In today’s busy life it gets difficult to manage our expenses on a daily basis. We all agree to the fact that we seldom have to face unexpected expenses and suffer due to shortage of money. There are few ways through which you can try to control your expenses one of them is trying to do some auto repairs and maintenance jobs yourself. Although it may sound difficult it is just because we have never tried to do it and we spend an enormous amount on mechanics on each visit.
It is not necessary you have to be an expert to do these small tasks anyone can handle them easily and quickly with minimal expenses. While some complex fixes require an expert technician but there are various fixes you can do yourself with simple tools and little experience. Here are some basic DIY repairs mentioned for your car to save your money and time.
Change your air filter
The clogged air filters reduce car performance on many levels you need a new air filter every 12 months or 12000 miles whichever comes first. Instead of paying your mechanic and giving up your car for a day you can replace your air filter at home in few minutes.
The first thing finds the filter under the hood of your car, it is in a black rectangular box with metal clips on the side. Open the box and remove the old filter and insert the new one exactly how the old one was fitted and close the metal clips. For a longer run, you can clean the new air filter with some compressed air to extend its life. This is all you need to do to change the filter.
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Change car oil
It is not a difficult task to change car oil you can do it with some precautions. Avoid changing the oil after driving your car recently since it can be very hot instead wait for a few hours after driving to change the oil. It is normally suggested to change the oil after every 3,000 miles you can save money by handling the change yourself.
Jack up your car and get under it to locate the vehicle’s oil pan. Unscrew the drain plug and drain all of the old oil into the oil pan then replace the drain plug. Go back to the engine and remove the old oil filter with the help of an oil filter wrench. Now take the new filter and fill it two-thirds with new oil and lubricate rubber gasket with some new oil. Screw in the new oil filter with your hand only and fill the engine with new oil. With the help of dip-stick, you can always check the oil level if it’s enough.
This might be a dirty job to do but considering visiting service stations four times in a year you can think about the amount of time and money you can save so all the effort becomes rewarding.
Replace spark plugs
Replacing your spark plugs regularly can make automobiles have better fuel consumption ratings and smooth drive. Spark plugs for most cars are cheap so you can replace them after about 30,000 miles. It is a simple process just requires some patience and time because you need to install them in a specific order.
First of all, locate the spark plugs attached to thick rubbery wires they are four, six or eight depending on how many cylinders your car has. Spark plugs are installed in a certain order which you need to maintain so remove the only first plug. Use spark plug socket and extension on your ratchet to remove it and install the new one, tighten it with the wrench and reattach the plug wire. Repeat these steps for each spark plug one at a time.
Change windshield wipers
Replace the worn-out wiper blades after about six months or year of use for optimal driving conditions during rain.
Lift the blades and remove the old ones. Note how the old blades connect to the metal arms usually there is a tab on the underside of the wiper pushes the tab to remove the old blade. Attach the new blades being careful not to bend the wiper arms or scratch the windshield.
Replace headlight bulbs
DIY headlight bulb replacement is possible for cars without sealed beam headlights. Get the right bulb for your car and save money by changing it yourself.
Remove the protective shield from the back of the headlight assembly then turn and loosen the plastic harness containing the bulb. Remove the clip that holds the bulb in the headlight assembly and carefully remove the headlight from the harness and insert the new bulb into the harness.
Push the harness into the back of the headlight and twist it into place so it locks. Turn on the headlights and check.
These are some of the auto expenses you can reduce by doing the repairs yourself. They can save you about thousands of dollars over the life of your vehicle. Just be sure to try a DIY project only when you know your experience level and can handle it easily.