By Miah Ayaan
When something goes wrong with your car, you may feel a sense of dread, as it can mean an expensive repair bill. That’s why you may be tempted to carry out your own car repairs, and this can also save you the inconvenient of having to go to a garage. However, it can be difficult to judge whether a job is doable as a DIY project or whether it needs a professional touch. Here are some things to consider before you get your tools ready.
Is a DIY job really cheaper?
While it may seem obvious that a DIY job is cheaper than a trained mechanic, this isn’t always the case.
- You still have to buy parts
- You can spend many hours doing something that a mechanic would do in minutes – and your time is valuable
- You could break something and need an even more expensive repair
- A small issue may actually be much more serious than it looks
If you’re confident that you know what’s wrong and what’s involved in fixing it, then DIY work can be cheaper, but you should be cautious.
Is it a like for like replacement?
Some of the easiest jobs to carry out on your car simply involve swapping an old part for a new one. Getting the right part is key, so visit Perth’s leading 4WD shop or a specialist retailer to ensure you get this right. Some jobs you may be able to do include:
- Replacing window wipers
- Replacing spark plugs
- Fitting clean filters
- Topping up fluids
If you don’t have any mechanical skills, take a look at some YouTube tutorials, which will take you through the process step by step.
Will you need new tools?
Mechanics already have the tools needed for the job at their disposal, but if you choose to do a DIY job, you may need to buy a few items from a wrench to a socket set. Of course, you may already have these tools lurking in your garage, in which case, you can save yourself some cash, and they are useful for a number of household tasks.
Is it safe to do the job?
There are certain jobs it’s simply not safe to try yourself. For example, messing with your clutch or brakes could cause more damage and leave your car unsafe. Your air conditioning and air bags both contain chemicals that are dangerous, so should be left to the experts. Anything to do with electrics is also risky, as one misplaced wire could blow up the entire system or even cause a fire.
Your car’s gears and battery are also complex systems, so if you have issues with them, it’s worth going to a specialist, which may not cost as much as you think.
When you want to save some cash, doing some of your own work on your car is certainly an option. However, it’s important to approach the job with caution, making sure you can complete the work without causing further damage or causing yourself a massive headache.
