You Can Repair Your Own Vehicle and Save Money
Many Repairs are Fairly Easy
If you have a vehicle, then you know that repairs are a part of life. You may not know that you are fully capable of doing many repairs on your own. This can save you hundreds, if not thousands of dollars. Over the years, I have done almost all of my vehicle repairs. Out of necessity. I need a vehicle, but never really could afford to take it to a shop for repairs. You can learn to do this as well. Even if you can afford to pay someone to do repairs, you may want to save money by doing it yourself. All you need is some basic tools, some research and the willingness to step out of your comfort zone. YouTube has a wealth of "how to" videos. You can learn how to do nearly anything on YouTube. There are many parts stores dedicated to the do it yourselfer. For the cost of parts and tools, if you don't already have them, you can save a great deal of money. You may be surprised at how easy some repairs actually are. Once you have done your first repair, you will have the confidence for the next challenge your vehicle presents to you.
Tools
You will need some basic tools for your repair project. Here is a list that will cover many repairs:
Socket Set with standard and metric sizes.
Wrench Set Standard and metric sizes
Vice Grips
Plyers
Channel Locks
Jack
Jack Stands
Car ramps
The tools needed will vary by repair. Many repairs can be done with your socket set only. You may need other tools and possibly specialized tools for certain repairs. Most of the parts stores have a tool borrowing or rental program. They may require a deposit, but you will get that back, minus any fees they may charge.
Where to Get Your Parts
There are quite a few options on where to find your parts. You can save money if you order them online. That isn't always a good option if you need your part right away. This is almost always the case for me. My preferred parts store is O'Reilly Auto Parts. Most of the time, they will have your part in stock at a reasonable price. They can test parts like: alternators, starters and batteries. This can keep you from wasting money on unneeded parts. There are many different part stores out there as well. Here are a few of them: AutoZone, Napa, Advance Auto Parts. There are quite a few more. You'll just have to shop around and find the one that is best for you.
Do Some Research
Google and YouTube are extremely valuable resources when diagnosing car issues and learning how to do repairs. Many times I have learned how to do repairs I haven't done before by watching a few videos on YouTube. I'm definitely not trying to oversimplify vehicle repairs. Some repairs can be very complicated. Many repairs, however, are not that hard. I've replaced alternators, starters, thermostats and car batteries many times without much trouble.
Know When You are In Over Your Head
There are definitely lots of repairs that you can do on your own without much experience. It is important to realize when a repair is just too much. You may not have the specialized skills or tools that it takes. It's ok to admit defeat sometimes. I've had to pay to have certain things fixed on my vehicles over the years. Here are a couple of things that I have paid someone else to do for me: Engine swap and windshield installation. Most everything else I've figured out on my own.
You Can Do It
Learning how to do some of your own auto repairs is a great skill to develop. With a can do attitude, some research and persistence, you can save yourself a great deal of money. Saving money is great. You will also have a feeling of accomplishment after fixing your own car. It's a great feeling to be able to do something on your own, especially something you didn't realize you could do. So, if you are thinking about doing your own vehicle repairs to save money, I'd say jump in and get started. You can do it!
