DIY Car maintenance tips for beginners - Things that everyone should know
Why car maintenance by yourself ? It saves Money! Suggested it's for middle class people not for the rich, cause your time might be more valuable then investing a couple dollars I guess! But if it's about learning then it's for everyone.
When you face a problem and you go for a mechanic, mechanic charges at least $80 per hour and also at least the extra 25% price of the parts that you can get less from online store. So it's worth it by doing it by yourself and save a huge amount of money. So let's learn some important things today. This blog is written thinking about the beginners, so if you're a little professional skip the extra information in First Parenthesis '()', however the Third Parenthesis '[]' has necessary information inside.
[This DIY guide is divided into two parts: Things you should know before DIY, DIY Tips that you must know. It is sorted one after another, if you want to know about the second part scroll down a bit.]
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| DIY Maintenance Img©EngineeringExplained |
Things you should know before DIY:
Know what is the problem:
Before you go to fix the problem first you should know what is the actual problem cause you're not a professional and you cannot determine the problem just by hearing a sound or looking from outside.
So you need to do some research online first collect some evidence of the problem just like when you're sick and tell the doctor these are the symptoms. Then search them online hopefully you'll find your answer as there's plenty of resources online to solve a problem. I would recommend first search on google rather than searching direct on YouTube.
Keep the reference links, videos in notes of your device. Invest at least 1 hour knowing about the problem, although it depends on specific problems some may take more than an hour some may take less but average 1 hour.
Get prepared:
Fixing an issue in a car isn’t just fixing an issue in a toy. There is so much things going on in a car. So many lubricants, oils, dusts and so on. It is messy, it gets on clothes makes it dirty, sometimes exhausting. But hey! Don't get afraid. You can do this, I know. For these, you must need to prepare yourself before you go to fix anything in the car.
My advise would be wear loose dresses obviously not a tight skinny jeans that would be exhausting. Own some gloves, any normal gloves would be fine but if you want to take it to a little professional then own some mechanic gloves, when you’ll be tightening some screws it would be helpful but when you’re doing some sort of oil changing then use gloves that covers your full hands, cause different types of lubricants on hands you might not like them. But normally mechanic gloves are preferable.
Keep a small tool where you can sit and do the work. And keep a mat so you can fix some issues underneath the car lying down. And finally keep some water so you stay hydrated.
Own a toolbox:
Buy a toolbox. When you’re going to solve an issue by yourself you might see a lot of screws or others items that you may have never seen before, to unscrew them you might need a toolbox where different types of tool you’ll find for different elements. So you don’t need to worry about different stuffs you see in the car. Sometimes some tools comes with the car for a specific part, if you already have that tool for that problem then you don't need to buy a toolbox. But if you're looking for fixing all the basic issues of your car by yourself then you might need it.
After you're done with a tool from toolbox keep stuff back there after work, so you don’t waste your time looking for them again. Be aware where you keep your tools so you don't waste time later.
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| Toolbox |
Keep reference video/photo:
Keep Reference video so you don't forget where the stuffs were ( I also have good experience by keeping a reference video before while fixing something for the first time), this helps a lot when you’re just a normal person trying to fix something that you never did before.
I would prefer taking videos, cause some times you can’t reassemble some parts even you had the photos taken. Videos are helpful try to take a 180/360° footage if possible.
Check Parts:
Compare parts, the same you're putting inside in exchange or not. This is necessary, before you replace them first visually compare them. Parts could be same looking but different in size. So if you put wrong parts into the body it might malfunction and cause minor-major problems. So make sure to check them before replacing.
Best DIY Tips that you must know:
Changing Engine oil and Filter:
Checkout the dipstick. First take dipstick out, if you don't know what's the dipstick check the picture below and you'll realize you've already seen them. Wipe it out with cloth like piece of towel (now it itself another tips but always try to keep a piece of towel or cloth so you don't make your hands dirty and it is helpful in lot's of other cases) or something then put it again into the tube from where it came, then pull it out again and read the level if the oil level is between low to full, then you don't need to worry. Too much engine oil is not good anyway.
Changing Oil Process: After opening the hood first take the oil cap off ( you'll find all the necessary information in the oil cap) > Then jack up your car and place a jack stand to have and extra security when you go underneath the car > Now go under the car (directly downside of the oil tank/engine) with your oil pan and a wrench to loosen the bolt that drains the oil ( if you don't have an oil pan use any bucket or something that you can fit easily under the car and can easily put and pour oil from it) > Loosen the bolt > drain the oil > After finished draining tighten the bolt with wrench [ If you just want to change the oil you're done here now you can pour another oil in the engine ].
[It is recommended that you need to change your Engine oil at-least Twice a year. And replace new oil that your Engine suggest check the owners manual or check online according to your engine or vehicle.]
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| Dipstick ©Depositphotos |
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| Oil filter and gasket ©Depositphotos |
Changing Oil Filter Process:
[After draining the oil ] Now locate your oil filter (as you've new filter already so you can easily identify which one is the oil filter) Remove it > Take your new oil filter and fill it up with oil > Then lube up the upper ring (gasket and it's surrounding area) with oil > Install new filter and hand tighten it > According to the necessity of your car fill it up with oil ( check the dipstick for oil level) > and congrats you're done changing oil!
