Saving Money with DIY Auto Maintenance and Repairs ...

Saving Money with DIY Auto Maintenance and Repairs

Article by Clint Walker

The slowing of our economy has prompted many people to seek out new ways to save money.

With the high costs of auto repairs spending a little time doing some of your own auto maintenance is an ideal way to help cut expenses.

Automotive repair manuals are available today for most makes and models of cars on the market. Repair Manuals offer very detailed instructions for most DIY auto repairs and anyone with a little mechanical ability can learn to do a lot of repairs on their own

Routine maintenance and inspections are essential to preventing breakdowns and avoiding costly repairs later.

While anything mechanical can fail, more often than not, an inspection will allow one to spot areas of concern and make repairs prior to the part completely failing.

The savings of time and money repairing or replacing a worn or defective part early can be substantial as opposed to just waiting for the part to fail completely.

Likewise there are a large number of inexpensive items that if left unattended and allowed to fail can cause damage to other components.

A 20 dollar radiator hose is a perfect example of this.

The hoses are used to carry coolant back and forth from the engine to the radiator.

Failure of a hose can lead to all the coolant leaking from the system causing the engine to overheat. Overheating could cause extensive engine damage ranging from several hundred to several thousand dollars to repair.

This is a repair that could have been avoided through routine maintenance and inspections.

I have compiled a short list of components that should be checked on a regular basis that could save you money if caught in time and repairs are made prior to other components becoming damaged.

1. Check radiator and heater hoses for cracks and chaffed areas.

2. Check CV joint boots for cracks and leaking grease.

3. Check wheel seals for leaks.

4. Check universal joints for wear and loose motion.

5. Check air intake hoses and air filter housings for leaks.

6. Check tires for leaks, wear, damage, and proper air pressure.

7. Check under engine for possible oil and water leaks.

8. Check transmission for leaks.

9. Check differential for leaks.

10. Check all fluids for proper levels.

11. Check tie rod ends and ball joints for wear and loose motion.

12. Check brake pads and shoes for wear.

13. Check brake lines for chaffing, cracks, or leaks.

14. Check wiper blades for wear or damage.

15. Check engine belts for wear and cracks.

16. Check power steering hoses for wear, cracks, and chaffing.

17. Change engine oil and filter at recommended intervals.

18. Inspect air filter regularly, more often if you drive on dirt roads, and change at recommended intervals.

19. Change transmission fluid and filter at recommended intervals.

This list is not intended to be a complete guide, but to serve as a basis to begin your maintenance regime.

Even if you don

Source: http://njparkinginst.info/saving-money-with-diy-auto-maintenance-and-repairs/

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