Car Repairs You Can Complete on Your Own

You can save yourself some serious money if you make some car repairs on your own. As long as can properly follow instructions from a repair book or the owner’s manual for your car you should be able to learn how to do minor maintenance. Some aspects of fixing a car are simple and very basic which means you do not have to know a tremendous amount about cars to do them. If you do run into a problem while performing a small car repair then you can always visit your local mechanic for the help you need to make sure that the job gets done right!

It is never fun to come out to your car to discover that your battery is dead! There are a variety of reasons why a battery fails to work properly. These can include a faulty charging system, an old battery, corroded terminals or driving conditions that are extreme. It should only cost you in the range of $25 to $40 to replace your own battery. Always wear something to protect your eyes when you change the battery and follow the directions in the manual implicitly. If you are unsure about changing it yourself then don’t. Get an expert to do it and to teach you how to do it for the next time you need to know.

Oil changes are a necessary car repair. Flip through your owner’s manual to find out the type of oil you need, as well as the quantity and how often it needs to be changed according to your mileage. Check your oil level fairly often. It is recommended that you also replace the oil filter at the same time. To do these two car repair jobs you will require an adjustable wrench, a sealable container for the oil you are draining out and a filter wrench if you own an older vehicle.

Windshield wipers replacements are very basic and do not take long to complete. In order to keep your wipers in tip top shape and doing their job properly it is strongly recommended that you change your wipers on an annual basis. For the vast majority of cars you will only need to replace the rubber blade as opposed to the entire wiper assembly. This should not cost you very much. Get someone to teach you how to do it the first time if you are unsure about it.

Depending on what type of car you own, taking it into a car repair shop for a windshield wiper replacement could cost you around $50 to $60. Doing it yourself will lower the price to around $15 to $20. That is a savings that is well worth it!

Changing a headlight bulb is something that you will get the hang of reasonably fast. In most instances you will not need any special tools to do this simple task and it should not take too long to complete. If your motor vehicle has halogen headlights behind the lens then it will be easier than if your car has headlights with sealed beams. Peruse your owner’s manual to find the section on changing headlights. Most manuals will also feature a diagram to make the process as uncomplicated as possible.