If you drive a car with any degree of regularity, it is important to understand the fundamentals of quality auto repair. That said, who truly knows that information? Fortunately, the article that follows below includes lots of terrific tips to help you make certain your car is always in good working order.

Keep a good battery charger in your car. Having a dead battery can leave you stranded in some pretty terrible places. Locate the points the battery charger should be connected to so you can easily jump start your own vehicle.

Never underestimate how important it is to carrying an emergency kit inside your vehicle. Assemble a kit that has tools for changing tires, charging the battery and putting more gas in the car. You may also want to add some batteries, a flashlight and a few blankets in the event that you break down at night.

You should always have an emergency kit available in your vehicle. This kit should have the tools to change your tires in the case of an accident. A few blankets, flashlights and spare batteries are also great to have.

Prior to giving your car to a shop, know the costs of repairs. If you don’t understand something, clarify your concerns with the mechanic or service adviser before they work on the car. Don’t end up surprised by extra fees.

Ask a mechanic any questions you may have regarding your car when bringing it in to their shop. Make sure to consider previous problems you’ve had, and ask how to prevent them. Preventative measures will save you a whole lot of money in the long run.

You do not have to contact a mechanic every time your car has problems. Many things can be easily fixed. You can always go online and try to diagnose the problem and educate yourself to the possibilities. If it’s not hard to fix, try it yourself.

Make sure the repair shop technician is familiar with the particular model of your vehicle. If the mechanic says they have, then they are likely aware of just what repairs need to performed in order to have your car operating well again.

Clean you car on a regular basis so it doesn’t become rusty. Although all cars rust at some point in time, it is possible to delay this from occurring by washing off salt and chemicals immediately. Wax your car to keep paint in good condition, too.

Remember that getting OEM parts is important. These are original manufacturer parts. Generic may be cheaper, but you don’t know the quality of these parts as time goes on. It can appear like a deal right now and cost twice the amount later as OEM components to begin with.

Watch out for mechanics that don’t know what they’re doing. If they are talking in circles and avoiding your questions, you should take your business elsewhere. You want to be able to trust the person doing your repairs, so go elsewhere.

Make sure you know what is in your auto manual, and mark certain pages for reference. Do not hesitate to let your mechanic know about what you learned from the owner’s manual. You may even discover how to solve your car problems yourself.

Try to find out whats wrong with your vehicle before calling a mechanic. When you self-diagnose, you avoid fraud and save money. Experience shows that mechanics sometimes falsely claim a problem exists and do an unnecessary repair, to increase their earnings.

Check and make sure that your mechanic is familiar with working on your type of car. There are certain specifics which he needs to know before doing any repairs. If you don’t think he has, go to the dealer.

Look up your local body shop’s reviews online. This is a good way of getting an idea on what other customers think of the mechanic’s skills and customer service. It will allow you to find a shop that has everything you’re looking for.

Tool Kit

Put together a small tool kit for your car and keep it in your trunk. You need basic tools like a tire changing kit, and you also need other equipment. If the necessary lug wrench and jack are missing, replace them. Your tool kit should contain these items: socket wrenches, ratcheting tools, a wrench for torque and one that is adjustable, and both a Phillips and a flat head screwdriver as well. You don’t want to settle for buying cheap tools. Invest in high-quality tools that you will own forever.

Make sure that you specifically request OEM parts. These parts come from the manufacturer of your car. It’s cheaper to get the generic parts, but the quality may not be the same. Though you may think you are getting a deal with generic parts, in the long run, you will end up paying double than you would have if you had gotten OEM parts.

Look on your dashboard for any hazard lights that go on. They’re there for a reason. Do not ignore these lights or you might have to pay for more expensive repairs later on.

Do not forget that fixing your car yourself comes with some dangers. Make sure there is somebody nearby to assist if things go wrong. Get high-quality tools that will not break while you’re working. This holds true particularly in the case of the tools needed for changing tires. The jack needs to be reliable so you are safe when you go under the car. Hydraulic floor jacks with a stand should definitely be considered for purchase.

Are your headlights clean? Sometimes there is a residue that covers them from the streets and that can make them dirty so they cannot put out enough light. Use glass cleaner to wash any dirt away from them.

Only use a mechanic who is certified. One to look for is the certification given by the NIAE. This demonstrates the mechanic has shown a level of competence. This will tell you that the technician has been properly trained and will do a great job on your car.

Your financial responsibilities are only just beginning when you purchase a car. That said, not everybody knows how you can identify a skilled auto shop or make the repairs yourself. Read the above information as needed, and you will be ready for whatever comes your way.

Take off your keychains from your car keys to reduce the weight on your ignition. The weight of your keychain can cause problems for your ignition. If the key starts to stick, its time to replace the tumblers and say goodbye to your troll buddy!