4 Basic Car Repair Skills Every Car Owner Must Have
If you have been driving your car for long, at some point in time, you might have come across a situation where your car broke down, and you didn’t know what to do.
Yes, repairing a seized engine or fixing your car’s AC may sound laborious for a non-professional. However, there’s a bunch of repair skills that are easy to learn and can be of great help in case of an emergency.
In this post, we are discussing four such car skills that are easy to learn but will take you a long way. So, buckle up and read on.
1. Changing a Flat Tire
When you are driving across the highway on a sunny day, a flat tire is among the most common issues that may trouble you. This majorly happens due to the hot weather as it makes the air expand, making the tube burst. All in all, you will have a flat tire, and if you don’t know how to replace it, you will have to call for help and wait for it.
And honestly, changing a flat tire isn’t such a big task. The objects that you are going to need are as follows:
- Wrench
- Jack
- Secondary tire
Start loosening the lug nuts to a point where you can spin them off with fingers. Now, lift the flat tire’s side of your car with the jack, remove the nuts, place the secondary tire, slightly tighten the nuts, remove the jack and push the nuts tight with the wrench.
2. Installing New Spark Plugs
First of all, you must ensure always to carry additional spark plugs for your car. While travelling in remote locations, you may not even be able to find a reliable spark plug replacement. To find qualified and reliable spark plugs, you can visit PartsGeek.com.
That’s why it’s best to carry a few extra spark plugs in your car. Moving further, locate the spark plug for your car and model. Remove the plug wire and take out the faulty spark plug. After this, nut up the fresh spark plug and reattach the wire.
Simple, right?
3. Changing Engine Oil
Engine oil acts as the lifeblood of your car. From lubricating the moving components to contributing for a proper function of your car, engine oil does it all. However, many car owners still rely on their mechanics for engine oil replacements.
Honestly, this is one of the easiest entries on this list and once completed, it can significantly boost your car’s performance. To change the engine oil in your car, remove the oil drain plug, unscrew the oil filter and let the old oil drain out. Now pour fresh oil and nut the plugs back in their original place.
If you are having trouble, refer to this tutorial.
4. Replacing Car Battery
The battery of your car is one of the most important components without which you will not be able to turn on the ignition.
However, in some cases, the battery may start indicating low strength all of a sudden. And the worst happens when you are away from home. This is why it’s better to carry a substitute battery in your car, and you should know how to install it. This is a skill that will help you in situations where you might have felt helpless.
Note: Also, if you own an old car with a central locking system, carry an extra key in your pocket. Remember, the key has to be in your pocket. Not in your wallet. Not inside the car. Only in your pocket. This will save you from the hassles of unlocking the door if you mistakenly lock yourself out of the cabin.
Closing words
If you own a car and drive it often, having a fair idea of basic repair and maintenance will help you in tricky situations. In this post, we shared a few tips to help our readers learn about those skills.
Hopefully, this was helpful.