Let’s face it, owning a car offers you a great amount of freedom, but it’s a liability too. And the irony of life is that car troubles always tend to crop up when you can least afford it.
Well, there are certain instances where you actually don’t need to take your car to a mechanic in order for it to run at 100 percent. With a few simple DIY car repairs, you can save yourself hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars.
Want to learn more about the DIY repairs you can do at home? This blog is for you.
1. Change Your Brake Pads
This is probably the most common issue with a car that’s seen a good few miles on the road — the wear and tear of brake pads. If you hear a screeching, grinding, or scraping sound when you hit the brakes, this is a sign your brake pads need changing.
But, you don’t have to fork out hundreds of dollars for a mechanic to do this, because you can do it yourself.
All you’ll need is a wheel lug wrench, pliers, a car jack, and a set of jack stands. As well as new brake pads which should cost you about $20-$40 depending on the make of your car.
You then remove the front wheel, remove the hardware, and pull out the worn-down brake pad. After that, you’ll need to push in the caliper piston, add your new brake pads, and re-fit the hardware and front wheel.
Check out the borla s-type exhaust system if you’re looking to replace your exhaust — which you can do at home too.
2. Replace Your Car Battery
This is hands-down one of the simplest DIY repair jobs you can do at home. Most car batteries have a lifespan of 4-6 years. Check your car battery for a dating stamp to be sure when to replace yours. It’s best not to wait until you’re having battery problems — prevention is always better than cure!
You’ll spend $80-$100 on a new car battery, while most mechanics charge upwards of $200. To replace your battery you’ll need a standard wrench set. First, loosen the bolts on the battery casing.
Then, always make sure you remove the negative cable first from the battery (the black cable). Once you’ve switched the batteries, always re-connect the negative cable last.
3. Change Out Your Car’s Air Filter
This is yet another simple task that’s heavily marked up by mechanics. It’s actually a very quick task you don’t need a professional to do for you. The purchase of a new air filter will set you back about $15-$20. But it depends on the make of your vehicle.
To swap out the air filter, open up the hood of your car. Use a standard-size wrench to loosen the screws of the filter housing. Remove the old filter and replace it with the new, then re-fit the filter housing.
4. Install a New Headlight or Taillight
In most states, you can receive a fine for driving with a broken headlight or taillight. Not to mention that it’s dangerous. So you don’t want to leave this task unchecked — it’s best to do regular checks of your headlights and taillights every month or so.
You can purchase new bulbs for about $20-$25 on average. All you have to do is pop off the light cover by opening up the hood of your car and locating the metal retaining clips around the headlight cover.
Then, use a flat-head screwdriver to pry off the retaining clips, then wedge the screwdriver between the housing and the bulb to remove it. Swap out the bulbs, replace the cover, and you’re done!
Broaden Your Knowledge on DIY Car Repairs
These simple DIY car repairs won’t cost you more than $50-$100 if you already have a few basic tools in your repertoire at home. Remember that car mechanics don’t only charge for parts, but for labor costs too! Save yourself the expense, and just do it yourself.
If you’re interested in learning more about keeping your wheels in tip-top condition, be sure to explore the rest of this site for knowledge on auto maintenance, safety, DIY repair, and more.