Transportation: Auto Talk

Once the gas and oil are in, most men and all women have no further interest in or knowledge of what makes the car go. When something goes wrong, all they know is that the car is making "a funny noise." At the start of a new bumper-to-bumper touring season, Auto Repairman Frank Burwell of Peoria, Ill., who recently won a nationwide contest for mechanics conducted by Chrysler, has compiled a handy glossary of auto talk for the mechanically unsophisticated.

Chirp-chirp, says Burwell, means a pain in the fan belt or the generator.

Clickety-click: it's in the valve or valve lifter.

Ping: faulty gas combustion or ignition timing.

Rumble-rumble: water pump or transmission.

Thump: suspension or tires.

Hiss: tires or windshield wiper.

Groan: transmission, bearings or suspension.

Roar: muffler or exhaust system.

After preliminary diagnosis, consult your own mechanic.