Henry Truman, Executive Chronicles | Most Americans start driving cars in their teens, but few of them actually know how to do maintenance tasks in their cars. As vehicles become more of a necessity than a luxury, you need to learn how to care for your car in order to keep it in top shape and avoid having to call the towing services. Here are x easy fixes you should learn how to DIY.
Remove light scratches
All cars end up with a lot of scratches, so deeper than others. The problem is these are quite expensive to repair in a car service, you knowing how to remove small scratches from your car is going to save you a lot of money.
First, you have to determine which scratches are removable and which are not. Focus on light scratches, as deeper ones are likely to be removable only by professionals. Start sanding the scratch, then clean the area and apply a rubbing substance. Polish the area, wash it and wax it to seal the paint. After you remove all the light scratches from your car, you should check carcover.com and invest in a car cover, which is going to protect your car from future scratches.
Replace a wiper
Windshield wipers are the easiest to replace, but few people know how to do it. There is absolutely no reason to pay for replacing a wiper, because you can DIY. As soon as your wiper is starting to malfunction, buy a new one, as they can scratch the windshield and they can lower your visibility.
To replace a wiper lift the wiper arm and press on the small tab that holds the wiper. Pull it from the arm and then place the new wiper in it, pushing it until the tab clicks. That’s it!
Replace a headlight
Driving with a broken headlight or taillight is illegal, so you want to know how to DIY this one. To replace the light, remove the screws that connect the headlight to the bracket and disconnect the electric connector. Replace the dead bulb with a new one and then plug in the connector. If your frame is broken, follow the same steps to have it replaced.
Replace the air filter
Air filters are often overlooked, but they keep the engine free of dust and other small debris. To replace an air filter you have to start by locating the air filter unit, underneath the hood. Remove its covers, take the air filter out, clean the housing unit and replace the old filter with the new one. Replace the cover and you’re done. You should replace the air filter every year or once every 30,000 miles.
Change the car battery
Car batteries die at the most inconvenient times, so knowing how to replace it can be a real life-saver. Even if you are out of town, knowing how to replace the battery can save you a lot of money, if you know the model you need.
To replace a car battery you need to remove the cover and disconnect the negative cables. Remove the clamps and disconnect the positive cables. As you do this, make sure to label them, so you know which one is which when you have to connect them back. Replace the screws that hold the battery in place, then replace the battery and reconnect everything in reverse order.
