5 DIY Tips to help maintain your car

Your car requires proper handling and regular maintenance to function optimally. You can enjoy safe, smooth rides when you frequently service your vehicle to avoid any flaws. Without scheduled maintenance, it is going to breakdown and inconvenience. However, maintaining and repairing an automobile can be quite expensive. Maybe DIY can help if done correctly to ensure your car gives you topnotch performance. Below are the 5 DIY tips to help maintain your car without necessarily visiting a mechanic.

1. Keep your eyes, nose & ears open.

You may not be an expert in matters of the car since you are not a mechanic. However, a period of driving should accord you the knowledge to readily distinguish the ordinary from the unusual response in the car. While driving, you should listen to how your vehicle is igniting and feel it on the steering when everything is okay. Inconsistency with the ideal can be indicative of a problem in your car, and you should never ignore even a dent at the door. Ability to listen to your car will form the first step to fixing any dysfunctions.

Keep your eyes open whether something is broken or loose.
Keep your nose open to any burning or foul smell.
And keep your ears open to any unanticipated vibrations, screeching sounds or engine knocks.

2. Get to the detail by scanning diagnostics

After noticing that something is wrong in the car, you should get to the nitty gritty by scanning to establish what exactly is troubling your vehicle. Before, taking a car for computerized diagnosis could have you spent a fortune. However, with the introduction of the onboard diagnostic tool, it is getting convenient and affordable.

What is OBD? OBD or Onboard Diagnostic is an automotive term which in simple terms means it detects & identifies the problems of a car and help the owner or mechanic troubleshoot it.

There are two versions of the diagnostic tools; you need to be sure which one best suits your car before you make the purchase. For all cars produced after 1996, you should perform the diagnostic test with obd2. The diagnostic tool will help you avoid trial and error which may cause more damage.

3. Change the brake pads

If you were to take your car to the mechanic to change the brake pads, you would cough out up to $250 per axle. Replacing brake pads should be an easy and inexpensive procedure that one can readily perform to fix the car. It is advisable that you change the brakes after every 10,000 miles. With proper functioning brakes, you can be assured of safety on the road, and you will experience a smooth ride.

4. Try to change the oil frequently

Lubrication is essential to ensure that your car moves well. Without lubrication, parts of your vehicle will wear out in a flash. It forms an integral component of maintenance.  Before getting to the details if diagnosis using the scanner didn’t detect a problem, you should try changing the oil. Dirty oil has been reported as a hindrance to smooth driving. Consider buying a quality oil filter as well as the best oil available to keep your car well operational. The change can be useful as a standalone measure, and you may not have to do anything further.

5. Do thorough research on the problem

Before starting the fix, you should have all the needed tools and skills at your disposal. Once you have identified what is niggling your car the next step should be acquainting yourself with all the necessary machinery and skills to help you have the best outcome. It would help if you researched widely through manuals and reviews to get the details. Sometimes from the research, you will learn of what you can handle. As such you should not go beyond your abilities.

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