Auto Repair 101: Everything You Need To Know

It can be very expensive to get your car fixed. You pay for parts and have to pay service costs to a mechanic. It would be wonderful if you could do all these repairs on your own, without the need of an auto shop? The hints below can help.

Your radiator needs to be looked over regularly. Let the car idle for a short period first, but only long enough to let the fluid circulate. Never open your radiator if your vehicle is running. Use a dipstick to check the fluid levels, and always add the correct amount of water to your coolant before adding it to your tank.

It is important that you fully understand what all the charges will be upfront, before handing the mechanic your car keys. If something is unclear, have the mechanic or service counter rep clarify it for you before any work is done on the car. If you do not communicate with your mechanic, you might be surprised with additional fees once you receive your bill.

TIP! Ask for the charge total before giving mechanics your keys. If you aren’t sure about anything, ask for clarification.

Referrals are a great method for finding a great auto mechanic. Therefore, do not hesitate to ask your family and friends for their recommendations. These people will be able to provide you with the price, quality, and overall satisfaction of the mechanic. People can tell you what type of experience they had and whether the mechanic was honest or not.

Take the mechanic for a drive before getting your car repaired. Many people don’t take this crucial step and wind up plagued by the same issue that brought them to the shop in the first place.

Make sure that you specifically request OEM parts. This means that they’ve come directly from the manufacturer. Generic are cheaper, but also less reliable. You may save in the short term, but additional failures could end up costing you big time.

TIP! Keep your car clean to prevent rust. Cars are all destined to rust, but the process can be slowed by keeping salt and chemicals away from the paint whenever you can.

Check to see if the mechanic you are considering is familiar with your make and model of vehicle. While the basic components are all the same, there is going to to be a big difference in the way say a Hummer versus a Smart car utilize the space under the hood. If you don’t think the shop you are going to really knows what they are doing, take your car to the dealer instead.

You should make sure to have a spare tire and jack with you all the time. Many newer cars already have them. You would hate to be stuck out in the road and be forced to spend money on a tow. It is simpler and cheaper to do the work yourself.

Compare more than 3 estimates so that you can get the best deal on your repair. While most mechanics can be trusted, you might wind up being charged more than is necessary. Seek out good shops that that are reputable and familiar with your type of vehicle. Such shops have a greater chance of knowing how to fix your car.

TIP! A record of maintenance and repairs should be in your car. Keep these documents in a solid folder inside your glove compartment.

Cute keychains are fun, but they are not healthy for your car. The ignition cannot hold the weight of a big key chain. Particularly, if you notice that the key is hard to extract from the ignition, you need to make a change!

Inspect your manual so that you know what each dashboard light represents. They are meant to help; use them to your advantage. Problems will worsen if you simply ignore them.

Understand that visiting your dealer for cheap auto repair work is not always necessary. Good mechanics are all around you. If someone makes you comfortable, use them.

TIP! Every time you’re going to have an automobile repaired, you have to get a record of what is done to it. When another issue crops up, this record will allow you to provide the history to the mechanic.

Before you go to a mechanic, become educated on the classification of standard car parts. There are new parts, refurbished parts, and salvaged parts. New parts just mean that they are designed according to the specifications of the manufacturer. Parts that are re-manufactured or rebuilt have been restored to perform like new. “Salvage” parts have been used without being improved or repaired.

Avoid diagnosing car problems yourself. It takes special skills to work on cars. Problems can be more complicated than they initially appear. Let the professionals diagnose your problem. Be knowledgeable about the details, but let the repair shop make the diagnosis.

Some unscrupulous auto shop will replace your tires with older ones and sell your tires. They can make money this way. Prior to taking your car to the garage, use chalk to mark your tires. If the chalk isn’t present when you get the car, you’ve been had.

TIP! Prior to bringing your car to a shop for a repairs, try to find out what the issue is. Identifying the problem yourself can save you some money, and it can prevent you from being taken by a dishonest mechanic.

Transmission Fluid

Don’t fall prey to believing someone who tells you there is a lifetime guarantee for auto parts. This is often simply a sneaky way for unscrupulous parts dealers to get more money out of you. Some cars, for example, do come equipped with transmission fluid proclaiming to last a lifetime. Though the change time on transmission fluid is very long, it should be swapped every 80,000 miles.

Nearly all cars will need to be repaired at some point. You do not necessarily have to hire a mechanic to fix your vehicle. You are going to be able to save some cash if you’re able to do some repairs by yourself. You can use the below tips for help, so try them out.

TIP! Pay attention to your wiper blades. If the wipers are streaking, you may need a replacement.

Auto Repair 101: Everything You Need To Know