Basic Car Maintenance and Repairs You Can (and Should) Do Yourself
I have never been particularly interested in cars – they are just things that exist to get me from point A to point B, and are often overpriced and come with costly problems. I was terrified for a long time at the idea of taking my car to a mechanic because I knew I wouldn’t leave without spending $2,000, and mechanics had a habit of making me feel guilty for not giving the green light to every one of their suggested repairs. So I had to learn how to do a few things myself, and I found that many basic car maintenance and repairs are surprisingly easy for anyone. I still don’t like cars, but now that I’m feeling confident, I’m digging into mine to fix things. I also feel empowered as shit and my knowledge has made me a better consumer. Mechanics don’t scare me anymore.
Be prepared to do your own maintenance
Automotive experts agree : there are certain auto maintenance and repair tasks that everyone should learn to handle on their own. Much of this is preventive maintenance, and you can use it to prevent much more expensive repairs.
First you need to know your VIN and the exact car model. Because it’s sometimes confusing when you get into the details (Did I buy an LTD? How many cylinders are in my engine?), you can use the VIN to find anything you’re not sure about.
If you need a part, go to an auto shop website like Autozone, O’Reilly or Napa Auto Parts and enter your car model. It will tell you what part you need for your particular vehicle. You will also use this model to find videos showing how to perform the current maintenance task. (I can’t imagine anything being as big of a boon for Napa Auto Parts as the advent of Youtube.)
You’ll probably need some basic tools, including a cordless drill with a basic set of bits and a set of sockets, or a set of wrenches, or a set of plastic tools to help you remove the dashboard fronts. I find it’s best to wait until the repair is on hand to find parts or tools for it – you’re going to go to the store anyway, so it’s better to get everything you need right away rather than buying repair tools. you may never need to do.
An added benefit of auto parts stores is that you can often do repairs in the parking lot, and the staff may even have tools they can lend you to do so. On this note: Your auto parts store staff is usually invaluable – did you know they’ll come for you with any check engine code ? Pull up, ask them to get off, they will hook up a little machine called an ODB and give you the error code so you can learn how to deal with it yourself… all for free. While they can’t do the repairs for you, they are often knowledgeable and will be able to give you some advice.
Maintenance and repair you can do yourself
How to change headlights and taillights. This was the first self-repair that I undertook. I realized that my reversing lights weren’t very bright, and instead of taking them to the dealer or repair shop, my “car friend” (you probably have too) advised me to just buy a brighter LED bulb. which he recommended and install it. myself. When later that year I was told at a garage I frequented that they didn’t have time to “take my front end apart to install a hard to reach headlight”, I decided to listen to my friend. I googled, found a YouTube video that showed me what to do: lie down on the ground, reach out your arm, and screw in a $4 light bulb. Saved money? 128 dollars.
Speaking of high bounty, this repair is almost guaranteed success, it’s inexpensive and requires few tools. You will start by google your car model and “replace the headlight”. There should be a million videos; browse a few to make sure you know what you need, then use the auto parts website to order the right bulb and tools (if needed).
How to check tire pressure. Too low or too high tire pressure can cost you precious miles per gallon, or worse, risk your safety when driving in rain or snow. To make sure this doesn’t happen to you, you need to make sure you know the correct tire pressure for your particular vehicle and tire type. This information is usually found on the inside of the driver’s door panel. It will tell you your tire size and the corresponding pressure level.
To check tire pressure, you will need a pressure gauge. They’re inexpensive, and there are now electronic ones that are basically foolproof. (Although I’m not an idiot, I prefer them.) Keep the device in your driver’s or passenger’s door pocket for easy access on the road. If the tire pressure has dropped, you can bleed some air or drive to a gas station to add more air until the air pressure is correct.
The real advice is to get your own portable tire gauge/inflator and keep it in the car. This way you won’t even need a gas station and you can save yourself if you have an apartment. You may be able to inflate enough to get to a gas station.
How to replace wipers. You may live in a city where it rains less than 364 days a year, but not mine. My wiper blades are a major functional component of my ride, and I was leery of how much they cost me when I was sold by the oil change guys at Jiffy Lube. The most expensive wiper blades available online are around $100 and most are under $30 and both are really easy to install. You should replace the blades once a year, or sooner if they show signs of wear.
How to check the oil level. I suspect most of us with older cars are suffering from some sort of oil leak. Since fixing leaks is one of the most expensive repairs in a car, from diagnosis to resealing, and most of us can’t afford costly repairs, we need a little extra oil between oil changes. The only way to know if and when you need more oil is to learn how to check it yourself, which means having a laundry towel or wipes in the car to help you do it, plus a few extra gallons of oil in the trunk.
Use your vehicle’s owner’s manual to locate the oil level gauge, then remove it completely. Wipe it clean and then lower it back into the oil tank. Remove it again and you should now be able to see the level clearly. If it is low, you just need to top it up with the right oil.
(Did you know that big chains like Jiffy Lube will top you up for free between visits? As long as your mileage is below the reminder sticker recommended, you can walk through and ask them to check you out.)
