1. Air filter replacement
Air filters are there to filter air, obviously, but these things can get clogged. Once it’s clogged, your car’s performance can be lowered significantly. With a new air filter, you’ll be able to increase both the power and gas mileage of your car. So, why not change this yourself? Here are the steps to do this. This is one of the easiest car repairs that you can do at the comfort of your own home. You’ll just need to buy the replacement air filter for your car, and you’re almost ready.
2. Oil change
This is one thing a lot of people miss out on. Why? Because most people often don’t care about their car or don’t know about it. So, we’re here to tell you you need to change oil! An oil change should be done every 5,000 miles in severe conditions and while 10,000 miles in mild conditions. One important precaution when changing your oil is that you shouldn’t do it right after driving your car. It’ll be hot, so wait at least a couple of hours before attempting to change the oil in your car. You’ll need seven tools to change the oil: ratchet, oil filter, wrench, funnel, new oil, oil container, and oil filter. Here’s a quick guide on changing the oil in your car.
3. Windshield wipers
You just need a screwdriver to get this job done. One way or another, you will have to replace the wipers, as they can get worn out. Especially during the winter and rainy seasons, you’ll need wipers that do a top-notch job. So, all you need to do is unscrew the old wipers and remove it. Then, replace them will a new one. It doesn’t take a genius to do this. But if you need some help figuring it out, here’s something we’re sure can help you.
4. Spark plugs
You see, many people may not know this, but spark plugs can cause a lot of damage. So, if your spark plugs are worn out, old or damaged, your car’s engine performance can suffer. Beyond this, your car’s gas mileage will be reduced. This will definitely cost you both money in gas and possibly money for fixing the engine. Damaged plugs can cause unwanted problems in your car’s catalytic converter, which is expensive to replace. Beyond that, your car’s battery would need a quick replacement since it’ll be drained. So, check the owner’s manual for what type of spark plugs your car needs, and replace them.
5. Light bulbs
To check the light bulbs of your car, you’re going to have to turn on your car. You’ll have to switch on the park lights, headlights, and high beam. To be able to check your brake lights, you’ll need something a little heavy to help “step” on the brakes. Then, you can head to the back of your car to see if there are any burnt-out bulbs. If you have a burnt-out bulb, you can remove the bulb and head over to the nearest hardware or car spare shop. You can show them the bulb you need and replace the bulb yourself.
6. Brake pads
Keeping your brake pads in mint or at least in optimal condition will help avoid many things. For one, it’ll avoid car accidents. Another is that it’ll prevent injury that might otherwise be fatal. It’s important for brake pads to be properly maintained as it’s the key component of the brake system. Like other parts of the car, you could easily find the needed brake pads for your car in the owner’s manual.
7. Oxygen sensor
This is actually quite important. If you’ve ever gotten the “check engine” light, you know how expensive it is. The oxygen sensor, or the O2 sensor, helps monitor the engine’s exhaust. This helps with the adjustment of the engine’s air-to-fuel ratio. It’s based on the amount of downstream oxygen.
Many technicians actually won’t tell you about this as it’ll cost you at least $600 or more to replace when it’s too late. So, before this even happens, you will have to replace the O2 sensors. Or at the least, check if it’s still in mint condition. Depending on the type of car you have, you’ll have to buy a specific one for the make and model of the car. If you wait until the last minute, you’re more likely going to have to replace the spark plugs, and catalytic converter, among other things. On top of this, you’ll be consuming more gas than usual.
8. Windshield chips
Windshield chips can come from anywhere. It could be thanks to Mother Nature’s tiny hail stones, rocks on the road that fly onto the windshield or many other reasons. Just as long as you have a chip on your windshield, no matter how small it is, it shouldn’t be disregarded. This small thing might pose a bigger problem in the future. If you’ve got car insurance, you may be able to get them to pay for fixing the crack at a local car care shop. They’d honestly rather pay for a small crack rather than the whole windshield.
But, in the off chance that your insurance just about ended, you can buy a windshield repair kit in either Wal-Mart, Sears or even Kmart. Or, if you have an auto shop near you, you can surely find a repair kit in their store. Having someone repair it would usually cost around $100. So, if you have that amount of money to spare on a small chip, don’t hesitate. But, a windshield repair kit will only set you back about $13-$15 at best.
Conclusion:
These are all some of the things you can do to regularly do preventative maintenance. Besides the fact that it’ll cost you less, you’ll also be able to gain more knowledge on the road. You’ll be able to maintain your vehicle whether you’re on the side of the road or just doing maintenance. The best of it all is saving yourself some money for major repairs while keeping your car running.
