Our car is one of our prized possessions. We buy our car with our hard earned money which is why we need to take good care of it all the time. But in time, whether we use it often or not, its parts slowly break down. Repairs should be done every now and then especially if the car is more than five years old, depending on how it was maintained. Although if you keep on bringing your car to a specialist, you would just wish to sell it as soon as possible because of your hundreds or even thousands of dollars spending on repairs. But actually, you can save a lot of money if you can fix your car on your own, especially the minor ones. All you need is your car’s manual, basic tools, and of course your willingness to learn. Below are some general guidelines on how to repair your car.

1. First, as much as you can, try to know everything about your car. Car manuals are not given for nothing. If you are knowledgeable enough about your car, you can easily assess its problem if something goes wrong. The Internet is also a powerful tool to give you more sources aside from the manual provided by the car company.
2. If something breaks down, know what and where the problem is. There are numerous car repairs that can be done since an automobile has a lot of parts where the problem could originate. If possible, evaluate what major part of your car has the problem. There is the engine, the exhaust, the suspension, the brakes, the electrical or wiring, the air condition, the oil or lubrication, etc. There are a lot to choose from that is why it is important to at least pin these down.
3. If you already have an idea on where the problem is troubleshoot first before trying to do anything. This is the time when you try to go down to the real dilemma. It can be the alternator, starter, battery, muffler, and others.
4. If you have already located the real problem, read the manual and other sources in the Internet first before starting the work. Refresh your knowledge and think if you can actually do the repair on your own. If you are sure that you can do it, get ready with what you need. Do not worry if you do not have all the tools needed because there are several shops out there that rent out such items.
5. As a tip, simple repairs should be left to yourself such as replacement of headlight, tail light, air filter, plugs, wires, brake pads, belts, alternator, radiator and side mirror, change oil, tune-ups, and a lot more. How fairly simple a repair is depends on your knowledge. If there is a major repair to be done and you are not confident on how to fix it, it is more advisable to bring your car to a mechanic. You might end up spending more if you try to work on something you are not sure of.

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Q: What if my car is overheating, what has caused it?

A: To be able to do a car repair on an overheating engine, you’ll need to know what caused it. If you know where it all started, you’ll have an idea on what to repair or replace. At the same time, knowing what has caused it will enable you to prevent it from happening in the future. Here are a few steps to take to address this and repair the car radiator.

1. Check your coolant or antifreeze in your car’s radiator. First you’ll need to cool down your engine before getting a hold of any parts.
2. Open the radiator cap.
3. Look at the inside of your radiator and see if the fluid is at the proper level. Ideally, about 1 ½ to 2 gallons of water and coolant mixture should be visible.
4. If it’s not at the proper level, make sure to add fluid. If you added more than a pint, there’s a possibility of a leak.
5. Check the engine compartment or the ground on obvious fluid leaks.
6. If there is, then you’ll need to have it tested and repaired by a car mechanic for leaks.
7. If there are no leaks and the fluid level is correct, then you should determine when the overheating takes place.

Q: My engine overheats only when it is idle or at a stop, what is causing it?

A: The possible cause of overheating engine at idle or stop is the electric cooling fan motor. The purpose of this fan motor is to cool or improve the airflow during low speeds or while your engine is at a stop. So if this isn’t working, then your engine is most likely to overheat when at a stop or when idle. To know if this is the cause, follow these simple steps.

1. Locate your electric cooling fan motor beside the radiator. It should either be behind or in front of it.
2. Check if it is working. The best way to do this is to first turn on your air conditioner.
3. Now check if the electric cooling fan motor is working. It should turn on when your air conditioning is on.
4. Make sure you are looking at the right cooling fan. It should be the one closest to the middle of your car’s radiator. Don’t mistake it for another fan which is the air conditioner condenser fan. The latter is to boost efficiency of your air conditioning unit.
5. If it’s not working, then it should be replaced. If you don’t have an electric cooling fan, then locate a belt driven fan blade as an alternative. If it’s not working too, then you know what to replace.

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