3 Automotive Repairs That You Can Perform at Home

Each year, automobiles become more technologically complex. Engines become more streamlined and efficient; computer chips become more advanced; new systems, such as smart cruise control and lane change warning devices, are integrated. With every improvement, motorists become more wary of performing repairs on their own. There's a pervasive fear that a single wrong tweak will impact other components. The problem is that mechanics charge up to $80 an hour. Simple repairs can end up costing far more than they would if you were to do them yourself.

Below, I'll describe three automotive repairs that you can perform in your own garage. With a little time, patience, and elbow grease, you can potentially save a bundle.

#1 - Replace A Bad Fuse

Many of the electrical systems in your vehicle are managed by fuses. Over time, those fuses will go bad and need to be replaced. A lot of drivers will experience an electrical problem and take their cars to a mechanic to have it resolved. The mechanic will end up doing a test which usually costs between $40 and $50. Then, they'll simply replace the blown fuse that caused the issue. If you have a pair of tweezers (and your owner's manual), you can replace it yourself. The cost? About $3.

#2 - Replace Bad Spark Plugs

Despite the increasing complexity of automobiles over the last few decades, the gas engine's 4-stroke internal combustion process has remained virtually the same. Spark plugs are a vital piece of that process. When they go bad, it can cause your engine to misfire, dramatically reducing its performance and efficiency.

A mechanic will usually charge an hour's worth of labor to replace your spark plugs. The plugs themselves cost less than $30. If you have a gapping tool, socket, and ratchet, you can do the job at home and save yourself up to $80 (for the labor).

#3 - Replace A Worn Fuel Filter

Of the three, this repair job is the most labor-intensive. Don't let that discourage you. With a couple of wrenches, rags, jacks, and a pan to catch the fuel, you can finish the job in an hour. The filter itself should cost less than $20, which means you'll be saving up to $80 in labor charges by doing it yourself.

It's important to take a few precautionary steps to ensure your safety. Because you'll be working with gasoline, wear gloves. Also, disconnect your car's battery to prevent a fire. Lastly, make sure the jacks that you use to lift your vehicle are sturdy.

There are several other minor repair jobs that you can perform without the help of a mechanic (I'll cover them in a future article). The key is to realize that you can do them yourself. As long as you purchase high-quality parts, you can potentially save hundreds of dollars over the long run.

Visit Your Automotive Repair Shop Before You Start Your Road Trip

With the arrival of the nice weather, perhaps you are contemplating a road trip this summer. Exploring the highways and country roads in your own area of the country is a great way to get away, without much hassle.

Of course, you will not be relying on other modes of transportation such as a taxi to the airport, or those large-winged birds that carry us across the ocean to other countries. You will be depending on your own vehicle, so now's the time to get it ready.

Whether you are a "hands-on" type of person, or someone who would like to leave things to the professionals, here are some basics that need to be covered. If you are handy, and have a garage and access to the essential tools necessary, then go for it. If not, take a list to your local auto service dealer and have a mechanic do the honors.

The first thing to remember is that it's summer, and even if the real hot weather has yet to kick in, be sure and check the operation of your car's cooling system. If you haven't had the air conditioner on yet this spring, turn it on. Make sure that it's working because no one wants to revert to the fifties, flying down the road with all the windows open and bugs stuck in our teeth.

Now's the time to top up all the essential fluids that keep your auto purring like a kitten. Get your ownership guide out of the glove box and learn how to check and add what's needed. Switch to a thicker oil to counteract the thinning effect of the hot summer weather. That way you'll be assured the engine's parts are adequately protected.

Check the brake, power steering, transmission, and differential fluids. Top up your windshield wiper reservoirs, and consider taking an extra bottle along with you. There is nothing worse that driving into the sun and straining to see through a bug-spattered windshield.

It is important to have the correct coolant in your car's radiator. Never use just plain water. Make sure it includes antifreeze in the proper proportion to keep your car from overheating when the mercury starts to climb. Usually a fifty fifty mix will work.

Next comes an inspection of your tires. The two main things that need to be measured are tread and pressure. For this you'll need to purchase the appropriate gauges from a car part shop. Then, either get out your manual, or look at the notice located on your vehicle's door jam for the proper pressure reading. Next, ensure that each tire has at least 2/32" of tread. Don't forget to include your spare tire in this routine.

For this next set of checks, you might do well to employ an automotive repair shop. Have the mechanic check the battery and it's associated cables. Put in a fresh air filter. It is very important to keep dirt from getting to your car's engine. Look carefully at the hoses and radiator for cracks and places where leaks can occur.

There are lots of checks you can perform on your own. Take a look at the windshield wipers and change them if they look frayed or are not hugging the windshield properly. You'll definitely need well working wipers in those violent summer thunderstorms.

