9 Simple Car Repairs You Can Do In Your Driveway
Owning a car is expensive. If you include average vehicle depreciation, it’ll cost you (on the very low end) at least $11,460 a year. That’s nearly as much as some people spend on rent or a mortgage!
To cut down on the cost of owning a car, people often elect to do minor repairs themselves. Granted, this is becoming increasingly difficult to do as cars become more technical and computerized. However, there are still many simple repairs you can do in your driveway that won’t cost you a lot of money or take up a lot of time.
1. Remove a dent
Do you have access to boiling water and a plunger? Well then, you’re in luck — because that’s all it takes to remove many minor dents in your vehicle.
A word of caution: Avoid this technique in colder temperatures as it can damage the clear coat on your vehicle.
2. Repair scratched paint
There are many different brands and types of scratch removers out there. From wax to spray to marker solutions, your local hardware store or automotive shop should be able to provide you with an inexpensive solution to covering up most scratches.
3. Replace brake pads
Replacing your vehicle brake pads seems like something you should leave to a professional, but it’s actually not that difficult or labour-intensive. All you need are new brake pads, some fairly common tools, and time.
Here is a complete step-by-step guide for you to follow.
4. Replace wiper blades
Mechanics and tire change centres often include replacing wiper blades as a way to sweeten the offer when you consider using their services. The truth is that they mark up the price of those wiper blades and it’s a simple task that can be done in just five minutes.
Use My Wiper Size to find the right-sized wiper for your vehicle.
5. Change a lightbulb
This once simple task is becoming more and more difficult as bulbs become harder to access in newer model vehicles.
If you have an older model vehicle, this video will help you learn to change and install a lightbulb.
6. Clear up cloudy headlights
Not only do cloudy headlights ruin the aesthetic of your vehicle, they may prevent signal lights and headlights from being seen by other drivers, pedestrians, or wildlife.
For an in-depth, step-by-step guide to clearing up your cloudy headlights, check out this blog.
7. Find (and replace) a blown fuse
One of the cheapest and quickest simple car repairs you can do on your vehicle is finding and replacing a blown fuse.
Locate your vehicle’s fuse box, search for the broken fuse (see image), confirm the style of fuse, and replace it!
8. Refinish wheels and wheel covers
Rust is among the most unsightly things that you can find on a car — and rust on your car’s wheels is no exception.
The good news is that you can remove (or cover-up) rust on your wheels with some basic household tools and paint.
Click here for detailed instructions.
9. Lubricate window tracks
Lubricating the window tracks on your vehicle is a quick, low-cost way to avoid expensive repair bills with a professional mechanic.
All you need is some silicone lubricant and a few minutes of your day!
If you’re doing simple car repairs in your driveway, we recommend that you save yourself even more money on quality parts by using Logel’s online parts finder. If there is a part you cannot find, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us.
