There are plenty of simple car repairs that every car owner could and should be able to do themselves. Doing these simple jobs will not only save you bit of cash but also give you that feeling of pride like when you put a flat pack together or mow your lawn.
1. Replace windshield wiper blades
Your wiper blades have a fairly short lifespan and it’s pretty easy to tell when they’ve come to the end of it. If you start to notice streaking and smearing on your windscreen or that they make a strange sound when you turn them on it’s a good indication that you need to replace them.
You’ll need: New wiper blades – make sure that these are the correct size for your car.
Lift the wiper arm from the windscreen and remove the old blade from the arm by pressing on the release lever on the arm and sliding the blade off the arm.
- Attach the new wiper blade and lock the metal retaining clip into the end of the claw.
- Double check that the blade is securely attached.
- Lower the wiper arm back onto the windscreen.
- Complete for both blades and turn them on to check that they are working correctly.
You should really notice the difference next time you’re stuck driving in the rain.
2. Change a head, brake or tail light
It’s very important that your car’s lights are working as they not only help you to see but also help other motorists to see you. Each car is different but your owner’s manual should help point you in the right direction along with the simple steps below…
You’ll need: Replacement globes
- Remove the cover protecting the globe – these should either pull off using a tab or unscrew.
- Unplug the electrical connector at the back of the light.
- Unclip or unscrew the globe – just like you do on a globe at home.
- Fit the new globe and plug the connector back in
- Switch the lights on to check that they are working and if it’s all bright lights then replace the cover.
Not only will this save you money at the mechanics but it will also keep you from getting fined by the police.
3. Replace air filter
This sounds quite tricky but we assure you it’s easy and in the long run you will prolong your engine life and improve fuel efficiency – win, win in our books!
You’ll need: Replacement air filter, screwdriver and clean rag
- Make sure your car is parked on level ground with the parking brake on and keep the car in first for a manual or in park for automatic.
- Find the air filter housing underneath the car bonnet and remove using a screwdriver.
- Remove the old air filter and use the rag to clean the area.
- Replace with the new filter and screw the housing back on.
Once you know how you can change your filter every 10,000 – 15,000 km or every 12 – 18 months.