Do you know how much you spend to maintain your car each year? Surprisingly, the amount is well over $8,000 for most car owners.
While regular maintenance is important to keep your car running smoothly, you may want to consider doing simple repairs yourself.
Want to save some money and take a few car responsibilities into your own hands? You are in the right place. Keep reading below for seven very simple DIY car repairs that anyone can do!
1. Change Your Battery
One of the first steps you can take in doing your own car maintenance includes replacing your battery when the time is right. A battery typically will last anywhere from four to six years, so keep tabs on how old yours is.
Most batteries will have a timestamp. 4 Service Pros recommends that you shouldn’t wait until you begin to have issues to have your battery replaced. This could end with you being stranded somewhere with a dead battery.
New batteries usually start out at $80. To do the switch, all you need are some wrenches. The most important thing is the order of removing and replacing all the cables.
Remove the negative or black cable first and after placing the new battery, connect this cable last.
2. Oil Changes
Oil changes are a good place to start when looking to do DIY car maintenance. Getting this done at a shop could range anywhere from $20 to $70 for higher-end products.
But for much less you can do it on your own.
By doing your own oil changes, you also avoid potential up sales. Many shops use oil changes as a so-called “foot in the door” with you and then suggest much more expensive repairs.
Buy a quality oil filter and oil from a local store. You will need an oil filter wrench, drain pan, and a jack with jack stands. Search online for how-to videos to walk you through the entire process.
While car’s continue to gain more technological features, regular oil changes will always be a requirement.
3. Change Air Filters
Frequently when you go in for an oil change, shops will recommend you change out your air filters. This is another maintenance element you can handle yourself.
If you buy a filter from a retail store, it will only cost you about $20 or less. If you have one changed at a shop, the cost could well exceed $50 when labor is included.
Most car models all you will need to do is open the hood, remove some screws and open the housing of the air filter. Swap out the filters and replace the screws.
4. Replace Headlights and Taillights
We all know that feeling of dread when we realize we have a headlight or brake light out. Sometimes it seems to happen at the worst of times, but it is important to rectify any burned out bulbs.
You will save significant amounts of money by doing the replacement yourself. Shops often will charge you at least $25 per bulb and charge labor costs upwards of $100 per hour.
Take the old bulb with you to the store to ensure you purchase the correct replacement.
5. Replace Wipers
Often car owners take their car straight to a shop or dealer when they need new windshield wipers. Doing the replacement yourself is an easy DIY car project and will save you time and money.
While a dealer or shop will charge you for parts and labor (running you upwards of at least $70), you can buy a set at a retail store for as little as $20.
Replacing wipers is very simple, taking only minutes. All the needed instructions will be included in the package.
Whatever store you choose to buy from will have a manual with car models listed. Use this manual to look up your car and what model of wipers it needs. Doing this will avoid any accidental purchases of the wrong models.
6. Change Brake Pads
While you may shy away from doing any DIY car work on your brakes, you shouldn’t be scared. It actually can be a simple and cheap process. Meanwhile, shops and dealers will charge hundreds of dollars for the same thing.
The car industry makes it seem difficult so they continue to make money from brake maintenance, but with proper tools and some knowledge, you can safely change your brake pads at home.
You will need a wheel lug wrench, some other basic wrenches, and pliers. Obviously, you will also need a jack and jack stands. Please never work under a car without jack stands.
New brake pad sets will cost somewhere between $20 and $40 depending on your specific car and the pad type.
To change the pads, first take off the wheel and remove all the brake hardware. Remove the old pads, push in the caliper piston and then place the brand new pads.
You likely can do all four wheels in about an hour, even if you are a newbie.
7. Spark Plugs
Changing your spark plugs is a very easy home repair, but it’s unlikely you will have to do it more than once, if that. With newer cars, spark plugs typically last for about 100,000 miles.
While spark plugs last a while now, it is best practice to check them every 30,000 miles or so.
When and if you do need to change them, in addition to your regular set of tools, you will need a spark plug wrench. This type of wrench will last you forever and is not very expensive.
Get Started with Your DIY Car Repairs
As you can see, maintaining your car doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. With the correct tools and information, you can lessen the time you need to spend at an auto shop.
In addition to saving you time and money, doing car repairs yourself will give you the confidence to take care of any car issues as they arise.
Has the DIY bug bitten you after working on your car? Check out this list of other DIY projects that you can do for your home to become more eco-friendly!