There are a lot of things that can go wrong when you’re driving. Being a driver yourself, you’ve probably given this issue a thought. The problem gets bigger when you’re a female driver driving on your own, especially in Australia where there are many long roads in the middle of nowhere. There are so many horror movies inspired by real-life situations that start when a girl’s car breaks down in the middle of nowhere and she can’t do anything to fix it. Well, isn’t it time to do something about it? Truth be told, there are certain types of fixing and maintenance that aren’t difficult to do and that don’t require a lot of physical strength or demand you to be car-savvy. It will do you good to be a bit more independent when it comes to your car as you’ll feel more confident and safe on the road.
Replacing air filters
Your filters need replacing every 12 months or so and instead of giving up your car for at least a day and paying your mechanic to do it, you can do it yourself quite easily. Get a new filter; you can find information about which one you need depending on the car you drive. Now you need to find your filter under the hood of your car – it should be visible as soon as you open it. Simply remove it, memorizing the position it was in, then replace it with a new one.
Oil filter change
Your oil needs changing every 3000 to 5000 miles. In order to do this, you’re going to need to operate a jack. First of all, wait for the car engine to cool down, then get under the car and find the oil pan, it’s easily spotted. You’ll need a screwdriver to handle the drain plug, let the old oil drain into the pan and replace the drain plug. After that, go back to the engine to remove the old oil filter and fill the new one about two-thirds of the way. Screw in the new one and you’re done changing the filter.
Tyre change
This is the most common problem you might be facing on the road and it’s too simple for you to be bothered to call, wait and pay for the road aid. You’ll need a jack and basic tools you have in your kit in the back of your trunk. Simply remove the old tyre and place the new one. You might do it clumsily the first few times, but you’ll get used to it eventually. When the dust settles, you’ll need to purchase a new spare tyre or a whole set if it’s easier and more affordable. If you’re from around Sydney, you can find high-quality tyres in Blacktown. Of course, this DIY is just a first-aid response, as soon as your trip is over, you’ll probably need a tyre balance which needs to be done by professionals.
Wipers
This maintenance activity is super easy and it only takes 15 minutes or so. You don’t need any tools, just buy new wiper blades and change them yourself. The process is similar to changing your air filters, but it will differ depending on the model of your car. First, you lift the blades the same way as you would when washing your windshield. Then remove the old ones carefully watching how they fit into the arms. There should be some sort of a tab on the wiper itself, once pushed, your wipers will be released and you’ll be able to remove them easily. After that, install the new wipers simply following the procedure backwards.
Headlight bulbs
This procedure is not difficult at all provided that your car doesn’t have sealed beam headlights. Simply look at the front of your car to check if there are any burnt bulbs. In that case, you just need to go online and search for the bulb your car model requires. After that, you just need to open the case and remove the bulb yourself. The procedure itself is no different than changing a bulb in your bathroom or wherever.
We bet you thought some of these processes involved much more knowledge and a lot of different tools. In fact, most common things you need to do to your car are fairly simple. So, now that you know some of the tricks, keep track of the time and money you’ll save on each of these procedures annually and be grateful you’ve made your life simpler.
