If you are having car problems, this is the right article for you. This article is here to help you solve these problems. If you are like the vast majority of the population, you probably don’t have a lot of car knowledge. Still, you can learn. Keep reading to find out what you need to know.

Do not let a mechanic work on your vehicle unless they are A.S.E. certified. Being A.S.E. certified ensures you that your mechanic has proper training and experience. This tells you that the mechanic is qualified to work on your car.

Keep an eye on your radiator levels. Run your engine for several minutes, and then turn it off and pop your hood. Be careful not to open your radiator if the car’s running. Use a dipstick to check the fluid level in your radiator and mix some coolant with water if you need to add more fluid.

Get referrals to find a great auto mechanic. Can you get a recommendation from a friend or someone that you work with? Ask about how much they paid, the quality of the repairs and the customer service. People will let you know what kind of things they had to deal with and if the person was honest.

Every time you’re going to have an automobile repaired, you have to get a record of what is done to it. Future problems can be easily solved when auto technicians have access to past records. You might end up paying more if you don’t have them, because it will be more difficult to diagnose the issue.

You don’t need to call someone to repair your car each time you’re experiencing trouble. There are a few things that could be fixed very easily. Try troubleshooting the issue on the Internet or talk to your friends to see if they have an idea of what could be wrong with your vehicle. If it is not a very difficult job, you can save some money by doing the repairs yourself.

Get OEM components. OEM parts are parts that are made by the manufacturer. While they often cost a little more, they typically work better for longer periods of time. 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.

Be on the lookout for clear indications that a mechanic is not the right one for the job. If they are talking in circles and avoiding your questions, you should take your business elsewhere. You need to be able to trust the person doing your repairs, so don’t be afraid to choose another one.

Keep on hand all of your car’s documentation. Keeping them in the glove compartment is smart. Auto service experts may need to refer to them. They aid in speeding up the diagnosing process.

Always think of how to fix your car’s problems yourself before trying to get it repaired. You can save time and money if the problem is correctly diagnosed, and finding a reliable mechanic will also be easier. As you’ve probably heard, there are some mechanics that like to lie about issues to make some more money.

You need a spare tire and jack with you all the time. Newer cars almost always have them. There is nothing worse than being stranded far from home and having to get an expensive tow. It is much easier and inexpensive to do it yourself.

Ask for Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) parts. These parts are the genuine article, produced by your car’s original manufacturer. Generic may be cheaper, but you don’t know the quality of these parts as time goes on. What could be a good deal in the present won’t always be the best thing to for you later, so try using OEM parts when you’re able to.

You should not send your vehicle to a repair shop without getting quotes from different places. Most shops are honest, but some are not. Check out other options which are trustworthy. These types of shops will give you the best bang for your buck.

Hopefully, you have learned all that you can so that when you have trouble with your vehicle you can get it fixed. Although you probably are not an auto repair expert, you should be well-equipped to handle any small repairs. If you deal with some larger issues, you should be able to find a good mechanic to repair them.

Make sure the mechanic you hire is properly qualified. If they give you the runaround or ignore any questions, you may not want them. You want to be able to trust the person doing your repairs, so go elsewhere.