It is common for drivers that they are becoming less interested in maintenance and learning to fix even some small deficiencies on their vehicles. A lot of drivers are even not familiar with the proper ways of changing the tire, oil, or some small parts. The main reason for that is that there are mechanics available everywhere, along with licensed stores where you can have the best maintenance of your vehicle. Also, a great option is to pay for the insurance of your vehicle, which will help you to deal with any sort of issues. If you are interested in some of the best plans for car insurance, check out Bayzat.com.
On the other side, while it is always recommended to have decent insurance, which is a great way to keep your car in good condition and avoid additional expenses, it is always a good idea to learn more about basic maintenance and mechanics that could help you in case that your car gets broken on the road.
The main advantage of learning more about it is that you can save a lot of money on standard repairs. Depending on the distance, frequency, and way of driving, you will have to change some parts from time to time. There are some more complex methods that only experienced mechanics could do. On the other side, there are some simple ways to replace some parts as well. We are going to introduce you to the best DIY types of maintenance of your vehicle.
1. Battery
Surprisingly, many drivers even avoid opening the hood from time to time. A lot of them don’t even know the names of basic parts in the car. For example, the process of changing the battery is quite simple, and anyone can do that. Still, drivers are afraid that they could break something and cause even bigger issues. Also, a lot of them don’t even know what is wrong with the car when it stops working properly.
The average life of the battery is around 5 years, and the process of replacing it is very simple. There are well-positioned cables and jacks that you have to disconnect, remove the old battery, place a new one, and connect it with the same cables. That should last only a couple of minutes. Still, the lack of knowledge makes people to choose a solution where they will pay more than $100 to someone who will do that instead of them.
2. Spark Plugs
The average lifespan of spark plugs is over 100,000 km. Still, you should check them more often. This part is essential for starting the engine. Therefore, if you notice that there are certain issues when you try to start the car, maybe the reason is related to this part. It is quite cheap and simple to replace. You will only need a wrench, and the package of plugs costs less than $20.
Still, we can notice that many people choose to visit the licensed store to have this part replaced. In that case, they will spend over $200 for the service. In case that you don’t have insurance, learning to deal with this replacement will save you a lot of money over time.
3. Windshield Wipers
Another simple type of maintenance is related to plastic wipers in the windshield. You will have to pay over $100 in the service for this sort of replacement, while you can do that on your own in less than 5 minutes. The price of wipers is around $30.
This is a great way to save some money since this type of replacement is the easiest one on the vehicle.
4. Brake Pads
There are some more complex processes that you can learn as well. It is common for people to avoid dealing with maintenance because they think that they could create even bigger problems. However, with some knowledge and experience, you can learn all sorts of repairs, and save a lot of money.
That is the case with brake pads, which are one of the parts that have to be replaced more often since it is crucial for safety. You will only need a toolbox and some knowledge in mechanics, and you will save thousands of dollars over time.
5. Oil Change
First of all, your vehicle must choose the proper oil for the engine. Poor selection can lead to serious damage to the engine and increased expenses for the repair. The process of changing the oil is quite simple. Yet, many people choose to bring the car to the service for the change. Besides the oil, you will need new filters as well, and this should be done after every 10,000 or 15,000 km. The mechanics might require you to pay an additional $40 or $50 for this service.
6. Lights
This is another simple type of replacement that anyone can learn. You will only need to open the hood, remove the barrier, and remove the old lights. After that, you will see the cables that you have to connect with the new lights. An average price of one lightbulb for the vehicle can cost around $30. However, the service will charge up to $100 for this kind of replacement. Therefore, read more about this process, and start saving some money by fixing simple things on your car by yourself.
Last Words
The most important about DIY types of repairs on your car is that you have to be sure that you are doing everything in the right way. Making a mistake might lead to even higher expenses on additional repairs. Therefore, if you are not familiar with these techniques, the best option is to ask someone with more experience to help you and show you some techniques that will help you to learn how to deal with the basic maintenance of your vehicle. There are many repairs that are quite simple, and learning more about them will help you to save thousands of dollars over time. That is especially beneficial if you don’t have a proper insurance.
