Auto Repair - 5 Safety Rules You Should Always Obey

Doing your own auto repair can be satisfying and inexpensive. Of course, it can be frustrating and costly, as well, depending on what the job is and how well versed you are in doing it. Regardless of which, you should always be prepared when it comes time to do your own work. While there are more dangerous things than changing out your spark plugs, some car work comes with some fairly significant hazards. And if you aren't careful to obey some simple rules of safety, nearly anything you do could hold a potential for danger. Here are five safety rules you should always obey.

Stabilize the Car

This is a big one. You shouldn't open the hood without making sure your car isn't going anywhere. This includes making sure the engine is off, the parking brake is engaged, and the shifter is in either Park or Neutral. Overlooking these matters of safety could mean an embarrassing situation at best, property damage in a more serious instance, and injury or death in some cases. Make yourself a checklist and abide by it.

Let the Engine Cool

If you've never touched a hot engine, it's not something you want to experience. Of course, this doesn't just go for the engine. It can apply to the brakes, the radiator, the transmission, and even the muffler. You can suffer serious burns from a hot car. If the auto repair you're doing requires a part be hot, exercise extreme caution.

Block Your Wheels

If you're going to do work that requires you get underneath your jacked car, you need to take the extra trouble and block the wheels. More than one person has suffered serious injury or death due to a car falling on them. You can reduce your chances of disaster by blocking the wheels.

Dress Appropriately

No, this doesn't mean choosing between blue overalls and your nice khakis, though you may want to take precautions from an oil-and-dirt stain point of view. Rather, you'll want to make sure you aren't wearing a tie, jewelry, or anything else that could get snagged on a part. If you don't think it's a big deal, imagine what could happen if your tie got caught up in a fast-moving belt. If you have long hair, you'll need to tie it back for the same reason.

Have a Fire Extinguisher

In fact, don't just have one—have it ready to go. A car fire can erupt at any moment, depending on what you're doing. Will most auto repair work lend to fire danger? No, but you're better safe than sorry.