It’s hard to imagine life without a car.
In fact, driving is a part of life that most of us take for granted until something goes wrong.
Do you know those moments when you try to start your vehicle and discover a problem at the worst possible time? Those are experiences we all dread, and can quickly turn a great day into a total nightmare.
Car problems happen to everyone eventually. Some are a big deal, while some can be repaired with a few simple tools. This article takes a look at easy car repair that can get you back on the road in no time. Keep reading to discover how to repair a car without needing to hire a professional mechanic.
1. Changing a Flat Tire
Sooner or later everyone has a flat tire. That’s just a simple truth of life. Fortunately, removing a flat from your car, and then installing the donut is a relatively quick and painless process.
When you have a flat, especially when driving, it’s important to pull off the road and stop as quickly as possible. Otherwise, you run the risk of ruining your wheel.
Once you’re safely out of the way of traffic, get your tire jack, lug wrench, and spare tire out of the trunk. Keep in mind that some cars come with a full-size spare while most simply come with a small spare.
Jack up your car enough to remove the tire, then install the spare and tighten the lug nuts. Remember to get your flat repaired as soon as possible because you won’t be safe driving on the donut for more than a short period of time.
2. Removing Scratches From Your Paint
It’s always a bummer to discover that your paint job has been scratched. But it can happen at any time, especially when you frequently park in large parking lots at work or the store.
Fortunately, you don’t have to worry about expensive repairs every time your paint gets a small scratch. Most hardware stores and automatic stores carry paint repair kits that will enable you to take care of the problem for just a few dollars. The key is to carefully buff the scratch with a soft rag. You could also use a paint pen to cover the scratch. Simply contact the manufacturer to order a paint pen that will match the paint on your car.
3. Replacing Your Car Battery
It’s no secret that the battery is one of the most important parts of your car. After all, if the battery won’t hold a charge, the car won’t be able to reliably start. Fortunately, replacing your car battery is incredibly easy.
The key is to loosen the connection posts, lift the battery from the engine compartment, and replace it with a new, fully functioning batter. This is a super easy process that will only take a few minutes, and all you need is a pair of players. Just make sure that you buy the proper battery for your automobile.
4. Jumpstarting Your Car
If you’re like most people, you’ll discover that your car battery is dead at the most inconvenient times possible. This is usually when it’s freezing cold outside, early in the morning when you’re late for work, or when you’re stranded far away from home.
A dead battery can be stressful, but it’s not the end of the world.
Anyone can jumpstart a car. All you need are quality jumper cables and a basic knowledge of how to connect the ends of the cables to your battery as well as to the battery of a running car. Thus you’d be wise to invest in jumper cables and keep them in the trunk with your spare tire.
You should also consider investing in a jump battery. This is a simple device that is essentially a car battery with jumper cables already attached. This allows you to jump your battery without having to worry about bothering another motorist. Plus you won’t have to worry about being stranded in the middle of nowhere without help.
5. Replacing Windshield Wiper Blades
Wiper blades are a part of your car that you likely don’t give much thought until they need to be replaced. After all, there’s nothing worse than being caught out in heavy rain with bad wiper blades.
Fortunately, replacing faulty place is a quick and easy operation. You can purchase replacement blades at most automotive stores, and it’s a simple matter of sliding the old blade out from the metal wiper bracket and then sliding in the replacement. The entire process shouldn’t take more than a minute on each side of the car.
6. Replacing a Serpentine Belt
Here’s a car repair that’s significantly more complicated than the other repairs on this list.
Why? Well, this is the rubber belt that provides power to various engine components such as the A/C compressor, power steering pump, and your alternator.
Every type of car is different, thus some serpentine belts of easier to replace than others. And yet this is still an operation the average driver can handle with a few basic tools and a willingness to get your hand a little dirty.
7. Changing the Motor Oil
It’s important for every car owner to change their oil regularly. This will help keep your car running properly and extend the life of your car. Changing your oil is a simple task that will take about half an hour and cost less than $20.
Here’s a great resource for ACES PIES Data.
8. Replacing the Brake Pads
Your brake pads will eventually wear thin and need to be replaced. This can be a challenging task and you’ll need a few specific tools, but it’s still very possible to get the job done. Just give yourself plenty of time, don’t get in a hurry, and make sure you have the right parts on hand before getting started.
9. Replace Your Spark Plugs
Replacing your spark plugs is another cheap car repair task. The key is to invest in a wrench designed for removing plugs, and then replace them one at a time.
A Guide to Easy Car Repair Tips that Anyone Can Use
Keeping your car running properly is important. Fortunately, these easy car repair tips will save you money and help you become more self-sufficient.
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