Being able to repair your own car feels like something of a dying art nowadays. But it’s something that we should all be able to do, to an extent. The cost of taking the car to the garage remains high. However the prices we are charged are often more to do with labour costs rather than the costs of buying new parts. With this in mind, it’s worth us learning to perform minor repairs that a professional car mechanic might do normally to keep a car in running order. Although more significant repairs will be time-consuming and difficult to achieve, being able to repair a head gasket leak can save a decent amount of money.

Car issues can happen at any time. Even if learning how to fix them can make you feel like a pro, fixing them can save you time and money. No one wants to get charged exorbitant prices for simple repairs and maintenance you can do on your own.

Where To Start

There are various ways to learn how to fix car issues. Foremost, you can read multiple guide manuals which provide step by step procedures for resolving specific problems. You can research the internet and read blogs posted. Additionally, you can watch YouTube videos which is an excellent way to learn visually.

Besides learning essential car maintenance tips, don’t forget to have extra parts which come in hand in case of a breakdown or quick fixable damage. You should have new and used Lexus parts ready at your disposal if you have a Lexus model. If you drive other models such as Toyota, Honda, Chrysler, Mazda, Ford, Jeep and others, ensure you have spare parts accordingly. 

The following five procedures are incredibly simple to perform and will leave you feeling like a professional car mechanic in no time! If nothing else, your wallet will be happy!

Change your car battery

As long as you take precautions and wear protective gloves and goggles, you shouldn’t run into too many issues when you change your car battery. Always remove the negative cable first and replace it last. Remember never to touch the battery acid deposits (which look powdery) with your bare hands. With all that in mind you’ll be able to complete the job fairly easily and quickly.

Fix a head gasket leak

When a head gasket develops a leak, coolant is allowed into the engine cylinder and can cause it to overheat to irreparable temperatures. In order to nip this problem in the bud as soon as it is discovered, buy a bottle of K-Seal. Add the solution to the coolant so that its copper and ceramic micro-particles can find the leak and plug it. This solution works for all vehicles that use water-cooled engines.

Change a tyre

It’s a vital skill that too few people know how to do. But it’s easy to change a tyre as long as you have the proper tools to hand. They should always be in your car in the event that you get a flat that you can’t drive home on. Simply remove the hubcap, loosen the lug nuts with the vehicle’s wrench, jack the car up, remove the lug nuts completely, take the tyre off and put the new one onto the lug bolts. Then you just have to go through the previous steps but in reverse. It couldn’t be simpler. It’s when you’re missing a jack or wrench that the process becomes more difficult…

Get into a car you’re locked out of

We’re not advocating breaking into all cars, just your own if you’ve managed to lock your keys inside it. You might need professional help from a professional car mechanic or the car’s manufacturer if its locks are recessed inside the door handles. But otherwise you may find some joy in the classic car thief method of sliding a straightened wire hanger with a hook on the end between the window and the window seal and attempting to hook the lock and prise it up from there. Try and do it out of sight of anyone else though. Lest they might think that it’s someone else’s car that you’re stealing!

Touch up bodywork

It’s difficult to keep your car looking pristine all the time. It will inevitably pick up scratches that make it look uncared for. Whilst a bodywork specialist could easily sort them out, it’s an easy job that anyone can do themselves. Pick up a touch-up kit (available for most popular models and colours) from a local supplier. Then follow the instructions that should be included with it to apply a recovering of paint via a special pen to your scratch. Just remember that the temperature should be at a comfortable level. The car should ideally be out of the sun and wind so that the paint adheres and dries properly.