Common Car Maintenance Solved DIY Style
Four Key areas to pay attention to.
Whether you are male or female, there are several complexities behind car issues. For the average motorist, issues that come about from your automobile might be a burden that can be overwhelming to handle. It's a common myth that automotive repair shops tend to tack on extra unnecessary expenses when taking a car into the shop. If you aren't knowledgeable about cars and how they work, this can be a troubling process. It can be difficult to decipher whether or not the issues that are being discussed are legitimate or not.
It might be a good idea to pick up the phone and call your closest friend who is handy with vehicle repairs. For others, reaching out to close relatives or siblings who have some car knowledge might be another option to ensure they aren't getting ripped off at the shop.
However, there are several ways you can avoid the process of not knowing the verbiage or lingo behind mechanics who are working on your vehicle. You can conduct a few vehicles preventative maintenance routines from the comfort of your own home.
Oil Change
Conducting your own oil change is one of the most overlooked car maintenance tasks. If you have ever taken your car to the shop for this type of job, you know that it usually does not take very long for a mechanic to change this out. If you have space in your garage or driveway, you can easily jack your car up (be careful doing this) with car jacks. Once the car is cooled off completely, use a wrench to remove the oil plug. Place a pan under your vehicle so the oil can dispense into this area. Once drained cap off the oil reservoir and add in fresh oil. Make sure you are adding oil from under the hood and using the dipstick to measure the proper amount that's dispensed. You can ensure the proper oil type is purchased for your vehicle by consulting employees at the automotive shop, or by finding this information in your cars manual.
Tire Rotation
Another easy car maintenance routine is rotating your tires. If you have jacks available from changing your oil, you can do this in a breeze. Ensure both axles are jacked up before removing tires. You can purchase a tree-style wrench at your local auto shop that has various size sockets if you aren't sure which size is right for your car. Start by removing the front driver's tire. Place it, along with the lugnuts to the side. Next, remove the rear passenger tire. Once it's been removed, install it back into the place where the drivers front tire was installed. Likewise, install the previous front driver's side tire where the rear passenger tire was previously installed. Similarly, repeat this same process for the front passenger tire placement with the rear driver tire placement. In 20-30 minutes you should have successfully rotated your tires, at no cost to your wallet!
Wiper Blade Change
This is one of the easiest car maintenance processes. Visit your local automotive shop or some big-box retailers. Most will have a book that informs customers which size wiper blade is correct for their vehicle. Purchase two for the front windshield. Depending upon your model type will determine if you need a rear-window blade or not. Once you are home, remove the previous wiper via snaps located on the wiper blade arm. If you are unsure, your new blades will have instructions on this. Within 10-15 minutes you will have new wiper blades without having to hire a mechanic.
Other Problematic Signs
Remember, if you have many signs or issues with your vehicle, it might be wise to conduct additional research. There are several models of vehicles that are classified as lemon's because of multiple repairs, or recalls that are placed on the vehicle. Check out your state laws to see if your vehicle is deemed a lemon before spending more money on expensive repairs.