Driving is an expensive part of daily life. From the get-go, learning to drive, buying your first car and then having to insure it, all cost money. You then have to keep up with the fuel costs, and of course, the expenses that come with any repairs.
No car is invincible, and no vehicle will last forever, so needing to fix or replace parts of a car becomes an inevitability over time. However, you can save money on basic repair and maintenance tasks by learning to do them yourself. Here are a few examples of simple tasks that you can carry out without needing to visit a mechanic.
Change Wiper blades
Like most car parts, your wiper blades do not have an infinite lifespan, and they will wear down over time. However, many car owners don’t think to replace them as frequently as they should. Replacing your windshield wipers is a simple task that you can do yourself easily, rather than paying a large amount for a quick fix job. The first step is to lift the wiper away from the windshield, and locate the tab underneath the wiper, press this to release the wiper, and slide it off of the wiper arm. Then all you have to do is line up the new replacement onto the wiper arm, lining up the plastic clip on the wiper with the hook on the arm. Lower the wiper back into place on the windshield, and repeat the processes on the other wiper blade. For more information, PEAK Auto is a one-stop shop for video tutorials and purchasing new wipers, as well as other car essentials.
Changing Spark Plugs
Spark plugs are incredibly long lasting, and unless you are a car aficionado, you may not think to check these and change them when needed. If you are experiencing problems such as your vehicle being difficult to start or your engine misfiring, then it is entirely possible that your spark plugs might need replacing. If you would like to save money, you can change your spark plugs yourself, by following a tutorial or by getting advice from a knowledgeable friend, though you should only do so if you feel confident.
Restart your car battery
Whether its because your car is old and the battery needs replacing, or if you just accidentally left your headlights on overnight, at one point or another, most people will come face to face with the inconvenience of having a dead car battery. However, if you need to get your car up and moving quickly, then you can jump start your car with another battery, so it is always beneficial to keep jumper cables in your car.
To jump-start a car, make sure both vehicles are in neutral or park. Jump leads are colored red and black. Start by attaching the red lead to the positive terminal of the working battery, then attach the other end of the lead to the positive terminal of the flat battery.
Then attach the black lead to the negative terminal of the working battery, and the other end of the lead to either a metal grounding point or a negative jump start pole if your card model has one. Once you are sure everything is set up correctly, try starting the dead car. If your car won’t jump start, it may mean that you have a bigger underlying issue with the car, and you will need to have it seen by a mechanic.
These are just a few of the different car maintenance tasks you can learn to do yourself; the more comfortable you are with the mechanics of your car, the more confident a driver you will be. Make sure that you have a full understanding of how to undertake each of these tasks before attempting them without assistance, as you don’t want to cause further issues while trying to fix a small problem.
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