Car Maintenance Jobs You Can Tackle Yourself

Car problems are daunting at the best of times but there are some maintenance problems you can take on yourself. In the UK, the average mechanic hourly labour rate is £76 but it can be as expensive as £94 an hour. By getting to know the basics of your car, you could make yourself some serious savings by avoiding going to garages for minor problems you can fix yourself.

Each job is an opportunity to develop your car maintenance skills and deepen your understanding of how your vehicle works. When you factor in the drive to the auto shop, the cost of your car service, the time you’ll wait to get it back, and the car home, DIY maintenance is the cheapest and most convenient option.

Here are some car maintenance jobs you can tackle yourself:

 

Engine maintenance

The engine is the heart of your vehicle and if you want to keep it ticking over as it should be, then you need to be on top of its maintenance. It takes less than a few minutes to get a glimpse into the engine’s health and you can catch many catastrophic failures before they happen. An oil check is a key part of your MOT, but you should check levels every couple of weeks or before long journeys.

There are a variety of different oil types and the instruction manual for your car will let you know which one you need. This can help your vehicle run smoother as it lubricates all the moving components of your car and prevents too much wear and tear.

 

Tyres

Your tyres are the only part of your car that make contact with the road, so you need to make sure they meet standards for safe driving. Under-inflated tyres can be dangerous as they can affect uneven tread wear and reduce the efficiency of your vehicle. It’s a good idea to check your tyre pressure in the morning or when you haven’t driven for a long period and refill them when they are
low.

You can also tackle changing your tyres yourself if you’ve got a puncture or the tread has worn down. Consider getting replacement Avon tyres that will last you years with the proper maintenance and care.

 

Cleanliness

Keeping your car spick and span inside and out not only helps improve the aesthetics of your vehicle but it makes it easier to identify any small issues. It’s easy to accumulate a wide range of junk that ends up living in our cars, from empty food wrappers and bottles to sports kits and coats. This can become a safety issue if this detritus gets caught underneath your car pedals.

Visibility can be compromised if your car isn’t regularly cleaned and cause a lack of judgement because of mirrors that have not been cleaned.

 

Lights

Your headlights are essential to ensuring safety on the road and learning how to change a car headlight bulb is easy. Once you’ve identified which bulb has failed and found the right replacement, you can disconnect the locking mechanism holding the bulb in place and install the new one.

Stewart Thurlow

Stewart Thurlow

I once shared a lift with Meryl Streep & Julianne Moore. Oh, & Victoria Beckham smiled at me. UK Editor for ADDICTED.
Stewart Thurlow

@stewartthurlow

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