Quick Tips for Small Repairs
When it comes to car repairs, every serious car owner wants the best care possible, which is why many of us bring our babies to the best garages and shops whenever we notice something slightly amiss. While that is something you want to encourage for moderate-to-serious repairs and/or preventive maintenance, is it the best option for small, miscellaneous repairs?
It turns out, not so much.
You see, many of the small repairs like fixing lights, chipped windshields, replacing batteries, etc., can all be done at home. Yes, it requires a little bit of knowledge and time, but apart from that and tools you most likely already have at home, D.I.Y-ing these small repairs might just save you big bucks in the future. Of course, it won’t hurt to consult with your local mechanic first, especially if it’s a trusted grease monkey that you’ve worked with for a long time!
Some of the repairs we’ve listed down here might require you to purchase a couple of tools online, but we promise that these are cheap tools that, frankly, you might need in the future anyway. For newbie car owners, take this as an opportunity to learn more about properly caring for your new machine. Trust us, this is the kind of troubleshooting knowledge you’ll need in the future.
Here are some quick tips for small car repairs:
Changing Your Spark Plugs
Let’s start off with the easiest repair you can do: changing your spark plugs. This is a pretty rare problem for modern cars because of their extended-life spark plugs that maintain a precise gap all the way up to 100,000 miles (although a wise person would check it every 30,000 miles or so).
Faulty spark plugs are usually a problem for older models that might not be equipped with modern spark plugs. If your engine isn’t starting properly or is misfiring, your acceleration is slowing down, or you notice that your fuel economy is starting to suffer, then you might need to replace your spark plug. Here’s a quick and illustrated guide to what goes inside a spark plug.
To replace it, bust out your trusty ol’ tool box and look for a spark plug wrench. If you don’t have one, get one. Spark plug wrenches are one of those buy-once-use-forever kind of tools: they’re dirt cheap (usually below $10) and they’re all kinds of useful. Spark plug replacements from authorized shops or mechanics can be in the $100 to $300 range, but if you do it yourself, you’ll be paying around $30 for a set of tools and spark plug replacements.
Take note, however, that V6 engines might be a little more complicated than your standard V4, as the former might require a little bit of engine disassembly. Consult your mechanic if you have a V6.
Fixing a Chipped Windshield
Probably a new car owner’s worst nightmare, chipped windshields might seem like a major repair that’s going to cost you hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars to fix. But the reality is so different from what you’d expect. In fact, they even sell windshield kits for less than $20, or even below $8!
Even professional windshield repair shops like Newmarket Auto Glass in Canada, suggest doing minor chips on your own. That’s because repairing windshield chips can be broken down into 3 steps:
- Clear chip of loose debris
- Apply sealant
- Apply resin
The whole thing will take up no more than an hour, and you’ll be preventing a much more expensive repair in the future. Imagine fixing your car’s windshield for less price than a night at the movies!
TAKE NOTE: this applies for CHIPPED windshields. If you have a big crack on yours, take it to a professional garage immediately.
Replace a Headlight or Taillight
If there’s one thing new car owners need to get used to doing is regular walkarounds of your vehicle. Routine visual inspections of your car might seem vain, but it’s actually a pretty effective (albeit basic) form of preventive maintenance. One of the first things a visual inspection will reveal, other than dings and scratches, is the condition of your head or tail lights. Aside from being essential for, you know, seeing things on the road and letting other drivers know when you’re braking or turning, properly functioning lights also keep you out of trouble: depending on your state, malfunctioning headlights or taillights can incur tickets with pretty heavy fines.
If you notice that one of your lights isn’t working, replace them immediately. Halogen bulbs cost, on average, around $15-$20, with more “premium” models costing around $50. If you replace them at home, that’s all you’ll be spending, plus a few minutes of your time. Take it to a shop, and you’re looking at an average repair rate of around $100 an hour. Big oof!
An important thing to note, though, is that you get the same kind of bulb as your previous one. Also, when handling the new bulb, try not to touch the glass, as the grease from your fingers can make your bulbs burn out faster. Always wear safety gloves!
Change the Battery
Your battery powers pretty much every electrical component of your car, from keeping your wireless car chargers juiced up to powering your air-conditioning. When your battery dies, your car will just stop working. Although it’s an essential component, replacing a dead battery couldn’t be simpler: in fact, it’s so simple that it’s surprising how many people still go to a professional shop to get it replaced!
Car batteries usually last around 6 years, depending on how you use up your charge. Of course, it’s always best to replace your battery well before it loses all of its juice. This is a safety issue as much as it is a practical one: you don’t want to lose power in the middle of nowhere.
Usually, professional shops will charge around $200 to replace a dead battery. This might seem reasonable, but consider that a new battery costs just about $80, and you’ll see why spending 200 bucks for something you can do for more than half the price at home makes more sense!
Remember: if you’re replacing your battery at home, always remove wires in the right order. When removing the cables, always remove the black NEGATIVE cable first. Once you’ve installed the new battery, replace the black NEGATIVE cable last. This ensures that you don’t short circuit your new battery by accidentally grounding the positive terminal.
