Demystifying Car Care With Expert Mechanic Audra FordinA Girls Guide to CarsScotty ReissSun, September 20, 2026 at 10:00 AM UTCAdd us on GoogleA Girls Guide to CarsCar care is her super power and now, it's yoursI met Audra at the New York Auto Show shortly after starting A Girls Guide to Cars and it was instant kismet: We are both passionate about helping women to better understand their cars and the connection their cars have to their confidence, safety and everyday life. There might have been a glass or two of champagne involved, too, and shared details about our kids, our businesses and our lives.So it was great to reconnect and catch up with Audra and her initiatives, Women Auto Know and Drivers Auto Know. And, she gives us some great car care tips for the fall, when we're shuttling our families around, planning road trips and living life at full speed—and the last thing we need is a breakdown.AdvertisementAdvertisementHere's what Audra told us; this interview was edited for length and clarity but you can hear the entire conversation on our podcast.Scotty: Audra Fordin, it is so great to see you. It has been too long.Audra: Fun times for sure, Scotty. It's great to see you too.Scotty: So let's fill in the blanks for everyone: Tell us what you do.Audra: I am the fourth-generation owner of my family's auto repair business, Great Bear in Queens, NY, which started in 1933. I am also the founder of Women Auto Know and the creator of Drivers Auto Know, a platform that connects educated drivers with pledged auto shops to fix the biggest problem in the repair industry: a lack of trust. I take the fear out of auto repair.AdvertisementAdvertisementScotty: How did you know that you wanted to take over the reins at Great Bear?Audra: While I enjoyed car care, I was fascinated by the person standing on the other side of the counter. As a technician, I wanted to explain things in automotive language, but the customer went blank. I realized I didn't just want to fix cars; I wanted to help fix people's confidence.Meet Women Auto Know, The Car Care Site Created For WomenWomen Auto Know the female-focused car care siteScotty: Tell us a little bit more about Women Auto Know.Audra: For my entire life, I have seen people uncomfortable in the auto shop. There's a lack of education when it comes to understanding your car. Better than YouTube is having someone actually show you what a dipstick is or how to check your tire pressure. Opening the hood and knowing what you can do to learn about it turns fear into confidence.AdvertisementAdvertisementScotty: Talk about how businesses can build more trust with consumers, because it is a huge gap.Audra: We have a three-part philosophy:Educate, not intimidate: People want to learn, not feel intimidated.Show and tell, not sell: Show me and tell me what's happening so I can understand.Be of service, not sales: Focus on serving the customer's needs.When drivers and pledged auto shops adopt this mindset, expectations are met and trust is built.Scotty: Education for drivers is so important—knowing your car and doing car care research before going to the mechanic puts you on even footing.Audra: Absolutely. Human connection and trust are more important now than ever. Our cars are our freedom and our livelihood. Understanding your maintenance is critical because parts will break, but knowing what you can do in advance helps you prolong the life of those systems so you don't face catastrophic failures.AdvertisementAdvertisementScotty: It is about finding a service department that makes you feel valued and partnered in solving the problem. What is your advice for taking ownership of maintenance?Audra: Every fluid runs through a system that needs maintenance to last. Doing a transmission service at 90,000 miles might cost $200 to $500, which saves you from a total failure later. Take ownership of your vehicle's maintenance schedule because it keeps money in your pocket and prevents breakdowns. We created a testing booklet that checks vehicle systems so drivers can be proactive rather than reactive.Scotty: I love the idea of monitoring health to eliminate surprise repairs in car care. How do you address cars with high mileage?Audra: Cars today are lasting much longer—often 200,000 to 300,000 miles if maintenance is done properly. When buying a pre-owned car, you can't assume the previous owner did the necessary upkeep, which makes checking vehicle health even more important.AdvertisementAdvertisementScotty: How should someone go about finding a reliable independent mechanic?Audra: Look for shops that actively support their local community and check their reviews. Look at their parking lot: if you drive a specific type of car, make sure you see similar vehicles being serviced there. Finally, visit the shop and ask a basic question—like asking them to check your tire pressure—to see how comfortably and clearly they communicate with you.Scotty: If someone is taking a used car to an independent mechanic for a pre-sale inspection, what should be inspected?Audra: We correlate the car to the human body and break it down into eight essential systems:AdvertisementAdvertisementBrain/Immune System (Dashboard Lights): Red lights mean stop immediately, yellow lights indicate upcoming maintenance or budget items, green means good to go, and blue is informational.Senses & Sight (Visibility): Lights, wipers, and everything involved in seeing and being seen.Nutrition (Fuel/Power Source): Using the correct fuel or charging type for optimal performance.Heart (Charging System): The battery and charging infrastructure.Respiratory System (Filters): Air, cabin, and system filters that keep airways clean and prolong component life.Circulatory System (Fluids): Oil, transmission fluid, brake fluid, and power steering fluid that lubricate the vehicle.Reflexes (Steering & Suspension): Front-end components, alignment, and control.Skin & Structure (Rubber Products): Tires, hoses, belts, bushings, and gaskets that hold systems together.Scotty: Beyond running a diagnostic scan, what else can a mechanic or buyer spot during an inspection?Audra: Mechanics look for leaks, flood damage, or evidence of major component replacements underneath the car. You can also spot bodywork or accident history by looking for paint overspray underneath, which won't always show up on a vehicle history report if it wasn't claimed through insurance. Buyers can also do basic checks themselves before paying for an inspection: check under the oil cap for sludge or milky fluid, inspect tire tread, and check fluid levels and air conditioning.Scotty: What fall and winter maintenance tips do you have as heavy driving season begins?AdvertisementAdvertisementAudra: Start with tire care:Tire Pressure: Always use the recommended PSI listed on the sticker inside the driver's side door jamb, not the maximum pressure printed on the tire sidewall.Treadwear: Check the built-in treadwear indicator bars inside the tire grooves rather than relying on old penny tests.Seasonal Hazards: Remember that wet leaves on the road can be as slippery as ice.Battery & Seasonal Prep: Fall is the best time to test your battery, check heater/defroster function, inspect wipers, and verify fluid levels.Emergency Kit: Always keep an emergency kit in your vehicle with jumper cables or a portable jumppack, fix-a-flat or an inflator, a blanket, water, basic food, a first aid kit, and extra medicine.Scotty: What is your take on newer "all-weather" tires made with softer silica compounds that claim extended wear or treads that reduce the need for rotation?Audra: Regardless of the tire compound, front-end issues, suspension wear, and alignment problems will always show up as uneven wear patterns on your tread. Rotating tires remains essential to protect your investment. A 60,000-mile tread warranty only covers manufacturing defects—it won't cover premature wear caused by neglected suspension components, alignment issues, or hitting potholes.AdvertisementAdvertisementScotty: Audra, thank you so much for being here, sharing your journey, and helping empower drivers to take a confident approach to vehicle ownership.Audra: Thank you, Scotty! It's always great connecting with you.Related HeadlinesSupercar Blondie on Supercars, Her First Car and Showing Up So Others Will, TooElectrification 101: How Toyota and a 2026 Lexus ES 350h Demystified EV PowertrainsElectrification 101: How Toyota and a 2027 Lexus ES 350h Demystified EV PowertrainsRead more at A Girls Guide to Cars