how would one describe an automobile as having a "high idle"

Question

I would like to describe to an automobile mechanic an issue with a car "idling high"

It's definitely a good question. - webdunce, Nov 11, 2009

Answer 1

I can tell you how it would be said in Argentina. "El motor regula muy alto", or "el motor está regulando muy alto". Probably Mexico or Spain will have different ways for saying this.

Answer 2

al ralentí -> ticking over; (automobiles)

I found this in the dictionary here. Maybe you could go from there with it to indicate "el ralentí es demasiado rapido.

Answer 3

My Spanish is not advanced enough to answer your question, but I wonder if it might not be better to find a mechanic that speaks English. There is so much room for misunderstanding with a mechanic that speaks your own language, let alone one that does not.

Unless you are very advanced in Spanish and just do not know this particular phrase.

My two cents.

Cheers.