[header] How to communicate effectively with your mechanic [title] Know your car. [step] You drive it, maybe you own it too. In any case, it's vital that you learn as much as possible as you can about this massive piece of machinery that you trust your life with. 
[substeps] Review the owner's manual of any car you own. Owner's manuals will typically provide a maintenance schedule for your vehicle, location of different parts and part numbers, the meaning of different buttons, and many other things you might have had questions about.