Cars have become an essential mode of transportation for families across the world. It gives us the flexibility to go to places we like and stop whenever and wherever required. Maintaining a car in the best condition is something each car owner should do to function properly without breaking down.
However, taking the car to a garage or mechanic is always not required for proper maintenance. There are a few things you can do yourself, when it comes to fixing minor issues that may come up with your car. It would help you save both time and money compared to taking it to a garage or mechanic.
Top 7 Tips and Tricks for Repairing Your Own Car Issues
We have listed the best seven list of minor repairs that you can do yourself without depending on your mechanic or a local garage. These top 7 tips would require small tools that are usually part of your garage or the small tool kit you have at home.
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Checking Tires
One of the most common mistakes people commit is not checking their tires until one goes flat. Sometimes, people forget that they have a spare tire and do not check them until it is too late. Keeping the spare tire at the ideal air pressure is mandatory too.
Maintaining recommended tire pressure is crucial for your car, its grip on the road, traction, and mileage. You should at least check the tire pressure on all five tires once every month. The car manufacturer provides a tire rotation chart which you have to follow.
Doing those things from time to time ensures that you have lesser chances of a flat tire. You will have to make sure that every tire is even at all times when you follow the tire rotation chart. Keeping a compact tire inflator handy in your car or garage would be an added advantage.
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Oil Change Regularly
It is another thing people fail to notice until it is too late. You have to remember that failure to change oil at recommended intervals can affect your car’s performance a lot more than you think or predict.
Experts recommend changing the oil every 5,000 miles, and you can do it without requiring a technician. You can just use something like the TEXA display tool which you can find at OriginalDiag. A nut to the bottom of the engine is usually accessible and removable with an adjustable wrench or a specific size spanner.
By removing this, you can drain the oil in the engine and top it up with a fresh can of engine oil. You can also change the oil filter with the simple tools available in your tool kit. If you feel your oil needs to be topped up, you do not have to drain it totally but just top-up.
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Brake Oil Top-Up
Unlike the engine oil, there is no need to drain the brake oil totally, but you can top it up. However, checking the levels each month is a must to ensure that you did not use the oil beyond the minimum level recommended by the manufacturer.
The brake oil holder is also a small visible one that can be accessed and topped up without specific tools. Essentially, this means that you would not require a technician to do the top-up but instead do it yourself regularly. It ensures effective braking of the car.
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Battery Cleaning
This process does not require you to know any specific skill. You can pop the hood or the bonnet of your car to see and access the battery. Batteries of your vehicle are prone to corrosion and can end up spoiling your battery, causing it to malfunction.
In order to clean the terminals of the car battery, you may require a used toothbrush and hot water. However, a battery gone bad can cost you anywhere upwards of $100. So, ensure that your car battery terminals are always cleaned regularly.
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Air Filter Replacing
Changing the air filter at regular intervals does not require a technician. Once you open the bonnet, you can see the holder that contains the air filter. You can use an adjustable wrench to remove the air filter, and it is possible to replace it.
You can simply mention the model of your car to get it at any place that sells spare parts. Making sure that you change your air filter every year can ensure that your air conditioning system works perfectly and the interiors are pollution-free.
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Replacing Windshield Wipers
The spares play a relatively crucial role in your car, the safety of the passengers, and better visibility. However, even if not used regularly, they are prone to wear and tear due to the constant exposure to different weather conditions.
Any place that sells spares would have the right windshield wipers for your front and rear windshields. You can replace it by either using a wrench, spanner, screwdriver, or a star screwdriver, depending on the model of your car.
Worn wipers can often leave your car’s windshield with scratches when the metal is exposed to the windshield. Changing them once every year is best, even if you are not using them regularly. Cleaning them often would remove dust and sand from wipers.
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Coolant Checking
An engine coolant is a liquid that plays a vital role in keeping the engine cool. This coolant is often something people do not pay attention to. However, leaving them unchecked can result in engine heating and even seizing while driving.
Usually, if one of a variety of systems isn’t quite right, a range of dashboard warning lights will simply alert you. This helpful guide for example, will assist you in identifying the meaning of each warning sign so that you know what’s going on and further plan your repair.
So, checking them regularly would ensure that they do not go dry completely. It is also something that can be visible, when you pop the bonnet or hood open. No specific tools are required to check the coolant levels as they are primarily visible by just opening the lid.
Conclusion
These DIY tips and tricks can ensure the smooth running of your car at all times. By following these, you can also make sure that you limit the chances of a car breakdown.
In case if you are planning a long trip between cities or states, you should ensure you have all of the above-listed things checked by a technician too. It will make sure that you are leaving minimal chances of an issue cropping up or a breakdown during your long trip.
