Phrasal verbs for mechanics

◦Act up – to stop working

Examples: The car is acting up again. The car only acts up when climbing a hill.

◦Back in – to move into a parking spot with the rear of the car

Examples: We need to back in the car to make it easier to unload the groceries. / Back in this parking space.

◦Back up – to move backward

Examples: Back the car up in this space after I move my car. / Spot him while he backs up.

◦Break down – to no longer work or perform

Examples: My car broke down on the highway.

◦Charge up – to put an electrical charge on

Examples: Be sure to charge up your battery.

◦Cool down – to reduce temperature

Examples: Let the engine cool down before opening the radiator reservoir.

◦Fill up – to fill a space

Examples: Fill up the gasoline tank.

◦Grease up – to apply grease or oil to something

Examples: You need to grease up the ball joints.

◦Head up / Head down — to go up or down (North/South, East/West) the road by foot or vehicle

Examples: Head up to the bank. / Head down the alley.

◦Heat up – to make warm.

Examples: Go heat up the engine.

◦Hook up – to put things together.

Examples: Hook up the battery cables.

Special notes: We often say “hook up” to mean “help out”. Can’t you hook a friend up?

◦Jam up — a complete stoppage or slowing down of something due to blockage or malfunction

Examples: My breaks are jammed up.

◦Pull in — move forward into a spot.

Examples: Pull in forward. Pull the car in forward. / Pull in when you get to the garage.

◦Pull up — move forward.

Examples: Pull up to the white line.

◦Ramp up — to increase something sharply.

Examples: Let’s ramp up your engine with a new air cooler.

◦Roll up — to make go up.

Examples: Roll your window up.

◦Roll down — to make go down.

Examples: Roll down your window.

◦Roll out/outside — to launch a new product or service/to literally roll something or push something.

Examples: Roll the car outside before we leave. / We will roll out our new transmission services today.

◦Run into — to collide your vehicle with another object, vehicle, person, or animal

Examples: I ran into a tree.

◦Run over — to knock someone or something down with a vehicle or bicycle/ overflow of something.

Examples: I didn’t mean to run over your grandma with the car. / Don’t let the oil run over.

◦Shut off – to turn off / to stop the flow of

Examples: Shut off the engine. / We need to shut off the flow of fluid.

◦Turn off – to stop the flow or operation of something

Examples: Turn off the car. / You can turn off the air compressor now.

◦Turn on – to start the flow or operation of something

Examples: Turn on your windshield wipers. / My lights will not turn on. /

◦Wind up — to rev up the engine / to increase speed

Examples: Hit the gas pedal and wind up the engine. / Hit the gas pedal and rev up the engine.

For further study:

◦Why study Phrasal verbs?
◦ Phrasal verbs for emotions
◦Phrasal verbs for everyday
◦Phrasal verbs for relationships
◦Phrasal verbs for travel