Far too many body shops charge ridiculously high prices for repairs that could be done for far less money by someone who is being honest about the price, or even by yourself! That’s right, many of the little things we take our car to the body shop for are things you can fix yourself, allowing your to save money on car repairs.
For example, if you need to replace your windshield wipers, you can easily do it yourself. Just head over to your local Wal-Mart or auto parts store and grab a pair. Just make sure to match the windshield wipers to your type of car because if you get the wrong kind, they won’t fit correctly. The wiper blade itself snaps on quite easily and you won’t need any tools.
If you get in an accident then you’ll want to check with your car insurance company before you start doing your own repairs. Your insurance might pay for some of the repairs that are needed.
Here are a couple of other basic auto repairs that will save you a lot of money and allow you to spend some quality time with your beloved car:
1 – Headlight Bulbs
Another thing that anyone can fix on their car is the headlight bulbs. It’s as simple as replacing a regular light bulb, so there’s no need to take your car to a mechanic for them to change it for you. All you need is a screwdriver. To replace the bulb, open the hood and look for the headlight. You pull on the casing until the light bulb comes out, then you disconnect the wires, reconnect them to the new bulb, shove it back into place and voila – you’ve saved yourself a trip to the body shop.
2 – Oil and Filter Changes
You can even change your own engine oil and filter. Most cars these days were designed to be easy to work with. Before getting started, check your owner’s manual to see what kind of oil you should use. You’ll also need the following items: latex gloves, oil filter wrench, engine oil, combination wrench, gasket and funnel. Turn your car on and let it warm up before you start – a warm engine guarantees that the oil will drain more easily. Then turn off the car and open the hood. Find the engine oil fill cap and remove it. Next, put a drain pan underneath the drain plug so the oil has something to drain into, then remove the plug. Let all of the oil drain into the pan. Remove the oil filter and install a new one. Next, install a new gasket and tighten the drain plug. Finally, pour in the correct amount of new oil, check the oil level with a dipstick to make sure it’s full, then put the cap back on and you’re done.
Just remember that sometimes you’ll need help. The three repair and maintenance issues discussed above are common tasks that are needed with all cars. Unfortunately, you can’t fix everything yourself. If you need to take your car to a mechanic, make sure to shop around a couple of places first to get a good idea of what the actual cost should be. To cut costs down, you can also buy your own replacement parts and give them to the mechanic instead of letting him buy the parts for you. Usually he will either buy expensive parts or tack on a few extra bucks to make a profit.
About the author: Mark Ference is a freelance writer who likes writing about topics relating to cars and travel.
Credits: Photo courtesy of Christopher Bowns.