Here at Dodson’s Japanese PartsWorld, our workshop and friendly team are fully equipped to perform mechanical repairs if you wish. However we know that many of our customers are car enthusiasts who love the process of maintaining and caring for their beloved vehicles themselves. Whether you’re a bonafide ‘petrol head’ or are making your first attempts at car repairs, we’ve put together a list of some of the simpler, DIY car repairs you can do at home.
Replacement of air filters. While it may seem intimidating to open the hood and change an engine part, replacing the air filter is actually pretty simple and can make a big difference to your car’s overall performance. This 5 minute DIY car repair will save you a bundle in labour costs and in improved fuel economy. We recommend changing the filter annually (more often if you live in a particularly dusty area).
Oil change. This is also a pretty easy job for the budding home-mechanic, although a few precautions are necessary. Oil can get pretty hot so make sure your engine is cool before starting (at least a few hours since you last drove). You’ll need a ratchet, oil filter, wrench, funnel, new oil, oil container, and oil filter.
Spark plugs. Improve your vehicle’s fuel consumption and make your ride smoother and more enjoyable with fresh new spark plugs. Spark plugs aren’t expensive and you can check the plug wires while you’re replacing them too.
Windshield wipers. A fresh new set of windshield wipers will not only make driving in the rain more pleasant, it’ll make it safer too thanks to improved visibility. This is a very simple and inexpensive car repair you can do yourself.
Headlight bulbs. If you’ve got a burnt out headlight, it’s important to change that bulb asap. On many modern cars replacing the headlight or corner light will require the removal of the bumper in order to access the bulb, but this usually only involves a simple socket set and an extra 30 minutes.
Dangling exhaust pipes. So many trips to the mechanic start with the phrase “it’s making a funny noise”. Often that ‘funny noise’ is a damaged exhaust pipe holder and it’s an easy fix. Most cars have rubber loops holding exhaust pipes in place, check for damaged loops and change accordingly.
Replace your muffler. This one requires a bit more know-how but is still within the category of ‘car repairs you don’t need to pay for’. It can be physically challenging because it usually requires sawing or cutting through the old pipes on either side of the muffler and working while laying on your back, but if you can handle that, you can replace your muffler.
Changing brake pads. Another one that’s a little more involved and lengthy than many of the car repairs listed here, but it’s still doable. The main tools you’ll need to change brake pads are a c-clamp, lug wrench, Allen wrenches, hammer, and jack. Note: if the car is shuddering or pulling to the side while braking, it’s a job for a mechanic.
That concludes our roundup of some of the more simple car repairs you can attempt at home. Once you’ve experienced the satisfaction of fixing a car yourself, you may find that more and more of your car’s maintenance issues are worth the time and effort of doing it yourself.
For all your car part needs, talk to us at Dodson’s Japanese PartsWorld, we’ll offer advice and sort you out with the right auto part for your vehicle. New and quality used car parts are our specialty.