When it comes to car repair, which type of car owner are you? Are you the type to fix it yourself and live or die by the results? Or do you always leave everything to the professionals, money be damned?
Is there a middle-of-the-road option for car repair?
Yes, there is. If you’re experiencing car troubles, there are things that you can do yourself and things that you shouldn’t. This knowledge will determine whether you save money on repairs or turn your car into a piece of junk metal.
Let’s look at some examples.
Do: Replace Spark Plugs
Faulty spark plugs are one of the top five reasons that trigger the “check engine” light. The average cost to replace spark plugs is $242 for parts and labor. When you consider that spark plugs cost less than ten dollars apiece, even replacing several of them at once won’t cost very much if you can perform this basic car repair.
Most of us know what spark plugs do but for those who don’t, they create sparks that ignite the fuel to make the engine run. They’re an important part of your car’s ignition system. Spark plugs typically wear out every 30,000 miles.
You’re gonna need a spark plug wrench. The steps are very straightforward. You only have to remove the ignition wire from the old spark plug, remove the spark plug with the wrench, insert the new spark plug, and put the wire back on. Easy peasy!
Don’t: Attempt Ignition System Repair
Spark plug replacement is as simple as changing a light bulb in your house. But tinkering with the ignition system is like trying to rewire your entire home on your own.
Not only do you risk further damage to your engine, but you also risk your life. If you insist on doing this yourself, you could be exposed to about 50,000 volts of electricity.
Fix It Yourself: Windshield Wiper Replacement
Windshield wipers are unappreciated until you find yourself in the middle of heavy rain or snowfall. Wiper blades have a lifespan of six months to one year.
Replacing worn-out wipers only takes a few minutes. If you go to a garage to have them changed, they’ll charge you one hour of labor for this basic automotive repair.
Installing new windshield wipers isn’t complicated. For most cases, it’s just removing the old ones and sliding the new ones in. New wiper blades also come with a helpful instruction manual to help you with this task.
Leave It to the Pros: Windshield Replacement
Can you expect the same effortless installation for the whole windshield? Pop the old one out, put the new one in? The answer is no.
Windshield replacement requires special tools and adhesives that you can only find in auto repair shops. It’s worth it to spend the money to have it professionally installed. You don’t have to worry about leaks that can ruin your interior or cracks that will compromise your safety while driving.
Putting It All Together
When it comes to DIY auto repair, it’s important to know your self. Can you fix it yourself with your current skill level? For simple repair projects, you can take them on with confidence.
But if you have any doubts at all, you should let the pros do their job. Don’t risk life and limb taking on tasks that are too big to handle.
If you need information about your specific car model, we have lots of service repair manuals for your reference. Click here to start your search.