Inspect your car's interior lights, as well as the headlights and turn indicators. Make sure you have a functioning low beam and high beam. Have someone watch the rear of your vehicle while you pump the brake pedal. Brakes are really important and so are the lights.

Assemble a bag of items that will come in very handy in an emergency. Include jumper cables, a tire iron and jack, flares, and screwdrivers, pliers, and wrenches. Invest in a good heavy flashlight and some spare batteries too.

For the humans on board, load up with lots of bottled water, just in case you have a break down and have to wait for help. Bring along a blanket and a pillow, work gloves, paper towels and some packaged snacks, like granola bars.

Maybe you'll want to invest in a GPS system this summer. Having a reassuring humanoid voice telling you where to go is very comforting. At the very least, grab some maps of the area you'll be exploring, and your camera to chronicle the fun you'll have on the open road.

Finding accurate auto repair information can be difficult due to the wide variety of vehicles on the road today and the vast differences between them. You can find helpful auto repair information at AutoRepair-Info.com.

Do it Yourself Automotive Repair

Is your budget feeling the strain of auto repairs? Are you interested in learning how to fix your own vehicle to save some money? If this is something that interests you, then there are plenty of resources to check out. You never know, this may become a favorite hobby of yours once you get the hang of it.

Check out the Internet for credible websites that give you all the details of any repair you may need to make on your vehicle. The Internet is a great resource and best of all many of these sites are free! Some even have videos for the visual learners.

There are a couple of other reasons why the web is such a good resource. One is because of the huge amounts of sites out there, there is likely to be very detailed and accurate information on even the rarest of auto repairs. Another reason is that the web gives you access to varying mechanics' opinions as well as community forums to bounce ideas off of which can be extremely helpful.

Automotive repair is not always cut and dry. This means that you may need multiple sources of information in order to repair your vehicle properly. If this is the case, the library is the place for you. Many libraries have multiple shelves of how-to auto repair guides. This is a great way to learn about new techniques and be able to complete even the trickiest of auto repairs. With the help of these resources, you will be well on your way to successfully repairing your own vehicle!

Flat Rate Auto Repairs Explained - Automotive Repair Costs

Auto repair costs at a shop are basically comprised of labor and parts. Labor is typically calculated based on a standard "flat rate" estimate. Flat rate labor guides estimate labor time down to the tenth of an hour. For my example, if a starter for a specific vehicle pays 1.2 hours to change, the labor cost will be determined by multiplying the time by the shops labor rate, lets say the shops labor rate is $90.00 per flat rate hour (1.2 x $90.00=$108.00). Keep in mind that labor times can vary greatly depending on the year, model and engine size. Also automotive repair shop labor rates vary at each shop and from city to city. Labor time does NOT take in to consideration the requirement for special tools, experience or lack of.

Flat Rate or Actual Time

If the actual time it takes to repair the vehicle is LESS or MORE than the estimated flat rate time, the customer still pays the flat rate amount. More experienced auto technicians and techs with time saving tools can most of the time beat the flat rate time (AKA book time). The technician, if paid by flat rate has an incentive to do the job fast and correctly. If he makes a mistake and has to do the job again (commonly called a comeback) he does it the second time for free! Also keep in mind that a flat rate technician does not get paid time and a half for over-time, or for standing around waiting for work or parts. It's necessary for the technician to be productive and make up for this lost time by learning from his experience and buying tools that make him more efficient. Tools with exception of larger shop equipment items are usually the responsibility of each mechanic to purchase individually.

Parts Cost

The cost of the parts to fix the vehicle will depend on the deal the repair shop gets when they purchase the parts at wholesale, if they are new or rebuilt and how much their profit margin is. The typical markup is 30 to 40%, although this may vary. Yes, some money may be saved by shopping around and buying the parts directly, but most shops won't install parts provided by the customer. Also as far as the warranty goes, if a part fails that the facility provides, the shop will be responsible during the warranty period. If a part fails that was provided by the customer to the shop, the customer would be responsible for paying the labor all over again and handling the warranty replacement.

I personally would prefer to have a knowledgeable technician work on my car and repair it faster than the book time as opposed to having a less experienced tech work on my car longer to achieve the same results.

Tips for a good auto repair shop experience.

• Choose a shop that has a good reputation.
• Ask to inspect the old parts, ask what has failed or worn.
• Talk to the technician when possible to eliminate a break down in communication.
• Ask for a discount, the worst they could say is there is they cannot provide one.
• Have a written estimate on large repairs.
• Test drive vehicle before paying if possible.
• Choose a shop that specializes in the type of vehicle make.
• Consider if you prefer a national warranty or not.