Five Car Repairs You Can Do On Your Own

There are plenty of perks to owning a car. Whether you are commuting to work or headed out for a night on the town, a car makes traveling a lot easier. Unfortunately, the expense of mechanical repairs can begin to put a huge dent into your budget. The good news is that there are quite a few car repairs that you can do yourself. Here are five car repairs that you can do on your own.

Air Filter Replacement

Shockingly, some automotive repair shops charge $75 dollars or more just to replace the engine’s air filter. Believe it or not, most air filters can easily be replaced in 15 minutes or less. By simply removing a few screws, the dirty air filter can be swapped out for a new one. The only tool that is required is a basic Phillips or flathead screwdriver.

Replace Coolant Hose

Over time, coolant hoses are susceptible to becoming brittle. In some instances, the hose may suddenly burst due to the tremendous amount of pressure. Instead of paying hundreds of dollars to a mechanic, you can do it yourself. Most hoses are attached with uncomplicated clamps, so very little mechanical skills are needed. The most important aspect is selecting the correct size hose.

Check Engine Light Diagnosis

Some drivers cringe in fear of an illuminated check engine light. Although a check engine light certainly warrants some concern, it could be something as simple as a loose gas cap. Every car owner should purchase a code reader for their vehicle. By hooking the code reader up to the diagnostic port under the dashboard, you will be able to determine the cause of the CEL.

Rotate the Tires

In less than an hour, you can rotate your tires. Although the process is relatively simple, you must remember to take all of the necessary safety precautions. The equipment needed for the job includes a hydraulic jack, jack stands, and a lug wrench. Although some people use the spare jack that comes with the vehicle, a hydraulic floor jack is far safer. A reliable tire finder will help you to locate new tires if needed.

Changing Spark Plugs

Changing the spark plugs may seem quite challenging, but it is actually fairly easy. With the assistance of a spark plug gap tool and a spark plug wrench, you will be able to complete the task. The most important thing to remember is to only change one spark plug at a time.