[When you remove the old filter or you're going to replace the new filter remember to check the gasket, it came out with the filter or it still sticking inside? If it's still there remove it first. Replacing new filter with the old gasket inside can cause severe damage.]
Change Coolant in the Cooling system or Radiator Fluid or Antifreeze:
A poorly maintained cooling system can cause severe damage to the engine and as well as in the other important parts.
Coolant replacing process: Before you start the coolant changing process make sure the engine and the radiator has cooled down or it stays cool. Then remove the radiator cap > place your oil pan underneath the radiator under the car > loosen the drain plug (left or right side under the radiator) > then replace your oil pan underneath the engine and remove the engine drain bolt (to remove the coolant stuck in the engine) > after engine coolant is drained tighten the engine drain bolt > tighten the radiator drain plug > remove the coolant tank and drain it totally and replace it again > fill it with the new anti-freeze/coolant according to your cars recommendation and keep it under the max line, don't exceed it > now add coolant in the radiator (from where you moved the radiator cap) fill it to the base of filler neck > then keep the engine running for a while for about 20-30 minutes > add coolant gradually to the radiator if it needs more. > and you're done!
[Check if there's any leaks of coolant fluid through the draining bolts that you tightened]
It is recommended that you have change your coolant or Radiator fluid every three years or every 30,000 miles. Now a days some coolant comes with 150,000 miles range or five years lifespan. Some even goes far more than that, check that out. But coolants are cheap and it can cause severe damage if it's not replaced proper time. So even it says 150,000 miles change it in every 70-80,000 miles and take a good look at it if you haven't change them in years.
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| Adding Coolant ©Depositphotos |
Keep/Change windshield wiper fluid:
To keep your windshield clean while driving is so important to clear your visibility specially at night or a foggy weather so you don't face any difficulties while driving.
Under the hood there is pipe-shaped part they usually comes with blue head color so it becomes easily recognized, you may see it in other colors for more clearance search online according to the vehicle name-model number so you can be sure you're pouring it in the right place.
You might need to change windshield wiper after a long time you realize they're not cleaning properly anymore. Learn from online how to replace them it's so easy!
Fixing a dead battery:
This requires a cable containing two crocodile clip (Total 4) at the end of each ( Positive and Negative one side, same Positive and Negative on the other) otherwise it could be dangerous with bare wired. A positive terminal must connect to a positive terminal (Red-color one is positive) and a negative terminal must need to connect to a negative terminal (Other or Black-color one is negative).
You're going to connect the positive terminal and the the Negative terminal to a battery that could be from another car or just another battery and then you're going to connect the other Positive and Negative terminal to the dead battery and then try to start the car. But remember to connect them in the right terminal Red to red, Black to black. [ Have a check on your battery once or twice a year to avoid unprepared circumstances. And battery is an unavoidable important part of modern combustion cars.]
How to jump start a cars dead battery [ You must need a jumper wire, what is a jumper wire? read the upper part]
First you're going to connect the red clip to red to the dead battery(positive terminal) > then you go to the source/supplier car, and Connect the red to red to the alive battery(positive terminal) > and Connect the black to black to the alive battery(negative terminal) > then you go to the receiver car, and Connect the black to black to the dead battery(negative terminal) > then start the source/supplier car and give it time to run for a while > then it is suggested to turn off the supplier car and try to start the receiver car. I hope then you'll done and you're good to go. (NB: After connecting the red to dead battery keep the black somewhere where it is not connected to metal this can destroy electronics if it's not maintained. And keep the supplier car turned of before starting this operation.)
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| Jump start a battery ©Depositphotos |
Replacing Engine Air filter:
As you know how an Internal Combustion Engine works it breaths air you know. So it needs fresh air that contains oxygen as oxygen is the main reason behind the ignition. So that's why you need clean air filter so it serves as much as fresh air to the engine.
Now the Air filters are cheap and you'll find them at the front side of the engine. To detect them they're basically covered by a large rectangular housing, use tools to unscrew them, then take it out you'll find the Air-filter straight. Then replace it with the new one and you're done.
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| Air Filter ©Depositphotos |
Checking tire pressures:
Remove the valve stem cap > stick a gauge at the end make sure it sits well > check any air leaks around the edges and check the proper tire pressure (to check what is the proper pressure, you can look around for a placard, they usually placed driver side door jamb. Check it out properly)
Changing Tires:
Tire changing tools basically comes with cars. A manual car jack what raises your vehicle high enough to remove a flat tire. First place it properly in a proper place, then tightened the threaded rod and the center of the jack goes up and that's how it pulls your vehicle up. Then strip the threads with proper tools - change the tires - replace the new tire - tightened the threads again properly (make sure they're tightened properly). And then you're good to go
Take a look at the Serpentine Belt:
If you see any cracks or any damage in the belts or any signs of it's tearing then you've to replace it asap. Now again take a picture or video where the belt was positioned before you try to replace them by your own.
Now this is a little hard work that you can do by your own, I'll personally suggest you to have an extra rod that you can use to replace the belt at he right position if it's hard to do bare handed (My suggest must use gloves)
N.B.: Remember to check Manufactures recommended maintenance information before changing any item for your particular vehicle.
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Thanks for reading this blog, I've tried to provide all the possible DIY maintenance tips that I can provide, hope it would be helpful for you.
If you've found this blog helpful then you can visit my other blogs in this website. And comment down what do you think about the information I've provided or about the blog..?
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