Anyone who owns a car knows about the different auto repair issues that may arise in their lifetime. It is, thus, advantageous to be well-versed in basic car repairs to facilitate cost-efficient and fast solutions. While there are some auto repair issues, you can deal with on your own, doing so requires a base level of knowledge on car parts. Here are some simple auto repairs every driver should know.
Change the Oil
To prolong your car engine’s lifespan and ensure smooth operation, you should regularly check and change your car’s oil. That said, it can be difficult to reach certain parts of the engine if you have a small car. Procedural steps include removing the oil drain plug, unthreading the oil filter, removing the oil and emptying it, reinstalling the oil filter, replacing the oil cap, and pouring fresh oil.
Replacing a Flat Tire
Knowing how to change a flat tire can be extremely beneficial. The following steps should be taken: First, loosen the lug nuts with a lug wrench; then lift the automobile with a jack; remove the lug nuts and tire, placing the spare on as quickly as possible; use the lug wrench to re-tighten all of the nuts; lower the car, and check for proper tightness.
Replace Spark Plugs
The spark plug creates sparks that ultimately ignite the gasoline in your vehicle’s cylinder. Spark plugs wear out every 10,000 miles and need to be replaced. Changing them is a simple process of locating the spark plugs, removing the wires from the old plug, removing the old plug, inserting the new plug, and reattaching the wire.
Remove Paint Scratches
Scratches in a car’s finish are a nuisance. Still, they’re easy to remove if you follow these steps: Determine the depth of the scratch, sand the area lightly, clean and dry it, apply rubbing compound with a polishing pad, polish it with an additional compound, wash it with soap, and water, and wax the area to protect the surface.
Replacing the Battery
The do-it-yourself approach is fairly easy if you have access to a replacement battery. The first step is to remove any cover that might be concealing the battery. Next, disconnect the negative cable from the battery, followed by the positive cable. Then, remove all of the screws holding down the battery and replace it with the new one. Finally, you reconnect the cable clamps, keeping track of how they were oriented before removing them.
