If you learn to auto repair and maintain the car by yourself, you could save plenty of money. It would be best if you were fragile in learning and handling projects like professionals. But one doesn’t need to be an auto expert and mechanically inclined. You can learn the repairs quickly and do it within minimal expenses. You can even marine quadrajet going to clean it on your own.
In this article, we will learn about such DIY maintenance tips, which will help you handle your car.
- Air Filter
Air filter maintenance doesn’t need any specific tool and will estimate cost around $10. The air filter needs to replaced every 12 months or after 12,000 miles. All you need to do is finding a filter under the hood of your car, which would be fixed in a black rectangular box attached with metal clips on one side. You can take the help of the owner’s manual of you to face difficulty in finding it. Now remove the old one and insert the new filter in the same position as the old. Close it with the metal clips once you are done with it. For some extra saving, you can hit your new filter with some compressed air to clear out the debris and provide a long life to it.
- Windshield Wipers
This task needs 15 minutes and requires no tool. You need to invest in an estimated cost of $10 to $20. A wiper blades need to be exchanged every six months or a year and differ from car to car. To start with lifting the blades and wash the windshield by hands. Next, remove the old blades and note how the old blades were connected to metal arms. To remove the blade, you need to push the tab on the underside of the wiper. Now attach the blades carefully without bending the wiper arms and scratching the windshield. Meanwhile, if you get confused about fitting the wiper arms, you can also refer to the packaging of new blades that carry instructions with diagrams.
- Spark Plugs
Spark plugs maintain needs tools like Ratchet or socket wrench, 12″ socket extension, spark plug socket. The servicing time needed is 20-30 minutes, which requires an estimated cost of about $10 to $15. The spark plugs need to be replaced after 30,000 miles, but it also depends on the vehicle. This work may sound intense but is pretty simple. It would help if you kept time and patience while installing replacements in a specific order. It would be best if you located the spark plugs accurately as they remain attached to thick rubbery wires. The average cylinders consist of up to 8 plugs. You need to remove the wire of the first spark plug and not the rest at once to maintain the order of those. To remove the spark plug, you need to use the socket and extension and then install new spark plugs while screwing it with hands and wrench for a snug fit. Make sure you do not overtighten it and reattach the spark plug wire. This step needs to be repeated for each spark plug. If you have bought the right plugs, it will automatically pre-gapped the gaps.
- Oil and Oil Filter
This work requires 40minutes with an estimated cost of $20 and should be done every 5,000 miles. You don’t need towing company to change the oil and oil filter. Here’s how you can do it on your own. Never start with when the engine is hot. You can drain the oil effectively before this. Now jack up the car and get under it to locate the vehicle oil pan. Unscrew it and drain the old oil into the pan, followed by replacing the drain plug. Now go back to the engine and remove the old oil filter wrench. Lubricate the rubber gasket on the new oil filter with some new two-third of motor oil. Screw it up and by using a funnel, fill the engine with fresh oil.
5. Battery Maintenance
For battery maintenance, you would be needing Wrenches, corrosion-removal fluid, wire brush, rags. You need to remove your battery terminals, following the negative cable first. You can use a flathead screwdriver to pry them loose if they’re stuck. Now clean the posts and wires with cleaners and rinse it with water. Let them dry and place rags with dry posts. Now replace the battery terminals.
6. Radiator Flush
This procedure needs tools like Phillips-head screwdriver or wrench, rags, radiator flush solution, coolant, funnel, used coolant receptacle. The deposits disrupt the cooling system, so this is an inexpensive way to do so. Cooldown your car and check for the radiator drain plug. Now put the used coolant receptacle in place unscrew it and let the old coolant drained out. Soon replace the drain plug and remove the radiator cap. Using a funnel, add the cleaning solution to fill the rest of it with water and replace the radiator cap. Start the car and let it run until it gets to its normal operating temperature. Please turn on your heater to its hottest position, and let the car run for 10 minutes and turn it off until the engine gets cool down. Drain it again and refill with fresh coolant.
7. Brake Pads
It would be best to have the following tools like Lug wrench, C-clamp, open-end, or adjustable wrench, hammer with an estimated cost of $40. For the ones frequently doing a lot of stops and go needs this to get done often frequently. To start with, jack up your car and break the tire’s ugs, followed up by removing the wheel. Remove the brake caliper so that the brake pads slide out through the top. The brake caliper should be at the 12 o’clock position, just above the lug bolts, and remove the bolts. Pull the caliper upwards without letting it hang from the brake line. Now Replace old pads with the new pads and secure them with the retaining clips from the old pads. Compress the brake piston. Get out C-clamp and put screw it tightly against the piston. Place the caliper assembly over the new pads and reinstall the brake caliper. Reinstall and put the wheels on.
8. Fuel Filter Replacement
It would be best if you started with relieving fuel system pressure to avoid an explosion. Now locate the fuel pump fuse on the fuse box and start your car, while running the engine. Pull the fuse or relay out until the engine dies and disconnect the fuel lines from the fuel filter. Find two open-end wrenches that are the correct size for your fuel filter fittings and put a rag over the fitting to protect yourself Hold the wrench and turn it over other wrenches counter-clockwise until that bolt comes out. Set the bolt aside and Repeat the process for the other side of the fuel filter.
Remove the old fuel filter by using a flathead screwdriver. Change the fuel filter washers, located on the bolts connecting towards the fuel lines, and Install the new fuel filter. Return the fuel pump fuse or relay before you try to start the car.
Conclusion
People usually give this task to the mechanic who takes the whole day long. Instead, you can do it by yourself in just 10 minutes. It would help if you kept making the notes about everything you do to make it easy for next time. You may need to customize some steps according to the owner’s manual, but the necessary procedure remains similar. Line up everything and make sure everything is fixed tightly. These steps are essential to make your car work efficiently.
