Most people hear their car sputtering or performing in an odd way and immediately panic. They likely fear that whatever’s wrong with their car will cost them hundreds of dollars and tons of time.
But most car issues are actually quite easy to solve! In fact, many of them can be fixed with a few minutes of your time and a repair manual.
Read on to learn about some of the easiest car problems you can fix on your own.
The 5 Car Problems Everyone Should Know How to Fix
1. A Flat Tire
Be honest, if you were stranded on the side of a dusty, isolated road, could you fix a flat tire? Truthfully, most people don’t.
It can be tempting to put on a show of bravado for any passengers, but you don’t want to put anyone in danger. Spending a few minutes learning how to change a tire can actually save plenty of cash.
The average donut tire costs around $30-$200 depending on the make and model of your vehicle. If you winced at the extra expense, consider how much a tow truck would cost.
Be sure that your vehicle always has at least one spare tire, wheel wedges, and a wrench to replace the tire.
2. Replacing an Air or Engine Filter
Replacing an air filter may sound like something you’d need a mechanic to do. However, it’s actually quite simple.
You’re simply replacing a filter, be it engine or air. In fact, the hardest part of the task is making sure you’ve got the right filter for your vehicle.
Consult your driver’s manual for details on what type of filters to use and steps on the replacement.
3. Fixing a Gas Lift Cylinder
When you’re thinking about the most important features of your car, you likely have a few answers.
Perhaps the engine, or the sleek, aerodynamic design. But your gas lift cylinder can be every bit as important as those aspects.
Relax! It’s not as hard as it sounds: it’s the thing that holds up your hood. If you can’t keep your hood up to get to your engine, it makes things much harder to fix.
A gas lift cylinder replacement is quick, simple, and best of all cheap.
4. Headlight Replacement
A bulb blowing out is one of the most common car problems encountered.
Sure, you could take a drive over to your local body shop or oil change chain to replace your headlight. But they’ll charge you far more than the job is really worth.
If your car was manufactured within the last 10-15 years, there’s a good chance that all it’ll take to replace your bulb is a wrench, the bulb, and 5 minutes.
5. Small Paint Touchups
You may think of your vehicle as more than just a car, but an extension of your personality. And seeing a chip in your vehicle’s paint is a special kind of pain.
Whether from another driver, or simply a tree branch, don’t get discouraged, get crafty.
You can easily touch up the paint yourself! With a little patience and the right brush, you’ll have your car looking as good as the day you drove it off the lot.
Better Solutions for Common Car Problems
Save yourself the time and money, and check out YouFixCars’ auto repair blog.
Whether you’re looking for the latest tips on maintenance or need a new version of your owner’s manual, we can help YOU fix any car problems!
