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Just realized everyone says to ask open-ended questions, but I got a better answer with a yes/no one.
I was helping a friend fix his old Ford truck in his garage last weekend, and I asked him 'What's the exact sound you're hearing?' like all the guides say. He just shrugged. Then I asked 'Is it a clicking or a grinding noise?' and he immediately said 'Clicking, from the front left.' We found a loose brake pad clip in 20 minutes. Maybe sometimes being too open just confuses people. Has anyone else found that simple, direct questions work better than the 'perfect' open ones?
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cameron4166mo ago
Ever notice how people freeze up when you ask for a detailed description? A simple choice gives their brain a starting point. It works for way more than just car trouble.
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zara_hill466mo ago
My uncle's a mechanic and he always starts with "hot or cold" and "loud or quiet" questions. Gets you in the ballpark fast.
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phoenix6256mo ago
Used to think that was too simple. Figured you needed all the details right away. But then my buddy described his car making a "tapping sound when it's cold" and I knew it was a lifter right off. Those two questions cut through the noise. Gets you past the "it just sounds bad" stuff.
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