Have you thought about attempting to fix your car issues yourself? Many people seem to go to a mechanic even for minor issues these days. The following article can help when you are dealing with auto repair. You will save a lot and learn some useful skills.
Battery Charger
Get a reliable battery charger and be sure it is always in your car. Having a dead battery can leave you stranded in some pretty terrible places. Know where the cables should be connected and how. It is sometimes different for different cars.
Keeping a good battery charger in your vehicle is always a wise choice to avoid being stranded. Dead batteries are common, and a good battery charger will come in handy more than once. Learn how to connect your car to the batter charger.
Prior to handing over your keys, be sure you have a good idea of the repair cost. If you don’t understand something, talk to the mechanic first. You surely do not want unpleasant surprises when you go to get the car.
An emergency kit is a crucial item to have handy in your car. This kit will include the necessary tools for successfully charging a battery, changing a tire and adding gas to your tank. Blankets may be added, some batteries and a flashlight for if you have a trouble with your car at night.
Familiarize yourself with your car’s manual. When you have to get repairs done on your car, you are going to need to be knowledgeable about your car’s information. By knowing the manual, you may actually find you can fix some issues yourself.
Every time you’re going to have an automobile repaired, you have to get a record of what is done to it. This will help the technician when you get future repairs on your car. If you do not have the records, you might end up paying more for the mechanic to poke around trying to find the source of the trouble.
You need to know about all costs before handing your keys over. If you are unclear about certain things, clarification is needed before repairs are started. You don’t want to be hit with unexpected charges after the repairs are done.
Your car should always have a spare tire and jack. Typically, if you have recently purchased a car, you should have these items already. Having these items will allow you to change a tire and get back on the road quickly, which is helpful when you are stuck in a dangerous location. Changing your tire is a simple process that can save you an expensive visit from an auto service club.
Quality Tools
Keep a record of every car repair. If you have problems later, it may help the mechanic to see these notes. Without records, you might have to pay higher costs due to taking longer to find the problem.
Keep a repair kit in the car at all times. You should have basic tools such as equipment to change a tire, fix a flat, add oil and a gallon of water. Get a lug wrench and jack if you do not have one yet. You should also include a screwdriver set, a ratchet set, an adjustable wrench and a torque wrench. Always purchase quality tools. Invest in quality tools that don’t break in the middle of a critical repair.
Your wiper blades should never be forgotten about. If you don’t have wipers that work well or streak your windows, you need to purchase newer ones. You should replace them yearly, but you may need to do it twice a year if you are located in a rainy area.
Before making your payment to the mechanic when picking up your car, take it out for a spin first to check that everything is working. Many people don’t do this, and the car ends up with the same issues that were supposed to be repaired.
Speak with friends about auto shop recommendations before you pick a shop. Friends and family can help with recommendations. That said, check up on who they refer as well. At the minimum, take a look online to see what others are saying about the shop as well.
Do not hand the keys over until you have talked both price and the rates for labor. Ask questions until you are sure you have clear answers. Since it’s your car, you have to know the cost of repairs. Some service shops have estimated times for repair, establish by the manufacturers. Simple repairs could be an all-day affair.
Watch out for mechanics who perform unnecessary repairs on your car. Good mechanics will tell you about worn down pieces without replacing them automatically. Don’t return to mechanics that do unnecessary repairs.
Warning Lights
The warning lights on your dashboard have an important function. Refer to your car manual for explanations. Paying attention to these warnings is always in your best interest. Yes, there are sometimes false positives, but it is risky to ignore these warning lights. If you do so, a problem can get worse and become more costly to fix.
Remove valuable things from your car prior to taking it in to get fixed. Your mechanic may need these parts removed so that they can make repairs. If you discover missing items later, they hold no liability. Remove everything from your trunk too.
In the winter, you still need to wash your car. Believe it or not, the winter months are tough on your vehicle. Sand and salt on the roads can cause rust and corrosion. Take care to dry your vehicle before driving it again. You wouldn’t want ice to form.
Avoid diagnosing car problems yourself. Don’t forget that you are not a repair wizard. It may seem like an easy fix, but in modern computerized vehicles, that may not be the case. Let a professional diagnose the issue. Be knowledgeable about the details, but let the repair shop make the diagnosis.
When your headlights or taillights burn out, you can save a lot of money on repairs if you do it yourself. In some vehicles, this repair is easier than in others. But, if you can do it yourself, you will save money. Ask someone you know if they can instruct you on how to do it.
Don’t let a mechanic tell you that flushing your engine is routine maintenance. It’s a costly process which is unnecessary unless you’re abusing your car.
For simple things, such as adding oil and windshield wiper fluid to your vehicle, there is no reason that you cannot do these things on your own. You can do these routine maintenance jobs yourself. Mechanics aren’t required. Don’t be afraid to get dirty hands with your new found knowledge.
Always know when your oil should be switched out. This will ensure that your car is running at its optimum performance. Most mechanics will place a sticker inside your vehicle to remind you of when the next oil change is due, but you should write down when you changed the oil if you do this yourself.
Have your receipts from auto repairs in an accordion file inside your car. With that type of file, you can organize your files by time or specific types of repairs. Either way, you will have a complete record of your car’s maintenance that will be helpful to your mechanic when more repairs are needed and helpful to you if you are dissatisfied with a repair. Keeping these resources organized will also help you keep track of just how much car maintenance is costing you over time.
Dollar Amount
Every time you get gas, you should also check the pressure of your tires. Look over your tires to be sure nothing has become embedded in them. If you notice any issues, address them immediately. Do not take a chance by driving on damaged tires.
Tell your mechanic that he cannot go over a certain dollar amount to repair your car unless he gets your authorization first. You should never tell your mechanic to go ahead and fix everything that needs some attention. Give them a dollar amount and if they find something else wrong with your vehicle you should have them call you before fixing it.
Getting auto repairs done can seem like such a pain when you first start. However, you should be able to fix your own vehicle if you know what you’re doing. Just do not forget the tips here and your car problems will be fixed.
Think about snapping some photos of your car prior to taking it to the auto body shop. Though most shops won’t strip a car, others do it to make more money. It is better to document what your vehicle looks like just in case this horrible thing happens to you.