There are so many things that can go wrong with cars – regardless of how well you care for the vehicle, how old it is, or what make and model the car is. There are always problems that will arise, and a major part of looking after a vehicle is knowing how to manage that situation. As it happens, that is something you might be able to do easier than you assume. And part of that is taking a DIY approach to car repairs.
There are in fact a few common car repairs that you can usually do yourself, even if you don’t have a huge amount of experience in it yourself. Let’s take a look now at five easy car repairs that you should be able to do yourself, probably easier than you imagine.
Diagnose A Check Engine Light
A check engine light can put fear in the heart of any motorist, but it is very rarely a really serious problem. However, part of the difficulty here is simply not knowing what it means – because it can actually refer to a wide range of issues which can arise in a vehicle. So the first thing you need to do is to diagnose the engine light and what it means.
If you take that problem to a garage, it can cost you hundreds. So it might be worth doing it yourself instead. That requires that you get hold of a code reader, which is a small computer that can tell you what the light means when you plug it in. And that could turn out to be a considerably useful and cost-effective investment over the years.
Replace The Wiper Blades
Over time, your windscreen wipers will naturally deteriorate. This is a normal result of wear and tear, and not something to worry about. But you will find it is helpful to know how to change those blades when it is time to do so, because this is a job that will need to be done every few years at least, and usually before an MOT or similar check.
Fortunately, it’s an easy fix, and one anyone can do at home. It really is just a case of lifting them up and unclipping them, before attaching the new blades in their place. So do that, and you should find that you have them replaced in no time.
Change A Tire
Everyone should learn how to change a tire, because you never know when you might have a puncture during a journey. It is, again, a very simple thing to do, though it might seem challenging or overwhelming at first. You will need a jack to lift the car up, and then you’ll need to undo the bolts to take the old one off. Then it’s a case of putting the new one on, and tightening up the bolts again, before letting the jack down again. It really is that simple.
Install A New Headlight
Another very common problem is when the headlights go out, either because they have been smashed or damaged, or simply because the bulb has run its course. When this happens, there is really no need to pay someone to replace it for you. It is a simple fix that takes only moments, even if you have never done it before. You just take off the casing, unscrew the old bulb and screw the new one in. And it’s one of those jobs that, once you have done it yourself once, you’ll always do it in the future. In fact, you might wonder why you have never done it yourself before.
Jump-Start The Battery
If your car won’t start, the most common reason is because the battery is flat. When that happens, the solution is fortunately quite simple: you just need to jump-start it. For this, you need jump leads, and either another car’s battery, or a jump-starting kit. In either case, attach the live (red) lead to the positive terminal on the battery, and then the negative, black one on the negative or on the chassis of the car. Then add the other ends to the other battery, or to the jump starter pack if appropriate. Then switch on, and see how you go. All being well, it will start right away.
As you can see, it’s quite simple to do these repairs, any many others too. It is always worth trying it out, because it can be a joy to fix your own car – as well as being less expensive.
