Small Car Repairs You Can Take Care of This Month
Do you have a car that needs attention but don’t know when you’ll find the time to take it in for repairs? Sure, there are some serious issues with your vehicle that need professional help, but there are plenty of small car repairs we often live with until our next oil change or tuneup. This list details small fixes you can make yourself this month—from checking tire pressure and repairing body damage to changing the oil. With a few dollars and no more than an afternoon’s worth of work, avoid costly shop bills by taking care of these repairs now and get your vehicle into shape before they reach critical levels!
Prepare Your Car to Pass an Inspection
Making sure your car is in tip-top shape is important not just for your safety on the road, but for passing inspections as well. One major component is checking your windshield wipers. Are they streaky or worn out? It’s time for a replacement. Next up, turn on your lights and make sure all of them are working properly (including blinkers and brake lights). A dim or burnt-out bulb could cause you to fail an inspection. Double-check your tire tread depth and make sure they’re properly inflated. Lastly, don’t forget about your brakes. Squeaky or non-responsive brakes are a recipe for disaster, so get them checked out before your inspection. Don’t wait until the last minute to get your car ready for inspection – tackle these simple steps today to increase your chances of passing with flying colors.
Change Your Oil and Filter
Taking care of your car is crucial if you want to extend its lifespan and avoid any expensive repairs. Changing your oil and filter is one of the most important basic maintenance tasks you can perform. Not only will it keep your car running smoothly, but it will also improve its fuel efficiency. When changing your oil, make sure to also check that the oil level is correct and keep an eye out for any leaks or unusual smells. By taking these small steps, you’re helping to ensure your car stays in top condition for years to come. So, don’t wait any longer, grab your tools and get started on your next oil change today!
Top-Up Fluids
As responsible vehicle owners, it’s important to stay on top of maintaining our cars. One key aspect of this is regularly checking the levels of fluids like coolant, power steering fluid, and transmission fluid. These substances all play crucial roles in keeping your car running smoothly, and failing to keep them topped up can lead to serious problems down the line. Luckily, checking these fluids is a fairly simple process that can be done in just a few minutes. By taking the time to ensure all of your car’s fluids are at the right levels, you’ll not only avoid costly repairs in the future, but you’ll also be doing your part to extend the lifespan of your vehicle.
Remove Small Dents and Dings From Your Bumper or Side
While not the easiest thing in the world, and at times requiring professional equipment, if you’ve found a small dent in your car or bumper and have decided you’re done with it, there are some simple solutions you can look into for taking care of it. You’ll need to do your research, but there are many YouTube tutorials, as well as articles that go deeper into the process than we can go here. With some planning, you can likely save yourself a trip to the shop for a simple bumper repair. And, in the end, if you can’t get a DIY solution to work, there are many shops that can take care of it as part of a routine inspection!
Replace Your Broken Side-view Mirror
While definitely not a universal experience, a good number of people have probably driven a car with a damaged or missing side-view mirror for a while. According to most state laws, as long as you have two functioning mirrors your car is considered safe to drive; however, it’s still a better idea to fix a busted side-view mirror than to let it sit for a while. Many car parts shops will have replacements that you can purchase, whether it’s just the mirror itself or the whole housing. A good set of household tools can serve you well for a full-on repair, or if you just need something quick, some duct tape and a promise can carry a side-view quite far. However you choose to go about it, a short afternoon’s work can take care of a side-view mirror with low cost and significant ease.
Overall, you want to make sure your car is in the best shape possible so that you can feel safe on the road. Taking the time to inspect for little damages and addressing them in a timely manner by doing routine things such as replacing spark plugs and oil filters, adding coolant or power steering fluid, and topping up fluids will help you prevent any further damage from occurring. Replacing windshields or tires that are worn is critical not only for driver safety but will also help you keep costs down over the long run. While small damages may seem minor at first glance, getting them fixed as soon as possible sets you up for success in the future. It’s easy enough to do it yourself with a few easy steps, or if it seems out of scope, bring it into the service center so they can assist with getting your car back in running order!
