If you have run into some car trouble, you are far from alone. Part of owning a car is having to fix the numerous problems that arise with it. Getting it serviced at a repair shop is fine for serious problems, but why not take care of the little stuff on your own. The article below will show you how.
Make sure you get quality parts to fix your car. You can usually get better prices if you get used parts from a junk yard but there is no way of knowing how long these parts will last. Do not hesitate to spend more on brand new parts that come with a guarantee.
If any parts of your car need to be replaced, make sure you ask for the (OEM) Original Equipment Manufacturer parts instead of generic parts. Keeping the exact specifications required by the manufacturer is essential in having optimum performance. Although generic parts are cheaper, spending a little more on OEM parts will make a big impact on your car’s longevity.
If your car door and hatch locks tend to become stiff, avoid breaking your key off in the lock by lubricating them periodically with a penetrating oil spray. You can use the plastic extender that comes with the spray can to deliver oil to the interior of the locking mechanism. If you have misplaced this extender, just spray your key liberally and turn it in the stiff lock several times.
Read online reviews of local body shops. This will also allow you to know what the public thinks of how they handle customers and how good they are at solving any problem you may encounter. The knowledge can be very helpful when it comes time to make a final decision on which place to go to with your car.
There are no standard warranties on repairs. Make sure you are aware of what your warranty covers and that you have it in writing. Warranties may have limitations such as deductibles, mileage, time, businesses authorized to do the warranty work or special steps needed to get reimbursement. Know your warranty rights.
Stick with Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) components. If your car needs parts, choose OEM parts over generic ones. For optimum performance, you should have the OEM parts that are up to the manufacturer’s standards. While generic parts are cheaper, they’re generally a lower quality than the original ones. This means that you may pay more later for replacements.
Take pictures of your entire vehicle before taking it to the shop to get repaired. Though most shops won’t strip a car, others do it to make more money. To keep from having this horrible experience, make sure you document all area of your vehicle by taking clear and dated pictures.
If you take your car to an auto repair shop to get one thing fixed and they tell you that other repairs are needed, thank them for the information and decline the additional services. Go to several other places and get quotes before allowing them to do any more work on your car.
Keep your car manual in your car. In fact, keep the manual and any other documentation your car may have, including details on past repairs, tune-ups and more. The more data points your auto repair shop has to look into an issue, the better chance that they’ll be able to give you a strong idea about what is going on with your car.
Always bleed your brakes if you have been working on them. After you do this you should pump your brake fluid. Test to make sure that you don’t have any leaks. Once you are finished with this, you are ready to rock-and-roll on the road and take that baby for a test drive on a street that has minimal traffic. Start slow to see if your repairs are good, then you can accelerate.
When it comes to the brakes on your car,the last thing you want to do is to let it go. Pay attention immediately to any unusual noise or change in pressure when you apply the brakes. The sooner you deal with the issue, the less severe it will be, saving you money as well alleviating safety concerns.
Know what your manufacturer recommends for your car. If you take your vehicle in to get fixed, and you receive contradictory information, go somewhere else. You can also call the technician on the discrepancy. Ask them why they are saying something different than the manufacturer. There could be a good reason, or they could be simply trying to talk around you.
Always ask for an estimate in writing before you agree to have any work done. This way, if the shop tries to charge you more later you will have the estimate to prove what you had agreed on. Some shops do this on a regular basis, so be sure to protect yourself by getting it in writing.
Do not get any diagnostics done at a repair shop unless you can trust the people working there to be honest. There are a lot of dishonest people out there that will damage your vehicle then claim that you need to get it repaired soon or you will be in danger.
Never allow low prices and flashy advertisements to lead you to an auto mechanic. Usually when people try that hard to get customers, it means that they are not that great at what they do. Research the place ahead of time to see if there is anything you should be concerned about.
Do not neglect the wheel-well splash-guards. Inspect them regularly and replace them if they become loose or torn. The splash-guard protect some very important parts from dust, ice and debris. If you often drive on dirty roads, install some additional mud flaps on your vehicle and inspect your splash-guards more often.
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.
