It seems like everyone is pinching pennies these days. When it comes to auto maintenance, drivers usually opt for what's cheapest. But what if there was a way to skip a potentially costly trip to the local automotive service center and still keep your vehicle in check?
Here are five car maintenance tasks you can do yourself, as referenced from US News:
Change the air filter
This is far and away the easiest task to complete on the list. First, open your hood and locate the air filter. It's probably in a black case with metal clips on either side.
Next, open the case and see how the old filter sits inside of it. Then remove the old filter while being careful that nothing falls into the bottom of the box. The job is done after you put the new filter in, close the case, and secure with the nuts.
Change the oil
Once you locate the oil pan under your car, unscrew the drain plug to drain the old oil and replace the drain plug. Next, find the oil filter and use a wrench to remove the filter. The rubber gasket on the old filter must come off as well.
Now you're ready to lubricate the rubber gasket before filling the new filter about ⅔ of the way full. Screw the new filter into place as tightly as possible without stripping the threads. Then pop your hood, remove the oil cap, and fill your engine with new oil using a filter. Put the oil cap back on and you're good to go!
Replace the windshield wipers
Functional windshield wipers are critical to your safety on the road. Should you choose self-installation for this task, start by pulling the wiper away from the windshield and pressing the small tab on the bottom to slide the wiper off the arm.
Once that's done, line up the new wiper with the wiper arm and lower it onto the arm, double-checking the open end of the hook faces the plastic clip on the wiper. Pull tightly so the assembly clicks into play. After lowering the wiper arm back onto the windshield, repeat this process with the other wiper.
Replace the headlights
This is also a relatively easy auto maintenance task to complete. First, open your hood and remove the wire harnessing from the bulb holder. Be careful pulling the old bulb out of the holder, as yours may have a plastic catch, metal clip, or screw cap.
Next, wipe down the new bulb, hold it by the plug end, and insert it into the back of the headlight. One thing to keep in mind here is there should be no rubber gasket showing. You should be all set after plugging the wiring back in and re-securing the bulb.
Fix a blown fuse
Let's say you're in the middle of a road trip and one of your headlights go out without warning. More than likely, the culprit is a blown fuse. So locate your fuse box under the dashboard on the driver's side.
Then take the box out and locate the melted fuse. Be 100 percent certain that you replace the blown fuse with one of the same color. If there are no blown fuses in the fuse box under the dashboard, find the one under the hood and repeat the process.
Boulder's Trusted Auto Repair Shop
Here at The Shop Automotive, we encourage customers to handle DIY auto maintenance tasks when it makes sense. That said, don't make the mistake of trying to fix every problem. The last thing you want to do is injure yourself or make the problem worse and, ultimately, more expensive for a mechanic to resolve.
When it comes to auto repair in Boulder, The Shop Automotive has you covered. Come check out an auto service center where customer satisfaction is the top priority. Stay tuned for more auto maintenance tips in 2019!