What's In A Name? The Aesthetics of Auto Repair Terminology

by Colette Cooley, Cars for Keeps Office Manager

It is pretty common knowledge that women are very sensitive to words. When you hear certain words do you visualize a color? Do you have an emotional response? Do you forget certain words because they are just too ugly to have roaming around in your brain?

Working at Cars For Keeps has introduced a whole new vocabulary. Some words are just too silly to be connected to a powerful machine like a car. Such as, O-Ring, nipple, universal joint, input shaft, tensioner and oxygen sensor, which all sound like words you would hear in a hospital.

Then there are words that have a lovely sound and just sort of roll gently around in your mouth. Such as, actuator, differential, solenoid, accumulator, evaporator, plenum and resonator. Words that are musical like harmonic balancer.

Then there's (this must be a guy thing) the slave cylinder. What is that! Most women don’t really care what the name of such things are, we just know that if it fixes the car – we’re good. The mechanics here at Cars For Keeps know what is in a name, how it works and what to do with it to make your car safe and running well. Like I said, “We’re good.”