You can give these auto maintenance projects a try, regardless of your DIY skill level.
Replacing the air filters
No special tools are needed for this – you only need to buy a new air filter. Here’s how to replace the choked filter with a brand new one: Open the hood and look for the air filter case (this is black in most cars, with metal clips attached to the side). Unclip and remove the old filter from the case, making sure no debris gets into the filter box. Gently slide the new filter in. Close and secure the clips. That’s it! You now have a new air filter that’ll keep your engine safe from debris and contaminants.
Change the oil filter
Safety first! Change the oil filter only when you’re sure it is cool. The last thing you want is to suffer from burns. Once you’re confident follow these steps: Jack up the vehicle while it’s parked on level ground. Look for the oil drain plug on your car’s underside and with a recycling container drain the used oil. With your oil filter wrench, take the old filter off – together with the rubber gasket. Put some lubricant on the new filter’s rubber gasket before filling 2/3 of it with new oil. Tighten the new filter, but make sure you don’t strip its thread. Refill your engine with filtered oil.
Replace the fuel filter
Look for the fuel filter and the fuel lines running to it. Secure a couple of wrenches to the fuel lines, making sure you cover the lines with a rag as a safety measure. To connect the fuel lines, hold the wrench you placed on the filter, then turn the other one until the bolt pops out. With a gentle sliding motion, take off the line from the bolt (do the same with the other line). Take the used filter out. Replace the washers that you’ll find on the bolts. Secure the fresh filter in by reversing the above-discussed steps.
Replacing the windshield wipers
With the wipers up and away from the windshield, look for a “button” on the wipers’ underside and then press it so that you can slide them off their respective arms. Hold the new wiper in a way that its plastic clip faces the arm hook’s open end. Lower the new wiper gently onto the arm until you can pull it tight (you’ll hear a clicking sound that tells you it’s secured in place). Rest the finished wiper arm onto the windshield and do the same steps with the other side.
The tasks you should leave in the hands of pros
Your DIY skills should not cross the safety limits. So it’s best you don’t overestimate your abilities. Doing so is the quickest way to racking up even more expenses because of costly mistakes. Here are some of the more complex auto maintenance tasks best done by pros:
Replacing cracked or damaged windshields
Whether it’s a small crack or a bigger web of a windshield mess, you’re better off paying for a reliable windshield replacement service.
Repairing damage
A car accident even if a minor one could’ve damaged the internal machinery of your vehicle that you don’t have any way of knowing on your own. Reputed professional mechanics have testing equipment capable of discovering these problems.
Fixing air bag issues
You wouldn’t want to fiddle with these on your own because they house small explosives. Hire experienced mechanics at a reputed car repair garage when you have problems with your air bags.
Getting your ac/heater to work right
Just like how a faulty HVAC can give rise to mould growth in your home, the same applies to your car’s HVAC system. You don’t want your car smelling musty and causing breathing issues, do you? At the same time, you don’t want to tinker with this part of your car, especially if you don’t have the know-how on things like pressure, thermodynamics, and refrigerants.
Faulty gears
Whether you change gears with a manual or an automatic system, both types are complex and complicated. Adjusting and fixing gear problems often require precision and specialised tools.
Save money on doable DIY auto maintenance
Everyone has their own skills when it comes to completing DIY car projects. The important thing here is acknowledging your skills and abilities, so as not to end up with more bills for making costly mistakes.
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