A car can be a time and money sink if it is not taken care of properly. You should familiarize yourself with your vehicle, and learn certain tricks that can help you with it. Continue reading so that you can save yourself both time and money.
Prior to letting a mechanic touch your vehicle, ensure that they are A.S.E certified. This certification means that the technician has passed a written test and has over 2 years of experience under his or her belt. This will ensure that you have the cream of the crop working on your vehicle.
Ask your mechanic is he is familiar with working on your car. If they have done so, this should inform you that they know what your car needs to work properly.
Make sure there is an emergency kit located in your vehicle at all times. Include a spare tire, a jack, a battery charger and a container full of gas. Add some blankets, a flashlight and some batteries in case your car breaks down at night.
Ask the technician at the repair shop you are considering if they have done work on the same make and model of vehicle before. If they have done so, this should inform you that they know what your car needs to work properly.
Your car should be washed regularly so that rust doesn’t become a problem. Salt and other harmful chemicals will speed up the rusting process. If you want to avoid rust at all costs, do your best to clean the car thoroughly after contact with these substances. Utilize quality waxes to keep the paint looking new.
Understand your manual and mark important pages. The auto repair shop people will ask you specific information about your car. You may even find, when you read the manual, that what you think is an issue is easily fixed.
Look out for obvious “red flags” when dealing with a new auto repair company. If you have trouble getting a straight answer out of them, (or if, even worse, they refuse to answer questions to your satisfaction) they probably aren’t the kind of people you want to work with. Having a mechanic you can trust is extremely important; don’t waste your time with one who can’t make you confident in his skills.
Regularly clean your headlights to keep them shining bright. Dirt from driving can build up on your headlights and block some light. Use a quality glass cleaner to keep your lights clean.
Replacing the bulbs on your taillights or headlights yourself can save you both time and money. Some vehicles have a simpler system than others, but you can save a lot by doing it yourself regardless of how complex your system is. See if anyone you know can give you a lesson.
Do not use all kinds of extra key chains with your keys. Though it may not seem to be all that heavy, your car’s ignition cannot handle that much weight pulling down on the key. Particularly, if you notice that the key is hard to extract from the ignition, you need to make a change!
Keep a spare tire and jack in your trunk. Many new cars have these. They are extremely helpful if your car experiences a problem while you are out on the road and you don’t want to call a tow truck. You can save money and have an easier time doing it on your own.
As stated in the opening of this article, learning basic auto repair can have several benefits in the long run. Besides gaining the ability to teach others, you will be able to save money by doing your own car repairs. Use these tips as you begin to take on your own auto repairs.