Knowing the fundamentals of auto repair is necessary if you regularly operate a motor vehicle. That said, who truly knows that information? Luckily for you, you’ll find that the following article is very helpful if you need to know a few things about auto repair; you can be sure everything works great as your vehicle ages.
Consider keeping a high quality battery charger in your car. Having a dead battery can leave you stranded in some pretty terrible places. It is important to not only have the battery charger but to know how it works as well in case you are alone.
Make sure there is an emergency kit located in your vehicle at all times. You need to have tools in your kit that will allow you to change the battery, help you get some extra gas and tire changing tools as well. Also, flashlights, batteries and blankets are all crucial items as well.
Prior to giving your car to a shop, know the costs of repairs. If you don’t understand something, clarify your concerns with the mechanic or service adviser before they work on the car. If you do not communicate with your mechanic, you might be surprised with additional fees once you receive your bill.
You should always test drive your vehicle after getting some repairs done on it. This way you can avoid paying for repairs that were not finished correctly. Many people don’t do this, and the car ends up with the same issues that were supposed to be repaired.
If you plan to take your car to the shop, do not leave anything inside the car. These items may need to be removed anyway, and they aren’t responsible for lost or missing items. Everything needs to be taken out of your trunk too.
Watch out for blatant signs that your mechanic is not to be trusted. If you are being talked to in circles and your questions aren’t answered, then you will want to go elsewhere. If your gut feeling is that you don’t quite trust your mechanic, keep looking for one who inspires confidence in you and helps you understand the problems with your car.
Find technicians to do your auto repair tasks instead of your dealer. There are independent mechanics all over the place. If you are more comfortable with one of them, by all means use them.
Educate yourself on the basics of car repairs and warranties before going to the mechanic. They’re classified as rebuilt, re-manufactured, and reconditioned, salvage, and new. New parts are the ones that you want to have installed on your vehicles. “Re-manufactered, rebuilt and reconditioned” are parts that are restored to a good working condition. Salvage parts are parts that have been used and haven’t been altered.
Even if your car only seems to have a small issue going on, you should definitely have it looked at. Sometimes a small symptom indicates a much larger problem.
Brake Fluid
Give the brakes a bleed after you’ve done work on them. Following this, pump the brake fluid. Examine closely to see if any leaking has occurred. You don’t want to run low on your brake fluid. You should then be ready for test driving on a road that lacks tons of traffic. Start slow in order to ensure that your repairs were successful.
Have you ever wondered what OEM means? These initials mean Original Equipment Manufacturer. When having replacement parts installed on your vehicle, you might want keep this information in mind. If you let your mechanic know that you only want OEM parts, you’ll appear to be knowledgeable. This will allow you to have less of a chance at getting used parts from someone.
Keeping your car in proper running order is a necessary chore of life for most people. But, some folks lack the knowledge to find good mechanics or to repair their cars themselves. Take these ideas and apply them next time you need to repair you car. You should be able to save yourself time and money in the future. Good luck.
