Auto Repairs You Can do Yourself

You don't have to go to a repair shop every time

You can buy easy to use repair kits at the hardware store

A good tire plug can last forever and only costs a few dollars

You don't always have to go to a repair shop every time there is something wrong with your car. There are lots of small repairs that can easily and safely be done at home. You will save a lot of money by doing the work yourself. You can also buy a repair manual or look for an online auto repair manual for more detailed instructions. Here are 5 examples of easy things you can do at home:

Replace the light bulb for the tail, brake or turn light:
This one is very simple, all you need is a screw driver and a replacement bulb. Unscrew the lens housing and pull the bulb assembly out far enough that you can reach the bulb, without pulling too hard on the attached wires. Pull out the bad bulb. Some require a quarter turn to be removed and some pull straight out. Put in the new bulb, put the bulb assembly and cover back and your finished.

Plug a hole in your tire:
A good tire repair plug can last forever and it only costs a few dollars. Buy a tire plug kit. If there is an object that needs to be pulled out such as a nail, put a piece of tape under it first so that the hole will be easy to find again. If there is a hole with no object, find the location by putting some soapy water on the tire, then put air into it and watch to see where the bubbles come out. Use the file from the kit to and insert it into the hole to clean it out. Put a tar worm into the tar worm tool and put it into the hole in the tire. Once the plug is securely in the hole, trim off any excess material. Fill your tire back to the proper tire pressure and you are done.

Fix a chipped windshield:
You can buy an easy to use repair kit at the hardware store. They are great for a chip a or bull's-eye but will not work well on cracks. First, park your vehicle in the shade, the sun will cause the repair resin to dry too quickly. Clean out any loose bits of glass that are in the chip, you can do this using the tip of a razor blade and a cloth. When the area is clean, place the suction cup on the windshield so that the center is directly over the chip. Thread the repair tube into the hole, securing it firmly. Add a few drops of the repair resin into the tube, insert the plunger and tighten it. This will push the resin into the chipped glass. Look at the chip from inside the car to make sure you have added enough resin and that there are no air bubbles. Remove the suction cup and place a piece of the finishing film over the area. Leave it until it has fully dried and then remove the film.

Repair a small dent:
Small dents can be repaired at home, although you might want to get the final paint finish done by a professional. You just need body filler, sandpaper, glazing and spot putty, a rigid and a flexible plastic spreader and auto primer. First, sand off the paint on and around the dented area, body filler won't stick well to paint. Mix some body filler with some of the hardener, one mixed it will dry in about 5 minutes, so you need to work quickly. Spread the filler into the area using the flexible plastic spreader. Once the filler has dried, you can sand it smooth. Spread a layer of spot putty over the area and then sand it again when dry. Then spray on a few light coats of primer. Once this is dry, wet sand the area. Then it is ready for painting.

Secure a loose muffler:
A loose muffler can make a lot of noise, but it is a minor repair. First you need to figure out where it is loose by having a good look at it. If it's the heat shield that is loose, simply tighten all of the bolts. It could also be the exhaust hanger, rubber loops that hold the muffler in place. If one is broken, you can easily replace it with a new one. You may need a helper to hold the muffler in place while you replace the loop.

Published on Friday, October 17, 2008 - Email to a friend

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