This is potentially a dull tale for those not mechanically minded - but I can't work out whether I feel pissed off and / or vindicated or both.
When I took my car in for its service and MOT, I said to them, I think one of the cylinders is mis-firing slightly. I said that if felt like the car is "pinking" or "knocking" and when idling the revs are too low. The mechanic chuckled and said "oh, we haven't used the term 'pinking' for years now, but yes, well take a look". He wasn't at all rude, but equally I couldn't help wondering that if a man had handed in his car reporting those issues, if the mechanic would have chuckled and been quite so dismissive.
Pick up the car after its service and asked about the mis-firing. Chap smiled and said "oh, yes you were asking about "pinking" weren't you" again in a slightly dismissive 'silly little woman' way. Well, he said you'll be glad to hear that the computer didn't show any faults in the engine. I queried it and said but at idling speed the revs seem too low, as well as the sensation of mis-firing. He replied saying that the car passed its service and MOT with flying colours, so all was well. As in - shut up & go away now!
Roll on two months and the car sounded considerably worse, so I took it back. Well, wouldn't you know one of the cylinder coils is mis-firing and needs to be replaced!!!! I did remind them that I had reported the mis-fire two months ago and was told once again that the computer hadn't reported any faults.
I'm not a car enthusiast but my long dead father was and I paid attention and picked up lots of useful information. Over the years I've fixed various things and diagnosed various issues myself and yet I can guarantee that when I go into a garage and try to discuss my car in a more technical way other than "its making a funny noise" it is like I'm speaking a foreign language. Grrrrr, we need more female mechanics and maybe some thinking outside of the computer diagnostics!