Inspect and Update Your Liquids
Many liquids within your automobile require regular monitoring and replacement. While you could have these services performed at a dealership or by a professional mechanic, performing basic repairs and maintenance on your own isn’t very difficult. After some practice, you’ll complete these checks swiftly and reduce expenses significantly.
The standard fluids you should inspect include the engine oil—make sure this is done when the engine is not running and the car is parked on a flat surface. The brake fluid and power steering fluid should similarly be examined with the engine turned off. For checking automatic transmission fluid, ensure the engine is idling; preferably, do this following about 10 or 15 minutes of operation under normal driving conditions. It’s best practice to routinely check these liquids every week for optimal maintenance.
Replace Engine Oil and Filter
This is among the most frequent car repair and maintenance procedures. You ought to
change the oil
And replace the filter according to the schedule set by your vehicle manufacturer. While you might not significantly reduce costs by performing this task yourself, there are valid reasons for taking this approach. Firstly, it ensures that you know exactly what grade of oil is being used in your engine. Secondly, it provides an opportunity to inspect other components under the car when removing and reinstalling the drain plug.
Change Power Steering Fluid
There are no specific test strips available for checking power steering fluid levels; therefore, follow either your vehicle’s recommended maintenance schedule from the manufacturer or use an approximate guideline of every two years or after driving approximately 24,000 miles. To replace the old power steering fluid, employ the turkey baster technique. First, ensure the engine is turned off before extracting all the fluid using this method. Afterward, fill the reservoir again with new fluid. Next, start the engine and allow it to idle for around 15 seconds. Continue repeating these steps until you’ve utilized one whole quart of fluid.
Note:
Do not use a “universal” power steering fluid as a replacement for the specified type, and avoid adding “miracle” additives or sealant products. These can block the tiny mesh filters within your steering mechanism, leading to costly breakdowns.
Swap Out Brake Fluid
Certain automotive manufacturers suggest changing the brake fluid biannually or after covering 24,000 miles. Conversely, some do not address this topic whatsoever. However, assessing your brake fluid is quite simple; you just insert a testing strip into the liquid and match its hue with the reference guide provided on the package.
You cannot perform a full brake fluid flush on your own, but you can opt for a fluid exchange instead. While this method won’t remove all of the old fluid, it will introduce sufficient new fluid to improve performance significantly.
Utilize a baster to extract the dark brown brake fluid. Since brake and power steering fluids are not compatible, ensure you use separate basers for each. Transfer the extracted fluid into a recyclable container. Fill the reservoir again with fresh brake fluid following the instructions provided. Afterward, operate the vehicle for about a week to blend the new fluid with the remaining old fluid. Perform this process multiple times over the coming weeks until the fluid in the reservoir maintains a pale amber hue.
Note:
The brake fluid can deteriorate the rubber bulb of the master cylinder, so avoid drawing the fluid entirely up into the bulb.
Change Transmission Fluid
Many individuals recognize the necessity of routinely replacing engine oil. However, they frequently overlook the significance of also updating transmission fluid. Certain transmission oil pans come equipped with a drain plug, whereas others necessitate removing the entire pan to extract the old oil. Taking out the pan can be quite cumbersome; thus, perform this step just once prior to fitting an aftermarket drain plug for simpler subsequent maintenance procedures. This identical type of after-market drain plug could similarly serve as a solution should the plug in your engine oil pan become damaged due to frequent usage.
Repair Minor Marks
Scuffs, abrasions, indentations, and bumps all contribute to making your vehicle appear more aged than it really is. Although professional assistance is necessary for significant harm, minor issues can be addressed by you.
repair minor marks yourself
.
Smooth Away a Paint Scratch
Finish this task accurately, and it will seem like you’ve performed magic. If the scratches haven’t penetrated the paint layer, using an extremely fine grit may help eliminate them. A 6-inch random orbital wood sanding tool could be used for this purpose; just attach a polishing pad rather than an abrasive disk. Apply a gentle automotive body polish along with the dampened buffing pad, and remember to wash everything once completed.
