Do Basic Car Repairs Yourself

Life without a car can be difficult.  Life without large bills for car repairs can be heavenly.

If you own a vehicle then you probably know how expensive it can be to have them repaired.  After paying the bill it's easy to wonder if you just got taken to the cleaners.

Are there ways to avoid those large repair bills?

The fact is, a little regular car maintenance will go a long way towards saving you big bucks later.  Maintain the little things and they won't break and become expensive things later.

There are many simple car repairs you can easily do yourself.  Most people that create a household budget leave very little room for large ticket items like repairing their vehicles.  Unfortunately, cars break down regardless of what you have budgeted.

Car Repairs You Can Do At Home

Actually these are a combination of minor maintenance and car repair ideas.  Do regular maintenance and you will be faced with much fewer repair costs down the road.

• Check your fluids:
A major contributor to engine damage is driving with no oil.  Get in the habit of checking all the vehicle fluid levels every month.  It only takes a few minutes and this simple act could save you thousands of dollars later.

If you don't know how to check the fluids then open up the owners manual and learn how.  You can also find a lot of help online.
• Change your air filter:
On most vehicles the air filter is pretty easy to access, even for those of you that don't know what an air filter looks like.  Again, open up the owners manual and discover where it is and how to open the cover.  They are simple to replace and can save you both gas and money if you change them once a year.

If you are still unsure then drive your car to the automotive parts store and ask someone inside to show you where it is located and how it can be accessed.  They are usually happy to help.
• Check all the lights:
Head lights, tail lights, blinkers, and reverse lights are all a snap to change...literally.  They generally have screws that go through the lens or can be accessed inside the hood or trunk.  The owners manual will explain how to reach them and after a time or two you will be a pro.  Maintain your lights and you'll also avoid some rather expensive tickets for faulty equipment.
• Look for worn out belts:
In older vehicles it was fairly easy to change fan belts.  You can still do it yourself on a lot of vehicles but it can be a hassle.  At the very minimum pay attention to when the belts are making squealing noises or when they have minor cracks.  Get them changed early and you could save yourself from being stranded on the side of the road.
• Change the wiper blades:
Most wiper blades simply snap on and snap off.  Again, the owners manual will explain how or you can have the parts supply person give you a hand.  Change your wiper blades once per year to avoid poor visibility which could lead to an accident.
• Replace the spark plugs:
Spark plugs are important if you want to be able to start your car.  On a lot of vehicles they are pretty easy to access and therefore easy to change yourself.  Again, your owners manual or the Internet will explain what to do.  Make sure you understand how to gap them properly and don't over tighten them during installation.  Your car will run smoother which will help you save money.
• Rotate the tires:
All you need is a jack and a lug nut wrench and your tires can be rotated within an hour.  Doing it yourself will save you money and your tires won't wear out as quickly.  Check the owners manual for the proper placement of rotated tires.  In many vehicles it's simply front to back, back to front.  Check to make sure.

These are a few of the most common car repairs you should try to do yourself.  The first time may be a bit scary but you'll be thrilled once you complete the job.

Make sure you always check the owners manual for directions, tightening instructions, safety precautions, etc. so you don't create more expensive problems or get injured.  All of these jobs can be done at home once you get the necessary equipment and parts.

Consider allowing your kids to help so they can learn these car repair skills and habits themselves.  Always remember to emphasis safety when working with machinery or on vehicles.