The average cost for a professional to run a diagnostic on your car ranges from between $47 and $215, according to the AAA. Naturally, that amount does not yet include the actual cost of labor. So it’s a pretty good argument as to why you should learn to repair your own car. To that end, what sort of basic car tasks or maintenance skills can you master in your own home?
Paint Touch Ups
Despite best efforts, your car’s paint job will sustain damage or scratches. They may not affect the car’s performance, but they can certainly affect personal aesthetics. Getting a pro to fix a scratch or small damage can cost you $1,500, says automobile technician Benjamin Jerew. If that’s money you’d rather use elsewhere, or if the touch-up is minuscule, you’re better off doing the job yourself. You’ll have the freedom to choose a paint brand or technique to use instead of sticking to a particular brand that the garage is tied to. The reviews of Automotivetouchup.com prove that helpful products like touch-up pens and clearcoat enable anyone to perform aesthetic fixes themselves.
Replacing Windshield Wipers
Getting your windshield wipers replaced can cost you about $69 (not inclusive of taxes and other fees) at the cheapest. It is generally considered to be one of the most basic car maintenance tasks that can be mastered. If you’re unsure about how to get it done, you can tap into online tutorials available on YouTube, which can also help you with your aesthetic repairs. There are a wide variety of available tutorials that cover simple car tasks like paint touch-ups and replacing windshield wipers. You can keep replaying the video until you’re comfortable to do the process on your own.
Changing Air Filter
If your engine’s air filter isn’t replaced regularly, it may affect your car’s acceleration and the engine’s overall performance. Fortunately, it’s something that you can learn to master on your own. Getting a mechanic do to it can ring up about $85, while doing it on your own can come to about $20, says FIXD. It simply requires having a new air filter, popping open the air filter box, taking out the old one, and putting in the new. Once you’re used to it, the whole process takes about a minute.
Mastering certain car tasks and maintenance skills may take a bit of time and effort, but it is ultimately worth it. Not only will it save you money down the road, but they are skills that you can pass on to friends or family members. It also ensures that your car will be in better condition so you’ll be safe on the road.
