Write it down while it is happening
Engine faults are often intermittent, and an intermittent fault has an awkward habit of behaving perfectly once the vehicle reaches the shop. When that happens, the diagnosis depends almost entirely on the driver's description, and descriptions given from memory a week later tend to be vague.
A few notes made at the time change that. Keep them on your phone, and capture these.
When. Cold start, fully warm, after a long drive, first thing in the morning. The engine's temperature when the fault appears is one of the most useful clues there is.
What you were doing. Accelerating, cruising, idling at a light, climbing, slowing down. A stumble under load and a stumble at idle point to different places.
What it felt like. A shudder, a hesitation, a loss of power, a surge, a stall.
What you heard or smelled. A tick, a knock, a hiss, a whine. Fuel, oil, something sweet, something burning.
How often. Every trip, once a week, only once so far.
Record the sound
If there is a noise, a short video on a phone with the hood up or from the driver's seat is often worth more than any description of it. A technician hearing the actual sound can frequently narrow it down at once.
Note any warning lights too, and anything done to the vehicle recently, such as fuel from an unfamiliar station, a recent service or a new part. Faults that start right after a change are often related to it.
What this store covers
Diagnosis and repair on cars and light trucks. A fault that turns out to be cooling system or overdue scheduled maintenance stays in the same building.
Heavy truck engine work is not offered.
The national engine repair page covers what a warning light does and does not report.
Other stores nearby
In Salt Lake City, the Commercial & Consumer store and the Truck Tire Center also offer engine repair.
About this store
The Orem store is managed by Travis Olsen.
See the national engine repair page for all 33 locations.