Car Repairs You Can Do Yourself

For all serious automotive problems it is absolutely vital that you employ a trained mechanic. Otherwise you risk making things worse and potentially causing danger to yourself and other road users. However, there are plenty of minor problems that you can deal with without professional help. Here are just a few of the repairs that you can learn to do yourself. They are all simple to perform without expert assistance. Should you run into any difficulties however, you must consult a professional.

Replacing a dead battery

You won’t be going anywhere with a dead battery so replacing one is a pretty important job. It is not, however, a particularly complex procedure and you can save yourself the installation costs of a new battery by doing it yourself. Your owner’s manual should have instructions, which you should follow closely, but here is a brief explanation of the procedure. Wearing protective eyewear remove the negative terminal of the old battery first, followed by the positive. Release any tie downs that are keeping the battery secured and then remove it completely. Clean the terminals with a wire brush and then put the new battery in, positive terminal first and then negative.

Oil change

You should check your engine oil at least once a month and before any long journey. If you discover that the oil is dark in colour and opaque, it is time for a change. Doing this in your own garage is easier than you might think. First you need to identify the oil filler cap, oil filter and drain plug — all you need to be able to do to change the oil is unscrew these three parts. Drain the old oil from your vehicle’s engine and replace it with new oil. Always use a premium oil to keep your engine in the best condition. Any extra expense will be more than offset by reduced engine problems in the future. To perform this repair you will need an adjustable wrench and a container to catch the used oil. Finally, remember that you cannot simply poor the used oil down the drain, so make sure you know how you will dispose of it before attempting this repair.

Changing the air filter

Changing a used air filter is one of the easiest car repairs you can possibly do, so there is no need to pay someone else to do it for you. When you open the bonnet of your car you will immediately see the air filter compartment. Look for a plastic box on top of the engine. If in doubt, check your owner’s manual. Once you have identified it, open it up and remove then old filter. The new one can simply be snapped into its place. Close the filter compartment and put down the bonnet and you’re done. It really is that simple.

There are many more repairs that you can learn to do yourself, such as replacing old or damaged wiper blades and changing headlight bulbs. Doing these repairs yourself will save you money and also giving you the satisfaction of learning new skills and taking an active role in maintaining the safety and usability of your car.