The average American spends over 800 dollars per year on auto repairs. And while some things you should definitely see a mechanic for (engine problems, broken transmission, leaky brake line, etc) there are more than a few issues you can fix yourself.
Trying to fix some simple car problems yourself with save you both time and money in the long run. Check out these 3 common car issues that you can easily fix at home.
1. Chipped Paint
What starts off as an aesthetic issue can quickly turn into a huge problem if you don’t fix it properly. Chipped pain not only looks bad, but it exposes the metal part of your car to the elements. This can lead to rust, which can be a death sentence for your car.
In order to fix this, all you’ll need is:
- Paint
- Fine tip pain applicator
- Grease/wax remover
- Wax
First, clean the chipped area with the wax/grease remover. Next, use the applicator to add a thin layer of paint to cover the chip. After about a month, you can cover the painted area with wax to seal it.
2. Flat Tire
Learning how to change a flat tire is a rite of passage. A flat tire might seem like the end of the world, but if you have the proper supplies you’ll be back on the road in no time. There’s no need to call a tow truck when you can put a spare tire on yourself to get home.
Keep a spare tire in the trunk of your car along with a car jack and a lug nut ratchet. Simply take the car jack, set it up on the car frame, and use the lever to pump.
You can then remove the lug nuts and put the spare on. You don’t even have to go to a mechanic to put on a new tire for you: just buy the new tire and do it yourself.
3. Small Dents
Little dingers are annoying, but they can be easily fixed at home instead of paying hundreds to fix them at an auto shop.
First, you can try and use a plunger (yes, a toilet plunger) to “pull” the dent out. Splash the area with some water and go to town with the plunger. It might take a bit, but this can usually pop smaller dents back into place.
You can also try and use boiling water if you’re able to reach behind the dent. Boil water and pour it on the dented area. This will soften the metal and allow you to “push” the dent back into place.
Fixing Your Own Car Problems: Wrapping Up
Car problems don’t always have to be an ordeal. Simple car issues can be fixed, even if you don’t know too much about how to fix cars.
Hopefully, these three issues won’t be issues for you anymore now that you know some solutions. If you want more DIY auto maintenance tips so you can skip the mechanic, check out our website.