Resolve Minor Dents and Door Dings
If you know how to repair a wall, then repairing a dent in your car should be within reach. For this job, gather different grades of sandpaper, a little tub of auto-body filler, some cream paste, and disposable plastic tools. Begin by using rough-grit sandpaper to smooth out the dent until you expose the underlying metal. Afterward, gently taper off the borders around the damage. Wipe clean the area with a wax-and-grease remover. Following that, blend the body filler as directed and spread an ultra-thin layer over the spots where the sandpaper marks remain.
Allow the filler to set up and then build up the repair with additional layers no more than 1/4-in. thick per application. Feather the final coat so it levels with the painted areas. After it cures, sand until smooth. Then apply a cream filler to the entire area to fill in any pinholes. Let it cure and do a final sand. Then you can paint the area with touch up paint.
Check Your Wheels
Several automotive repairs related to wheels can be managed personally. Although they might appear daunting initially, taking your time will enable you to tackle each of these vehicle upkeep and repair jobs effortlessly.
Fix a Flat Tire
More than four decades have passed since automotive tires transitioned to being tubeless, enabling
fix a flat tire
While it’s still attached to the car, start by finding the source of the leak. Inflate your deflated tire and apply a solution made from 80% water and 20% dish soap; this should create bubbles at the point where the air escapes. Once identified, use either a piece of chalk or a white paint marker to highlight the area.
Should you encounter a screw, nail, staple, or an open hole in your tire’s tread, consider handling this as a do-it-yourself auto care task. First, lift the vehicle using a jack and secure it with a safety block beneath the frame for stability. Next, remove the screw or nail, and utilize a plug kit along with some tire repair adhesive to seal the puncture effectively.
If you notice an air leak at the point where the rubber contacts the metal rim, this requires a professional mechanic to remove the tire from the rim, apply a sealing compound, and then reinstall it.
Re-Torque Your Wheels
Following several incidents in the late 1990s where wheels detached from cars, automotive technicians began recommending that newly installed wheel nuts should be inspected for tightness within the initial 50 miles driven. To perform this maintenance task, you can use a torque wrench, an instrument designed to gauge the force exerted on a nut. Although seventy foot-pounds is often recommended as the standard torque setting for wheel nuts, consult reliable sources online to determine the appropriate level for your specific make and model of vehicle.
Add Trailer Wiring
This job was once challenging, but it has become considerably easier nowadays. Pre-assembled trailer wiring kits can now be found for numerous vehicle models. While some installations may still present varying degrees of difficulty, overall, it remains quite manageable regardless of the specific setup.
Battery Maintenance
A drained battery is inconvenient, yet you can manage it independently. You might also get ready for this possibility by inspecting your battery periodically. Prioritize assessing your vehicle’s battery as part of your routine service and upkeep list to ensure you’re aware when to begin saving up for a replacement.
Test Your Battery
Every car battery ultimately reaches the end of its life, yet determining just how near your battery is to failing completely—leaving you stuck and unable to fire up your engine—is challenging. That’s precisely why tools like battery testers were created.
Battery testers assess the capability of a battery relative to its intended output, along with important factors like startup voltage. High-quality battery-test instruments don’t have to be costly and can offer valuable information to ensure your vehicle operates consistently.
Replace a Car Battery
If you’ve checked your battery and noticed it can no longer hold a charge, then it’s time for replacement. Just remember, with proper maintenance, most car batteries typically have a lifespan of around five years. The bright side is that replacing it doesn’t require visiting a mechanic.
Replacing your battery
is an easy fix, and most stores where you can buy a new battery will recycle your old one free of charge.
Replace Your Wiper Blades
It’s simple to identify when your
blades need replacing
Just push the washer button and check if your blades clean properly. If they leave streaks, replace them. Buy a new set and install it according to the directions provided. Make certain you securely hold onto the wiper arm when removing the old blade; otherwise, it might strike the windshield hard enough to cause a crack.
