Frugal Living: 5 DIY Auto Maintanence Tips + Video

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It's hotter outside, noticed?  Your car is going to get hotter too.  It's physics or law of averages or well you get it.  You're going to be driving more this summer and you don't want to be stranded in a hot car that's not acting right.

That's why I stress the importance of fixing, replacing and checking items on your car as preventive measures.

It's not a fail safe, things are still going to happen, but here are some tips to help you out:


1.  Clean the posts on your car battery.

Make sure there's not any battery corrosion.  If there is get a wire brush and clean it or pour a Coca Cola over the posts.  The corrosion can interfere with the car starting.


2.  Check your fluids --

Power steering fluid and transmission fluid are red.  Oil is black. Most antifreeze is green.  Make sure all the levels are proper, get a funnel for each of those and learn to check and add fluids.   Each dipstick is normally labeled.

(Update some folks say their break fluid is clear with a slight yellow tint)

Don't check the fluids when the car is hot.   Except the transmission fluid, you check it while the car is running.

(ALSO -- never open the radiator when it's hot.  Unless you know what you're doing and the car is overheating, you don't want to blow a head-gasket.  (Super expensive)  You can check the antifreeze reservoir however.

WHEN TO CHECK FLUIDS:

A. If you here a whine sound when you turn the wheel, check your power steering fluid.

B. If you hear a tapping sound when you crank the car (that could be your lifters on the engine) turn it off and check the oil, use a napkin.

c.  If you see a fluid puddle under your car, back the car up.  Turn it off and get a napkin.  Dip the napkin in the puddle to see what color it is.  It could be AC water condensation or it could be oil.

D. If you feel a slipping or revving up of the engine, as in the auto shift is taking longer to find the right gear, check your transmission fluid.

E.  Brake fluid is good to check if you feel like you have stomp on the break to stop or you notice it takes longer to stop.


3.  Wiper blades are easy to change -

- change them yourself and save money.  Don't pay for someone to do that for you.  Head to an auto store or Walmart, enter your make, model and year and it will tell you what number blade to get.

Snap off the old blades, discard, snap in the new blades.  Simple and a lot cheaper.


4.  Headlights, taillights are easy to change.

Get your manual out just to make sure you unsnap the cover properly.  Again - head to the auto store or Walmart and enter your car make and model and you'll get the right fuse, bulb etc to insert.



5.  Air filters are easy to change and easily purchased.

They are disposable, made of paper and are fairly cheap - less than $15 on most cars.  (Note there are some more expensive filters that are made of cotton, you clean and oil them instead of replacing them.  They are around $60)


These are all simple tasks you can do with as little as a screw driver. 

Looking for a source of free auto information?  Go check out

(These two guys had cameo appearances in Disney Pixar's Cars. -- They are known as Click

)

HERE'S THE VIDEO -- I LOOK ROUGH -- I KNOW BUT WE WERE WORKING ON THE CAR AND DECIDED TO SHOOT A QUICK VIDEO TO SHOW YOU JUST HOW EASY IT IS TO CHANGE AN AIR FILTER:

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