DIY Car Repairs

Introduction:

Although there are some car repairs you should leave to the experts there are others that you can do yourself and save a lot of money. These repairs are very simple, safe and inexpensive DIY projects.  These are basic car repairs that you don’t need an expert to perform or a complex car repair manual. You can do them at home in your garage or backyard.

You can save yourself some serious money if you make these easy car repairs on your own. As long as can read and follow instructions from a repair manual or the owner’s manual for your car you should be able to learn how to do minor maintenance and repairs.

Some tasks of fixing a car are simple and very basic which means you do not have to know a tremendous amount about cars or be an automotive engineer to do them. If you do run into a problem while performing these repairs you can always visit your local mechanic for the help you need to make sure that the job gets done right.

It is a disappointing experience to come out to your car to discover that your battery is dead. There are a variety of reasons why a battery fails to work properly. These can include a faulty charging system, an old tired battery that needs charging or corroded terminals.

It should only cost you about $75 to replace your own battery, depending on the type of car and battery. You should always wear eye protection when you change the battery and follow the directions in the manuals.  To have an expert to change your battery will cost approximately $150.

Oil changes are often necessary to insure that the lubricating system has clean oil.  You can find out the type of oil your car uses from the owner’s manual as well as the quantity and how often it needs to be changed. It is recommended that you also replace the oil filter at the same time you change the oil. To do these repairs all you need is a couple of common household tools, a filter wrench and container for the used oil. Changing your own oil and filter will cost about $20 but at a repair shop it will cost approximately $45.   

Windshield wipers replacements are very easy and only take a few minutes to change. In order to keep your wipers in good shape it is recommended that you change your wipers on an annual basis. For most cars you only need to replace the rubber blade as opposed to the entire windshield wiper assembly. Changing the blades yourself will cost approximately $35 for replacement blades. If you taking it to a car repair shop to replace the windshield wiper blades the cost will be close to $80. 

Changing a headlight bulb or tail is very easy. In most instances you will not need any special tools at all to do this simple task and it should take only a few minutes. If your motor vehicle has halogen headlights behind the lens then it will be easier than if your car has sealed beam head lights.  The owner’s manual will give you information on changing headlights. Most manuals will also feature a diagram to make the process as uncomplicated as possible. Depending on the car, changing a headlight or taillight bulb will cost less than $10 but a repair shop or gas station mechanic will charge close to $25 to complete the task.

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