Manage Filters
Several distinct filters can be found in your vehicle, and it’s essential for proper upkeep and maintenance to replace them periodically.
Replace Engine Air Filter
Check and change your engine air filter. Simply loosen or detach the retaining clips of the air filter housing and take out the used filter. Next, assess the condition of the filter by shining a flashlight from behind it. Should the filter obstruct half or more of the light passing through, install a new filter. Otherwise, reinstall the current filter, fasten the air filter box lid, and continue using your vehicle. This ranks among the simpler tasks for maintaining automobiles.
Swap Out Your Cabin Air Filter
A clogged
cabin air filter
It can harm your vehicle’s blower motor and make your AC work for extended periods during warmer months. Luckily, replacing the cabin air filter is straightforward. Purchase a new cabin air filter from an auto parts retailer and request that the staff provide you with the setup guidelines.
In newer cars, cabin air filters typically sit within the air ducts found behind the glove compartment. Yet, certain automotive manufacturers place these filters under the hood near the windshield or inside the center console. Simply take off the cover panels and pull out the used filter. Make sure to observe the flow indicators for correct placement before inserting your fresh filter. Afterward, put back all the components you removed earlier; then consider yourself finished with this task.
Replace That Broken Antenna
Replacing
Installing a fender-mount antenna mast is straightforward. Simply remove the leftover part of the mast and purchase a new one from an auto parts store. In contrast, changing a pillar-mounted antenna requires somewhat more effort but remains manageable as a do-it-yourself project.
Detach the antenna wire from your radio and tie a thick thread to the loose end. Next, remove the antenna base from the pillar and draw both the old antenna and the thread outward. Fasten the new antenna wire to the thread, reel it back into the car, and reconnect it to your radio. Finally, fix the new antenna onto the pillar with the included screws.
Fix That Leaky Sunroof
If raindrops continue to fall on your head, it’s likely because you are outside in the rain.
sunroof
The drains are blocked. Lift up the sunroof and search for the drainholes located at both the forward and backward edges around your sunroof area. After identifying these drainage points, attach a short section of rubber or plastic tubing securely with duct tape to one outlet of your workshop vacuum cleaner; use this setup to remove all obstructions within the pipes. Subsequently pour some water down every pipe individually then observe underneath where the vehicle sits to confirm whether the liquid exits directly onto either your pavement outside or concrete flooring inside your garage space.
Should the clog persist, purchase a speedometer cable from an automotive supply shop. Feed this cable into the drain opening and carefully push it along while rotating it between your fingertips. Be cautious not to apply excessive force since doing so might pierce the drainage tubing, causing water leakage into the dashboard compartment. After using the speedometer cable to clear out the obstruction, flush the drain thoroughly. Once everything flows freely again, consider yourself finished—there should be no further influx of moisture entering your car’s interior through this channel.
Maintain the Neatness of Your Seats
Your seats experience significant wear and tear, and this becomes particularly noticeable on lighter-colored ones. Luckily, you don’t have to spend money getting them reupholstered. You can take care of repairing and maintaining your car seats on your own.
Repair Rips in Leather and Vinyl
Auto upholstery stores tend to be pricey for fixing seat tears. However, you can tackle this task yourself within a few hours using a vinyl and leather repair kit available at most auto parts stores. It may take some practice to achieve the correct color blend, and the result might not perfectly match the original; nonetheless, having repaired seats will still look much better than riding around with damaged ones.
Begin by attaching a reinforcement material to the bottom side of the damaged vinyl or leather section. Afterward, prepare the heat-activated filler so that it matches the hue of your fabric, then spread this mixture over the damage area. Locate a textured sheet that best mirrors the pattern of your vinyl or leather surface and position it above the applied filler solution. Warm up your repair instrument using an iron and firmly press it against the textured layer. Lift the repair device once done; however, keep the textured piece intact until the filled region solidifies. Finally, carefully take away the textured element.
