Car Repair Tips - Daily car Blog
How to Work on a Car as a Beginner
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The United States has some of the highest car ownership rates in the world. On average, each household owns 1.8 cars. Only about 8% of American households don’t have a car.

And while cars are some of the most convenient tools ever created, they don’t come without their cost. Most people will finance a vehicle, making monthly payments. Then you need to insure it and put gas in it.

But the costs don’t stop there. If you want your car to last, you need to learn how to work on a car yourself. Otherwise, you’ll need to pay for regular auto maintenance, even though many of the tasks that keep cars running are easy and simple to perform at home.

Wondering how to learn basic auto repair skills? Keep reading to learn how any beginner can learn how to repair a car today.

Get Some Tools

Working on your car is a lot easier when you have the right tools in hand.

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Here are a few affordable tools you should have in your garage.

Socket Wrench Set

One of the most versatile tools you can have to fix a car is a socket wrench set. The more extensive the set, the easier it will be to access hard-to-reach bolts.

Torque Wrench

When it comes to cars, everything you do needs to be calculated. Tightening specific bolts should be done to a certain torque; not too tight, but tight enough. A torque wrench ensures you get the right levels.

Car Lift

If you want to take your DIY car maintenance skills as far as possible, you can invest in a home vehicle lift like Bendpack. With your car up in the air, you’ll be able to work on the underside of your vehicle with ease.

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No having to crawl under the car and get all dirty or hurt your back. And different sizes and weight ratings are available. Some of these lifts can even pick up two small cars at once, or one large pickup truck.

Those looking to save some money can choose one of the low-rise lifts, rather than the full-height lifts.

PPE

Working on a car can be dangerous if you don’t know what you’re doing. Always play it safe by wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves, goggles, long sleeves, long pants, and work boots.

Start On Some Easy Tasks

If you want to perform a car fix yourself, what types of tasks should you focus on? Learning how to do the little things can save money in the long run. Here are some first steps.

Change the Oil

Everyone knows they need to change their oil after driving about 3,000 miles. But few people do it in time. It’s one of the most basic tasks to keep your car running efficiently.

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And it’s one of the easiest tasks to learn how to complete on your own. All you have to do is purchase new engine oil that matches your vehicle. Locate the crankcase where the used oil is stored.

Drain the old oil into a drain pan, and refill the tank with the new oil. Make sure the engine is warm when performing this task.

Change Windshield Wipers

Wipers need replacing every six months or so. It might be more often if you live somewhere with lots of rainfall.

Swapping them is simple once you learn how the different types of wiper blades work. It can take a few YouTube videos to figure it out, but once you do, you won’t forget it.

Swap the Headlights

Check all of the lights on your vehicle, including headlights, high beams, hazards, brake lights, and turn signals. If any light bulb is out, replace it by following the manufacturer’s instructions.

Replacing the bulb is self-explanatory once you know how to access each lightbulb.

Check Tire Pressure

This is something you should do multiple times per year. To check your tire pressure, you just need a pressure gauge. You can get one for a few dollars, or they are often built into air compressors.

Know how much air should be in your tires by reading your owners manual. Using a home air compressor, or a compressor at a gas station, refill each tire to the ideal pressure.

Replace Air Filters

There are two air filters in your car. One is for your engine and one is for the cabin air. Both need to be clean for a safe, functioning car.

Swapping them out is as easy as changing your home air filter, once you know where each filter location is in your vehicle.

Check and Change the Battery

Your car battery is designed to last for about five years. After a few years, your battery may start to get finicky.

First, check for corrosion. If you notice corrosion and buildup on the battery, you can use a special brush and a can of Coke to get rid of it. Removing corrosion can increase performance and reliability.

You can also use a battery testing device to see if the battery still has life left in it, or if it’s time to replace it.

Replacing it is easy to do. You just need to disconnect the battery cables, starting with the negative. Place the new battery in, connect the battery cables, can give it an initial charge.

Know Where to Dispose

Certain things that you replace on your vehicle need to be disposed of in a specific way. This includes things like batteries, used fluids, and tires. You can’t just toss them in the trash or pour them down the drain.

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In many instances, you can recycle old car batteries at the store that you bought the new one from. Fluids can usually be disposed of at a local recycling facility or auto parts store.

And tires can often be given away for free, as others are always looking for tires.

Learning How to Work on a Car

While some people enjoy working on their cars, most people would prefer not to. But knowing how to work on a car, whether you enjoy it or not, is a valuable skill to have.

These skills may save you on the side of the road someday. And they’ll definitely save you money over time.

Looking for other helpful tips like this? Visit our blog now to keep reading.

Car Repair Tips - Daily car Blog
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