Few things top that sinking feeling when a light comes on in your dashboard that you weren’t expecting.
As cars get more complex, the number of quick fixes and jobs you can do yourself might feel like it’s shrinking, but there are some bits of car maintenance you can tackle yourself that, in the long run, can save you money and expensive trips to the garage.
But it’s also important to know when it’s time to call in the experts, so we’ve listed some of the simple car DIY jobs you can tackle yourself and when you need to seek out the professionals.
Quick fixes
There are some parts of looking after your car that you should know how to do. These are all things that are worth checking before a major trip, just to make sure your car is working at its absolute best.
Checking and topping up fluids
There are three simple checks and top-ups you can do that help your engine run more efficiently, avoid issues and help you see clearer on the road.
Making sure your oil, coolant and screen wash are topped up is key to making sure your car doesn’t run into more serious problems.
They’re relatively easy to check and top up too. Check your oil using the dipstick in your oil tank. This helps you understand the oil level and if you need to fill up (if not, and you have an oil light on, that might be a sign of a different problem, such as a diagnostic issue that would need a mechanic).
Coolant and screen wash should be filled to the lines on their respective containers (Check you are filling the right one with the right thing!)
Checking lights and changing bulbs
Keeping your lights in good working order is important for your safety and everyone on the road.
Headlights, indicators, fog lights – these all need to be looked after.
Changing a bulb isn’t too difficult, depending on the make of car, access can be a bit fiddly, but there are loads of guides online about how to access and change different bulbs depending on the model.
If you’re not confident or don’t know how to access the bulb if you buy the replacement from a specialised store, there’s usually someone on hand to help, and it won’t take them long.
Checking tyre pressure and treads
Another easy check you can do at a petrol station or at home, and should be high on your list of checks before a big trip, is checking your tyre pressure.
Different vehicles have different recommended tyre pressures; you can find yours in a few different places:
- Your vehicle handbook
- Tyre pressure sticker, this can be found in a few different locations around a car and can vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. Some common places for the sticker to hide are:
- Inside your fuel filler cap
- On the driver’s side door edge
- In the footwell of your car
- Look online – there are websites that can help you find the right tyre pressure by using your vehicle registration. One great example is the KwikFit site.
When you do this, you should always give your tyres a quick check to make sure there’s enough tread. You need to legally have more than 1.6mm of tread, if not, it’s time for new tyres.
Check for bulges and cracks too. If you think something isn’t right, it’s worth going to a mechanic or tyre centre.
Changing a wiper blade
One of the easier jobs on paper, just find replacement blades for your car, then the blades on the wiper arms just clip on and off.
Keep an eye on your wiper blades, if they struggle to clear the windscreen, there’s a juddering when you use them, or you can see the blade falling to bits, then it’s time to swap.
Don’t delay with this either, if a wiper blade gets too damaged, you run the risk of scratching, cracking or chipping your windscreen, which can be an expensive repair.
When do you need a mechanic?
If you’re having problems with your car, like constant warning lights, weird noises like grinding or scraping or a noticeable change in how something works or the car feels to drive, then you need to go to a mechanic.
Whether it’s an issue with your brakes feeling stiff, suspension rattling, engine warning lights, gearbox grinding or just a service, some jobs require specialist tools and qualified work to put right.
Finding a mechanic can be tricky, but there are a couple of ways to find a reliable one.
The AA and RAC have lists of approved garages – this is worth looking at to find one local to you.
Keeping your car on the road doesn’t need to be difficult. There’s something satisfying about being able to do some of the maintenance yourself but knowing when to call in an expert and checking your car before your next big trip can help your next journey go smoothly.
