Replace engine oil and filter
It’s a good idea to do this yourself even if you don’t expect to save much money. It’s also the only way to ensure the oil quality in your vehicle. It lets you get under the car and inspect other items while loosening or tightening your drain plug. I’ve noticed minor mechanical problems while changing the oil.
How to Remove a Paint Scratch
If you do this correctly, you will think you have done something magical. If the scratches do not go through to the paint, a small amount of sanding can be removed. You can use a 6-in and a random orbit woodworking tool, but install a buffing disc instead of an abrasive pad. You can use a mild auto-body buffing compound on the dampened buffing pads and then rinse them off after you are done. What other cars are made from steel?
How to Fix a Flat Tire
Since the advent of tubeless tires in automotive tires more than 40 years ago, it is possible to repair a flat tire even while it is still attached to your vehicle. Locate the leak first. Spray 80 % water and 20 % dishwashing soap on your flat tire. It will bubble up where the air is leaking. Mark the area with chalk or a white paint marker once it is located.
You can do it yourself if you have a nail, screw, staple, or an empty hole in your tire tread. Then, jack up the vehicle, place a safety block underneath the frame, and remove the nail or screw. Use a plug kit to seal the leak. To use the equipment, you’ll need tube tire repair cement.
A mechanic can fix the problem by removing the tire from the rim. The tire will then be remounted with a sealing compound.
Check and top off fluids
It’s a straightforward but vital thing. It’s amazing how many older cars fail because they lack fluid. It would be best if you inspected the fluid weekly in your vehicle.
Check the engine oil with the vehicle parked on level ground and the engine turned off. Checking brake and power-steering fluid is also necessary with the engine turned off. The automatic transmission fluid should be checked while the engine is running.
Re-Torque your Wheels
Auto mechanics began advising after a series of accidents in which wheels fell off vehicles during the late 1990s that a wheel’s nut should be checked for tightness within the first 50 miles. You can do this easily using a wrench that measures the force of a nut. For wheel nuts, 70-foot pounds is the average amount. However, you can check online to determine what torque your vehicle requires.
Test your Battery
Inevitably, all automotive batteries will eventually fail, but is yours close to being unable to start and leaving you stranded? It isn’t easy to tell. That’s why battery test tools were invented.
Battery testers can measure the capacity and voltage of a battery, as well as other essential details. Battery-testing gauges can be inexpensive and provide valuable information that helps you maintain your vehicle.
Change Transmission Fluid
The majority of people understand the importance of changing engine oil regularly. It’s essential to change transmission oil too. My mechanic friend told me that most transmissions that fail to work are because they need to be changed more often, if at all.
Some transmission oil pans come with a drain plug, while others require removing the pan to empty the oil. It is difficult to remove the pan, so do it only once before installing a drain plug retrofit. This will make future fluid replacements much more straightforward. This same type of retrofit plug can be used if your engine oil pan plug becomes worn out.
Replace Your Wiper Blades
You can quickly tell when you need to replace your Blades. You can check if the blades are clean by pressing the washer button. If your blades streak, you’re done. You’ll find a lot of economy blades at the auto parts store, but choose a brand name (ANCO Trico Bosch). These blades are more expensive than economy ones, but they have better rubber, better UV protection, and last longer.
Follow the instructions for installation on the packaging. Once you remove the old wiper blade, hold the arm firmly. If the edge gets away, it could hit the windshield hard enough to crack it.
Replace non-headlight bulbs
Remove the retaining screws from the lens to access the burned-out license plate, fog, and side marker bulbs. The bulb should be pulled straight out. Handle the bulb with gloves or a paper towel. This will prevent the skin oils from accumulating on the thin glass, which can lead to premature bulb failure. Push the bulb until it clicks into the socket. You’re finished. Reinstall the lens.
Antenna Replacement: Replace Your Broken Antenna
It is simple to replace a fender-mounted antenna mast. Unscrew the remaining portion of the mast, and purchase a new mast from any auto parts shop. It is more difficult to replace a pillar-mount antenna, but it is still doable. Connect heavy string at the end of the antenna cable. Unscrew the antenna mount and remove the old antenna. Connect the new antenna cable with the series. Pull the line into the vehicle and then connect it to the radio. Secure the new antenna using the provided screws.