Modern cars need to be taken to a car repair center for most automotive repairs and problems but there are few of these tasks that you can easily undertake at home with just a few tools and bit of know how. As well as a cost-saving exercise you can proudly say that I did that myself.
Replace the windshield wipers
How often does it start raining and you turn the wipers on and they just smear across the glass? Changing the wipers is an easy job you can do at home. Only takes about 10 minutes. Just online and find the best wipers for the model of your car. Once they have arrived:
- Pull the wipers away from the glass and find a small tab on the underside of wiper blades
- Press the tab and slide old rubber blade off the wiper arm
- Line up new wiper blade ensuring the open end of the hook located on the arm is facing the clip on the wiper
- Pull tight and lower back to the windshield
- Do the same to other wiper arm assembly
Replace auto globes
Replacing a blown brake or reversing light globe is a task you should be able to do at home. Globes are inexpensive and don’t take long to replace. Headlight globes can be a bit more expensive but you can replace these also.
Most headlights are replaced under the hood and reversing and tail lights from the trunk or in the back of a wagon or hatchback. Your car manual should show you where to locate the globes and the size you need to get as replacements.
Globes are usually in a holder covered by a removable cover that has a pull tab on it.
Make sure you secure the cover after you have replaced the globes.
Replacing a blown fuse
If you are out on the road and suddenly the radio stops working or you have no lights, odds on you have blown a fuse. Don’t worry about needing to buy them as you usually have spares in the fuse box. Just remember to replace when you get back home and go to the auto store.
The fuse box will be on the driver’s side under the dash or in the glove box. Just check the car manual for location.
The blown fuse will be blackened or look a little melted. Choose a fuse of the same color as the blown fuse and replace. If all the fuses are ok there is another fuse box under the hood.
Replacing a flat battery
You hop into your car and turn the key and nothing happens. Sounds like a flat battery. If you have a pair of jumper cables and a good neighbor you could get a jump start and be ok. Sometimes though a jump start will start your car when you turn the engine off it won’t start again. This means that the battery is at the end of its life. And it needs to be replaced. If you in any way handy you can do this yourself. A pair of sturdy gloves is a good idea.
- Remove keys from the ignition
- Clean the battery terminals and cables with baking soda and water mixture if they are dirty or corroded
- By removing any deposits it is easier to fit the terminals to the new battery
- Most batteries are held down by a rod you need to unlatch
- Remove cables by loosening the nut that holds the negative terminal to battery and sliding of the cable
- Remove other cables then carefully remove the old battery
- Replace with the new battery that will be a bit heavier than the old one
- Reconnect cables and make sure battery is secure
Your care should start now and be right for the next few years.