Doing your own car maintenance can be challenging but not impossible. There are plenty of car maintenance tasks that require just a few minutes, basic tools, and little expertise.
You can learn a lot about your car by performing routine maintenance. This process is also excellent for providing you and your passengers a sense of comfort if you encounter any road emergencies.
Visit the salvage yard
If you’re a little more advanced in your vehicle car journey, you can even find your own parts and perform simple repairs. Before you toss all your money to a local auto repair supplier, consider doing some secondhand shopping.
To save costs on parts for your vehicle’s maintenance, you can visit a salvage yard for used auto parts. Buying used car parts at a salvage yard can help you find pieces in decent condition cheaper than car chains or online retailers.
8 Car Maintenance Tasks You Can Do Yourself
There are dozens of car maintenance tasks that you can do yourself with minimal equipment and tools. These tools can include screwdrivers, pliers, and scissors. Doing these car maintenance tasks on your own can help you save money, save time, and give yourself a sense of satisfaction and pride.
This list of tasks is easy, simple to do on most cars, and vital for a car’s care.
Air Filter Replacement
The cabin air filter is an easy fix because it is often located just atop the glove box of most cars. Replacing the cabin air filter can cost more than $100 at a mechanic, but savvy drivers can cover the problem for around $20.
The method to change the cabin air filter depends on the make and model of your vehicle, so check your manual for specific instructions.
Oil Change
Car owners all over the world do their oil changes every day. While it might seem like a big deal to rookies, it becomes routine with a bit of practice. As long as you have the proper tools like wrenches and oil pans, you can get your car’s oil changed in only a few minutes.
If you’re not sure which oil your vehicle needs, check online for guides to lead you in the right direction.
Windshield Wiper Exchange
When you use a set of wipers past their effectiveness, they can cause dangerous and distracting streaks all over the windshield. In addition, your used and worn windshield wipers can be ineffective in heavy rainfall.
Suggestion: 9 Best Windshield Cover For Snow and Ice in 2022 To Buy Online
Drivers can replace most models of wipers without tools. Just apply a little pressure to the clip to remove the old ones.
Battery charge & replacement
Replacing a battery is simple. Typically, replacing a battery means taking off the plugs on both nodes, removing the rectangular box, and placing that box with a new, better battery.
Maintenance may mean using a wire brush to remove dried battery acid from the nodes for better conduction or charging your battery using a portable charger. Always keep jumper cables in your trunk if your battery needs a jump.
Tire needs
According to AAA estimates, Americans encounter 220 million flat tires each year. It’s one of the most frequently required auto repairs, and learning to do it yourself can save you hours of waiting around on the side of a highway.
Always have a tire iron and car jack in your trunk in case of a blow-out. When taking lug nuts off, always unscrew these nuts in criss-cross patterns.
You may also want to keep a tire patch kit in your trunk in the event of a run-over nail or puncture on a long drive.
Coolant replacement & replenishment
Coolant is vital for a car to run correctly. Coolant is the chemical that keeps the engine cool enough to run without overheating. If there is a leak in the coolant line, you may need to routinely replace the coolant until you can take the car to the mechanic.
However, you may want to replace the coolant when it gets dirty. To replace your coolant, start by unplugging the coolant drain and catching the used coolant in a bucket. Once the reservoir is empty, plug the hole back up and replenish it with brand new coolant.
Spark plugs
Spark plugs are easy to access– typically located just under the engine cover– and easy to replace. Once you find the plugs, pull them out, clean the area with a microfiber cloth, and insert your new ones.
Spark plugs will need to be replaced every 80,000 miles.
Interior light bulbs
Even car maintenance rookies can replace interior light bulbs by pulling out the old bulb and replacing it with a new bulb. You can complete this replacement within a few minutes.
Parting shot
Car maintenance can be challenging, but some auto-centric tasks are simple and take only a few minutes. In addition to learning more about your vehicle, you can also feel more confident about handling your car and taking care of it.
