Each day, you use your car to get from one point to another. Whether it be to and from work or just to run errands, you rely on your vehicle to take you anywhere. And since you rely on it so heavily, it has to always work.
If you’ve been driving for a while, chances are you’ve dealt with your fair share of car problems. Regardless if it’s a small or major problem, knowing what you can do to fix it can help you out a ton in the long run. You can choose to take your car to a mechanic, but Money Crashers says you can do the job yourself.
According to Money Crashers, you can easily fix your own air filter. You don’t need any tools and it only takes a few minutes to complete. For every 12 months, or 12,000 miles your car racks up, you should be changing your air filter. Lift up the hood and look for the old filter. It’s usually in a black box with metal clips holding the side together. Pop open the clips and make a mental note of how the old filter is sitting in the box. Take it out and put the new filter in the same way the old filter sat. After you place the filter, close the box and you’re done. It’s a really simple task that will only cost you about $10, which is less than what you’d pay to have someone else do it for you.
Along with changing the air filter, LifeHackers says you can take care of your car’s battery connection. Your car depends on your battery’s life, so it’s crucial that you keep it clean. In order to do this, take out the battery terminals, but make sure you’re always removing the negative cable first. If you can’t remove the terminals, use a screwdriver to pry it loose. You must use a flathead screwdriver as it’s the one that will work for this type of project. Just like all screws are different, especially custom screws, there are so many different types of screwdrivers out there. (Did you know that early screws had to be handmade, so no two were ever alike? In 1928, the National Screw Thread Commission established a standard for screw threads for interchangeability). So, make sure you’re using a flathead instead of a screwdriver that has a Phillips Head. After you’ve removed the terminals, clean the posts with baking soda, water, and a wire brush. Rinse the fluid off and dry the posts with a cloth. After everything has been cleaned and dried, you can replace the battery. If you’re in need of a replacement battery or any other auto parts, you can also consider buying used auto parts for sale from a reputable seller to save on costs.
Americans spend an average of 87 minutes per day in their car. So, it’s important to make sure your car is working at all times. If it isn’t and you can’t DIY it, then consult professional auto repair technicians and they can inspect your car for damages that may need professional auto repair services.
