Car Troubles?

Your car mechanic could be the most helpful person on the planet, but when their repair bill arrives, your heart will sink. There is a reason why car maintenance is expensive, and that is why you should learn to take care of car troubles on your own. You would be surprised by the number of easy fixes that don’t require a lot of expertise. After you change the tire a couple of times or learn to repair dents, you will become an actual motorist.

The car refuses to start

Turning the car key early in the morning and the machine’s repeated refusal to start is a nightmare for many. If you’re late for work, then you can get a panic attack, but the key (pun intended) is to stay calm. Before you start dialing the number of a tow truck service, try again and again until the car starts. Only if nothing occurs when you turn the key, then the problem is bigger than your abilities.

Repairing small dents

There is hardly anything more frustrating than to buy the car of your dreams than to find out that someone has put a dent in it while you were away. Not only are dents unsightly, but they start annoying you after a while.

Taking the vehicles to a repair shop will set you back hundreds of dollars, as their expertise and high-tech equipment cost a lot. For smaller dents, an easy fix involves buying a dent repair at any auto store for a bargain price and fixing the dent yourself after you have carefully read the instructions.

Dealing with scratched and chipped paint

Apart from a dent, the biggest issue with your car’s bodywork is chipped and scratched paint. Whether you scraped trashcan by accident or someone deliberately drew a key across the door, you have to do something about the scratch.

If the discolored area in small in size, first remove any flakes and chips before the metal starts to rust. They polish the spot and apply car paint provided by the manufacturer (getting the right hue is essential). Afterward, just impregnate the area, so it becomes waterproof. The whole repair shouldn’t take more than a couple of hours.

Bad brakes

Although they are made from robust materials, car breaks grind down over the years. You can do your brake job if you’re handy with the grinder, but if you haven’t done this before, look for car service quotes to ensure a pro gets the job done correctly.

After all, you don’t want the breaks to fail while driving, do you? Prolonging the lifespan of disc brakes involves pressing the brake pedal less often and learning to slow the car by letting go of the accelerator pedal at the right time. It is better to downshift before the intersection than to break hard as you get in front of it.

What if the headlights go out

Another issue with car electrics is the headlights that suddenly go dark. This happens when the lightbulb burns out, but luckily, you can easily replace it yourself if you buy a spare. You just need to figure out how to take off the protective plastic covering, and after that, you replace the bulb just like you would in your house.

Replacing a flat tire

Learning to replace a flat tire is among the basics of automotive knowledge. Start by loosening the bolts and then jacking the car up using a hydraulic or a manual lift. Then take the tire down and put the new one on but screw it on loosely.

Once the car is back on the ground, you tighten the bolts, and you are ready to go. Keep in mind that some car models feature spares that are thinner than the original (called “pancakes”), so you are still going to need a trip to the mechanic for a complete replacement.

Learn to jump-start a car

If the car battery dies on you, then learning to jump-start a car is a real life-saver. All you need is another driver helping you out, as the cables are part of any car’s standard equipment. Be advised that if the battery is older than half a decade, then you should replace it instead of jump-starting it. Even this chore is a DIY job if you are skillful enough!

A blown fuse

Al the electrical features inside your car depend on electrics to function. If a particular feature won’t work, then the cause for the problem is most likely a blown fuse (if it was the car battery, then you won’t have power at all).

The user’s manual will help you locate the fuse panels, and using a diagram in the manual, you can pinpoint the trouble fuse. Check the amperage just in case and head to an auto store to buy a replacement that is easily inserted into place.

The next time something goes wrong with your car, it is essential that you don’t panic. There is an easy fix for every issue, from a dead car battery to a blown fuse.