you will get a response very quickly.

Lastly, please remember to give feedback to the person(s) who helped you. It is a small gesture to say "thank you", and it is very rewarding to see that the problem has been solved. People on this site want to help others, and they want to know when their suggestions made someone else's life better.