Getting your car repaired can cost a lot. You must pay for the necessary parts and the labor associated with the repairs. Don't you want to save some money and repair it yourself. The tips and techniques that you will learn can help you save a lot of money on repairs.
Check the fluids in your car regularly. Check the oil level with the dipstick you can find under your hood. The dipstick should have a mark on it to indicate the ideal oil level. Add a quart of oil if you need to and check the level again after letting your car run for a few minutes.
You must wash your car to keep the rust away. All cars eventually get rusted, but the process can be delayed considerably by washing off any chemicals or salt immediately. Make sure you regularly wax your car so that you protect the paint.
To save a trip to the auto repair shop, you should take a look at your owner's manual. Here, you may find hints or perhaps answers to questions you may have about your vehicle. It can be quite helpful to know the size of your engine or its configuration, which is usually found in the manual.
Have a DIY kit for auto repair in your car at all times. These tools should include a tire changing kit, which comes in most cars. Buy a jack if your car does not already have one equipped. You should also have good quality Phillips head and flat head screwdrivers, socket wrenches and a ratchet set, a torque wrench and an adjustable wrench. Cheap tools are not worth your money. Buy quality, reliable tools that are not going to break.
Don't be afraid to ask as many questions as you need. It is your car, and you need to know why it is important to fix a specific item right away. If you are feeling intimated, or you are not receiving straight answers, get a second opinion before signing off on the work.
If you have never done any auto repair on your own, you should stick with small jobs and do lots of homework to learn how to do larger jobs. Be certain not to start taking your car apart if you aren't sure how to put it back together. Before starting any car repair job, be sure you have all the necessary parts and tools in place and that you know exactly what you need to do to complete the job from start to finish.
Go to a repair shop you are considering for the long haul with a smaller job first. It can be something as simple as an oil change or a tire rotation. This will give you at least a better hint of their capabilities, workmanship and friendliness before a bigger issue occurs.
Make sure that the auto repair shop you go to offers a warranty on their services. There are plenty of repair shops that will do a shoddy job, and there is nothing you can do about that if you have no warranty. A warranty will give you the opportunity to get the problem fixed for no charge.
Make sure that you do not get pressured into extra repairs by body shops. They profit from your oblivion. Before visiting the shop, use chalk to mark your tires. This can help you see if your tires have been properly rotated or switched out for older tires.
Don't let a mechanic convince you that an engine flush is a common maintenance procedure. This is a pretty expensive service and you do not really need it unless you have been doing things that have been particularly bad on your engine, like failing to change your oil regularly.
Avoid being run over by your own car! When you jack your car up, be sure to set your emergency brake. Place bricks behind the tires you are not working on to keep your car from rolling. Keep a set of wedges or three or four bricks in the trunk of your car in case you have to change a flat tire on a hill.
Find out about labor rates before you let a mechanic work on your car. You should have your mechanic diagnose the issues and assess how much work will be needed. Make sure you understand how the mechanic will bill you and have a manager give you an estimate of how much labor time is needed instead of trusting a technician who is not responsible for giving quotes.
Trust your gut feeling when dealing with a mechanic. If the person you are talking to does not really answer to your questions or seems to be vague on purpose, you need to keep looking. A good mechanic should put you at ease and give you plenty of details on the work that needs to be done.
Pay attention to your check engine light! If one of your warning lights is illuminated, take that as a warning! Don't neglect it! The warning lights on your dashboard are designed to give you early notification of potential problems. By taking your car to an auto repair shop as soon as one of these lights is lit, you can nip the problem in the bud!
Always ask for an estimate in writing before you agree to have any work done. This way, if the shop tries to charge you more later you will have the estimate to prove what you had agreed on. Some shops do this on a regular basis, so be sure to protect yourself by getting it in writing.
Car repairs and maintenance are an inevitable part of life. You do not necessarily have to hire a mechanic to fix your vehicle. Doing your own auto repairs is really not as hard as you might think and can save you a ton of money. Apply the tips you just read to keep your vehicle running smoothly and improve its longevity.
Orignal From: Do Not Have Your Car Repaired Without Reading This Advice
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