The oil light started flashing in one of the ODT fleet vehicles.
That wasn't an unfamiliar problem and, because we had to fill it with oil so often, we had a spare container of oil in the back.
The problem was, once I popped the bonnet, for the life of me I couldn't see the dipstick, much less where the oil was supposed to go.
I became aware rather quickly I looked like one of those stupid girls staring under the hood of their vehicle desperately trying to make it look like I knew what I was doing, when it was clear to anyone who saw me that I was way out of my depth.
So, I did what many girls I know would do - chucked the keys to the bloke in the office and asked him to take care of it for me.
I have never been a girl with much interest in cars - so long as I get from A to B, that's good enough for me.
In fact, I have previously joked that my breakdown kit comprises a pair of stilettos, a short skirt and a low-cut top, to pull out in an emergency situation, with the hopes some nice young man may help a maiden in distress.
The reality is, I don't actually have a breakdown kit - partly because (touch wood) I've never broken down, partly because I signed up to one of those "call us if you need us and we'll come rescue you" schemes and partly because I'm sure there are a lot of kind motorists out there who would stop and help if I really needed it.
However, we were recently lucky enough to have the oil-chewing fleet vehicle replaced with a new fleet vehicle and the direction was given to me to "read the manual cover to cover".
I flicked through the manual and read the important stuff and then heard about Frankton Automotive's Women's Only Day, held on Saturday.
I started thinking maybe I should attend the free session.
I imagined it couldn't hurt and maybe I would learn enough to actually be able to compile a proper emergency breakdown kit.
So, coffee in hand, I rolled into the Margaret Pl site on Saturday morning, greeted by 14 women and our friendly mechanics.
The three and-a-half hour session was, without doubt, one of the most valuable things I have ever done.
I learnt not to be intimidated by the tyre pressure checking thingamebob and actually learnt how to check (and change) the pressure in my tyres.
I learnt how to change a tyre - both in a standard car and a gutsy 4WD, the latter also included tricks on how women can lift the heavy 4WD tyres.
I learnt where to find the dipstick and oil cap, the power steering fluid, the coolant, the windscreen wiper cap, the fan belt and the brake fluid.
I also learnt it's OK to put a little bit of dishwashing liquid in with my windscreen wiper water and "coolant" refers to antifreeze . . . not water.
Full credit has to be given to Tony and the team at Frankton Automotive for their endless patience in answering our incessant questions and realising we women get off the topic easily - point proven by one conversation about the water in windscreen wipers freezing.
One of the women quipped that problem could be solved if we put vodka in the container instead of water which, we understand, probably wouldn't hurt the car.
Still, I wouldn't advise trying that . . . just in case.
We even got a little gift bag - "like you get at the fashion shows" - which contained our checklists, some handy products and, wait for it, our very own pink rag.
So, on Saturday afternoon as I marvelled at my newfound mechanic know-how, I find another reason to be proud of myself.
I did it all without breaking a single nail.
