Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Getting Your Car Fixed: Tips And Tricks

By Fred Gagnon


A car repair can be a major hassle as most people need their cars for daily life. Having a non-functioning car makes life quite difficult. Car repairs can be expensive, sometimes running into thousands of dollars, but they don't necessarily have to be. You can save a lot of money by fixing the issue on your own.

Familiarize yourself with the dashboard of your car. Your dashboard should display five different kinds of warning, including the check engine light, oil pressure warning, an alternator warning, a temperature warning and a brake warning. Learn to recognize these different lights so you can easily identify what needs your attention.

When you top off your motor oil, avoid spilling oil on your engine by wadding up a couple of paper towels around the oil receptacle on the crank-case. This will absorb drips and spills. Be sure to dispose of your empty oil container and the paper towels responsibly when finished adding oil.

When you are going to get your car repaired at a shop, ask the technician what type of parts they plan to use to get the job done. Many places use refurbished parts, but they would be willing to use new parts if you wanted to pay the extra money.

Keep a log that includes information on any maintenance that you have ever done on your car. To make things easy, put this log in your glove compartment box. If there is an issue with your car, this information can help the technician figure out what is going on much more quickly.

Take action if you believe a garage or dealership ripped you off. Notify one of the managers and give them a chance to issue a refund. If you are still not satisfied, contact your local Better Business Bureau to file a complaint. Your city or state consumer affair office is also a good resource.

If your car's electrical system is behaving strangely, try cleaning the ground cables. Auto makers use the metal body of a vehicle to act as a "ground" for the electrical system. Over time the area where this cable connects to the frame can corrode, causing a stray electrical current that can wreak havoc on your system. This cable is usually connected on the firewall or fender, so simply disconnect it and use a wire brush or sandpaper to clean the contacts.

Avoid being run over by your own car! When you jack your car up, be sure to set your emergency brake. Place bricks behind the tires you are not working on to keep your car from rolling. Keep a set of wedges or three or four bricks in the trunk of your car in case you have to change a flat tire on a hill.

Fuel System

Be sure to exercise the highest degree of caution when handling your car's fuel system. You should not work near fuel tanks, fuel lines or pumps with sources of ignition for example cigarettes or anything that can produce a spark. Clean up any fuel spots quickly, and secure yourself by putting on fuel-resistant gloves and eye protection.

Working on your car can make you feel uneasy, especially if you are new to auto repair. However, if you use the tips mentioned in the article above, there is no reason why you can't successfully repair your auto problems. This way, you'll save money, and feel great about tackling a problem yourself.




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