Mon, 21 May 2012
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Ever wanted to know how to say 'You've got traces of rust on your muffler'? Then this guide to routine car maintenance is for you. Our Expatica French teacher gives you the words you need to get it done.This feature is intended for both beginning and accomplished French speakers to provide practical vocabulary for common life scenarios.
Here we take you to the oil change centre for some routine maintenance. Usually with no prior appointment, you go to a mechanic or oil change centre, un garagiste or espace vidange.
You want to have you car's oil changed: Vous voulez faire vidanger votre voiture Basic oil-change: une vidange simple
Open the hood/bonnet: ouvrez le capot
Mileage in kilometres: le kilométrage
Oil gauge: une jauge
The mechanic will probably check and top up fluids for these systems:
Motor oil: l'huile moteur
Brakes: les freins
Steering: la direction
Cooling system fluid: le liquide de refroidissement
Windscreen washer fluid: le liquide lave-glace
UNDER THE HOOD
Other routine checks:
Fan-belt tension: la tension des courroies
Battery condition: l’état de la batterie
Air filter: le filtre à air
Tyre pressure: la pression des pneus
Windscreen wiper blades: les balais d’essuie glace
Exhaust pipe: le pot d’échappement
You may hear:
There are traces of oil. Vous avez des traces d’huile.
You need a new gasket. Votre joint est mort.
Next time we'll need to change the transmission/gear box fluid. La prochaine fois il faudra penser à vidanger la boîte de vitesse.
You've got a leak in the suspension. Vous avez une fuite au niveau du circuit de distribution.
You've got traces of rust on your muffler. Vous avez des traces de rouille sur votre silencieux.
One of these days you won't be able to start her up. Il peut vous prévenir: Un beau matin vous risquez de ne pas démarrer.
The mechanic may ask you to help:
Check the lights - l’éclairage
Start the engine: mettez le contact
Headlights: les feux de croisement
Full-beam headlights/brights: les feux de route
Right/left-hand turn indicator: le clignotant droit/gauche
Parking lights: les feux de position
Fog lights: feux antibrouillard
Backup lights: les feux de recul
To check your brake lights, press the brake pedal. Pour vérifier vos feux stop, appuyez sur la pédale de frein.
THE BILL
The standard price covers the oil change, the level checks and top-ups, and the visual checks. Everything else may be extra. Le forfait couvre la vidange moteur, les contrôles des niveaux et appoints, et les contrôles visuels. Tout autre service est hors forfait.
The mechanic puts a sticker on your windscreen with the mileage for your next oil-change. Le mécanicien vous colle une vignette mentionnant le kilométrage de votre prochaine vidange.
Marie-Alice LAULO-SMITH is French from Martinique.
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