Sunday, November 17, 2013

Car Maintenance Tips That Anyone Can Use

By Fred Gagnon


Faced with high repair bills, you may have wondered if you could do it yourself. The first couple times will be intimidating, but you would be surprised what you can handle yourself. You can save a ton of money and lengthen your car's life. The tips below will help you understand the possibility of fixing your own car.

Make sure you get quality parts to fix your car. You can usually get better prices if you get used parts from a junk yard but there is no way of knowing how long these parts will last. Do not hesitate to spend more on brand new parts that come with a guarantee.

When you run into car problems, you should first turn to the Internet to learn what the problem could be. You may find that it is an easy to repair problem that you can do on your own. This could save you hundreds of dollars in labor fees if you had to take it to a shop.

Take advantage of free inspections, but don't just have them fix everything on the list. There will probably be one or two extra items added on that aren't strictly necessary. If you are light on cash, ask the technician which items are the most important to keep the car running safely. Get these done immediately, and save up for the rest of the work.

Regularly check your radiator. Run your car, turn it off then pop the hood. Never open your radiator if your vehicle is running. Check the radiator fluids using a dipstick and remember to always mix the coolant with water before putting it in the radiator.

Understand the repair costs prior to leaving your car with any shop. Labor costs especially can run at different levels from shop to shop, especially if a specialist is involved. You'll want to know what you are getting into prior to learning about it the hard way days later.

If you plan to take your car to the shop, do not leave anything inside the car. These items may need to be removed anyway, and they aren't responsible for lost or missing items. Take all items out of your trunk, too.

One of the best ways to save money is by being informed about car maintenance and repairs. Some mechanics take advantage of those with little car knowledge. Use the advice you learned here to either do the repairs yourself or be better armed against shady mechanics. You can save thousands over a lifetime.




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