2009 - The Year of DIY For Auto Repairs
By Dirk Gibson
In the past, we worked on our cars as a matter of pride. These days, cars have become a bit more complex and we tend to leave the heavy lifting to the pros. With the economic downturn, money is tight and this means handling some of the car repair work yourself to save a buck.
In these modern times, the idea of working on your own car can put the fear of God in some of us. The days of adjusting the single carburetor are long gone. Open up the hood and the average modern car looks very different. Things are so efficiently packed into the car that just getting to the part you are after seems impossible. Don't let it defeat you.
At a minimum, you should handle the maintenance on the family cars with a minimum of problems. You can change the oil, check any belts and rotate the tires with a minimum of fuss. Preventive maintenance is often the key to avoiding big repairs down the road. A little bit of care in each of these areas can save you big money down the road.
Changing your own oil is pretty much the same task as it has always been. Instead of basic oil, try using synthetic motor oil to really lubricate your motor. The Castrol and Mobile 1 brands are excellent. They will cost a bit more, but don't need to be changed for 5,000, 7,500 or 10,000 miles or more depending on the type of car you drive. They will also save a lot of wear and tear on your engine.
Buying new tires can be expensive. Rotate yours every 6,000 miles or as suggested in your owner's manual. Also, check the pressures. Don't go off what the tire says on the sidewall. Instead, look on the inside of your driver door frame for recommended pressures. Keeping pressures up and tires rotated can double the life of your tires, a big money saver.
What about more serious repairs? Should you have a go at them? Well, it depends on your mechanical ability and your knowledge of cars. If you've never worked on one before, it is probably unwise to make your first job some serious type of repair. Still, you can grab a repair manual for your car and start having at it. Just make sure you have a second car around in case the repair needs to be repaired!