Wipe Down and Treat the Seats
After a few years, you’ll notice that the color of the leather or vinyl seats no longer matches that of the rest of the interior. It’s not enough just to condition the leather. First spray on leather cleaner and rub vigorously with a clean terry cloth towel. To avoid rubbing the grime back into the seats, keep flipping the cloth to expose a fresh surface. Let the seats dry for an hour and then rub in a leather conditioner to keep the leather supple. It’s available at discount stores and auto stores.
Clean the Carpet
Use a carpet cleaning machine to get the dirt that settles deep into the fibers of the carpet. It sprays the carpet with a solution of water and cleaner and then sucks the dirt and grime into a reservoir. A machine like this pays for itself after just a few uses. You can also rent one from a rental center or use a spray-on cleaner and a scrub brush instead.
Remember the Recesses
Detailing involves thoroughly cleaning every crevice and edge. Cover a dull screwdriver with a fabric ensuring no sharp parts protrude, then mist it with multipurpose cleaner. Gently glide this tool over the trim lines to remove grime, advancing to new areas of the cloth when needed. Afterward, tidy the spaces surrounding the buttons and controls before finishing off with a restorer product.
Wash the Windows
Make sure not to skip the upper edges. Have you ever seen that dirty streak along the top of car windows when they’re partly lowered? This area often gets ignored during a rushed cleaning session. All it needs is some Windex and a fresh cloth for a few minutes to look spotless.
Maintain Hinges and Latches for Smoother Operation
Occasionally, your locks and latches may begin to display signs of wear. However, should they become jammed or snagged, repairing them can be straightforward. Among the quickest auto repair and upkeep chores we’ve outlined, this ranks high.
Include Graphite in Door Lock Maintenance
To keep your lock functioning smoothly, use graphite powder. This often goes unnoticed until something like a broken-off key inside the cylinder becomes an issue. Ensure smooth operation by applying some dry graphite powder onto the locking mechanism. If necessary, gently move aside the dust cover using a tiny metal nail file to access the lock interior. Just a short burst from the container should provide ample powder. Work the graphite thoroughly into the system by turning the key multiple times within the cylinder. Don’t forget to do the same for your car’s trunk lock too.
Release a Jammed Car HoodLatch
If your hood isn’t opening and closing effortlessly, it might be due to rust and lack of lubrication. This issue can typically be resolved within approximately ten minutes using some spray rust penetrant and spray lithium grease. Start by lifting up the hood and thoroughly spraying the rust penetrant onto the locking mechanism. Move the hood up and down multiple times until the operation becomes smooth. Although the rust penetrant helps initially, it may not provide lasting effects; thus, additional lubrication is necessary. Raise the hood again and coat every movable part with white lithium grease. Continue operating the hood back and forth for a few more cycles, after which everything should function properly.
Headlight Fixing and Upkeep
Your headlights ought to rank high on your list for car repairs and maintenance. They serve as a crucial safety feature, enabling you to illuminate the road ahead and allowing other motorists to spot you easily.
Fix Dim Headlights
Clean the ground connection just to brighten up your dim headlights. If you notice a grayish-brown coating on the interior surface of the light cover, apply some dielectric grease or consider replacing the bulb altogether.
Replace Headlights
The toughest aspect of this task is selecting a new bulb. Often, you might end up spending more time browsing for bulbs than actually installing them. The variety available is overwhelming. Each manufacturer seems to have their own set of perplexing terms for different types of bulbs, which complicates the comparison process. However, when it comes down to it, there are essentially four main factors to consider: brightness level, lifespan, color temperature, and energy usage. Determine your priorities and then filter through the options accordingly.
Replace Non-Headlight Bulbs
To replace burnt-out license plate lights, side markers, or fog lamps, simply take out the retaining screws and carefully detach the lens. Remove the old bulb by pulling it directly out of the socket. When handling the replacement bulb, use gloves or wrap your hand in a paper towel to avoid getting oil on the fragile glass; this could lead to an early bulb malfunction. Insert the new bulb into the socket until it locks in place with a click. Finally, put back the lens and you’re finished.