How to start a dead battery. I didn’t buy jumper cables until I was in my 40s, shortly before I went on a long trip, and it seemed like a strangely big commitment. I had no idea how to use them, and could only hope that the other party involved—whether it be the car parked next to me in the parking lot, or the car full of axe-wielding killers I waved down on the freeway—would know how do it. to deal with things if I ever find myself with a dead battery.
But the truth is, getting the car started is absurdly easy, and the hardest part, frankly, is getting two cars close enough to each other to reach the cables. (If I could go back, I would buy the longest cables I could afford .) The next steps are simple. Write them down on a piece of paper, laminate that paper, and then stick it somewhere in your car, like the glove box. Don’t lose it if you suddenly find yourself with a dead battery somewhere without Wi-Fi.
- Dead Car: Connect the red cable.
- Living car: connect the red cable.
- Living car: connect the black cable.
- Dead car, connect the black cable, but not to the battery – find an unpainted metal part of the hood, big enough to catch on.
- Turn on the Living Machine.
- Wait 2 minutes. Turn on the dead machine. The engine should start immediately. (If it doesn’t, you can wait a little longer, but you probably have more serious problems.)
- Dead Car: Disconnect the black cable.
- Living car: Disconnect the black cable.
- Living car: Disconnect the red cable.
- Dead Car: Disconnect the red cable.
- Leave the former Dead Machine running for five minutes, and ideally drive it for at least 15 minutes to recharge the battery.
That’s it, but you don’t even need a second machine if you have the right equipment. If you like solo adventures (camping, traveling through the Catskills), spend $100 on a portable jump starter so you have the funds to save yourself.
How to add windshield washer fluid. It’s as easy as buying fluid from your local auto parts store and looking for the right port under the hood in your manual*. Use the funnel, pour, put the lid back on and that’s it.
How to check the engine air filter. First, it’s important to know that you have several different air filters. Cars always have an engine air filter, and they usually have a cabin air filter. These are very expensive things that they try to sell you when changing the oil.
The cabin air filter is less intimidating because it is usually located in the passenger compartment of the car. Again, use your guide* to find it. You can purchase filters in bulk online or at your local auto parts store. Add it to your calendar and replace it every six months. Don’t pay extra at your next oil change for something you can easily handle.
Your engine’s air filter can be found under the hood, and unlike everything we’ve done so far, you may have to remove some parts to get to it. It is usually attached to the engine with clips or a cover. Don’t be scared; just google to find Youtube video for your model. This can be done outside of an auto parts store. Bring the old filter inside, find a suitable replacement and replace it. You can even opt for a reusable filter and simply clean it when needed.
Going beyond the basics
Modern cars are as much computerized as they are mechanical. This means more breakage, and many breakdowns tend to require costly repairs. The cost of fixing the seat heater/cooler in my “new” used truck made me wonder how difficult it would be to fix myself. That’s when I learned that almost all you need to get your car fixed is a replacement part and a Youtube video.
I, a woman who for years answered the question “what car do you have” with “green”, removed the entire passenger seat, disconnected the old controller and harness, individually connected twelve wires to their counterparts under the glove box. , sealed everything back up and drove home with an icy ass and a giant smile on his face. The DIY repair cost was $83. The lowest price I got was $1800.
I also replaced the A/C fan last year, another $500 job that I completed for $38. (The A/C fan was behind the glove box. Did you know the glove box slides out?) I replaced the A/C faucet door actuator last week (again, Google your help), which required taking apart the dash. The store wanted $400, but the repair cost two hours and $40.
This is the real reason I learned so much about my car – it saved me so much money. I still relate to oil changes – I haven’t learned how to do them and don’t really want to, although I’m sure I can. And I don’t claim to be a mechanic or anything like that; my car just got back from the garage where they fixed a part too complex for me to easily find on google and requiring too many specialized tools that i don’t have. I’m not saying you have to be a full-time fat monkey to be a real driver; I just like knowing that I can at least try to fix things myself and save some money where I can.
That’s why now when the garage tells me about a proposed repair, I google it myself to see if it’s simple enough for me to do it, or to see how much the parts cost so I know if I’m getting a fair deal. I’ve saved thousands of dollars just by becoming a more informed consumer.
*Note to your vehicle owner’s manual
Your car has a manual. It’s a bulky thing in the glove box. If you bought a used car, it may have been lost before the car got to you, but you can still buy a replacement. Until last year, I had never read the manual. As usual.
When replacing the backup light, I had to consult the diagrams in the manual, and I was shocked to learn that this is not just a boring book with tables. It was chock-full of legitimately useful information. I had no idea about the difference between 4L and 4H, or even how to put my car into 4WD.
The manual showed me where every fuse was in my car, so if something went wrong, I could find it, check it, and replace it (you’d be surprised how many fixes it takes to change a fuse). The manual explains how to do not everything, but a lot, so I will give a bold recommendation: read the manual. Like, actually sit down and read the damn thing. This will teach you a lot.