Fixing your car on your own comes with several advantages. First, you get the satisfaction of doing something on your own. It is a great feeling when you are able to fix something with your own hands, rather than letting someone else do it. Secondly, you could potentially save yourself a lot of money by not having to pay a mechanic. And lastly, you can keep your car running longer by knowing how to fix its problems. With a little bit of time and investment, you can learn how to fix many of your car's problems right from your own garage.
Diagnose the problem
The first thing you need to do is figure out what the problem is. Are you noticing an odd smell? Is your car making a funny noise? Is it not driving correctly? Whatever the symptoms are, head on over to your favorite search engine and begin looking for what the problem may be. Chances are someone has experienced the exact same problem as you, and can guide you the right direction. Begin to narrow down the possibilities, and test different ideas out on your car until you are reasonably sure what the problem is.
Learn how to fix it
Once you know what the problem is, you need to learn how to handle it. There are a ton of tutorials and guides online that can help to walk you through the process. It is a good idea to watch videos of other people making the repairs so that you can judge whether or not this is something you can do yourself. Some repairs are rather simple, while others require a lot of knowledge and special tools. See if your problem can be fixed by you, and if so, you can move onto the next step.
Get the right parts
If something has broken on your car, and you need to get a new part, it is important that you get the right one. Not only will incorrect parts likely not fit, but it will just end up costing you more money. For example, if you have a Yanmar diesel engine that you are working on, you will want to only look for Yanmar parts for diesel engines. This may seem rather obvious, but too often people get the wrong parts in an attempt to save money, and end up causing themselves more problems.
Have the right tools
Once you have the parts, and you know what you need to do, all that is left is having the right tools to do it. Unless you have a well stocked supply of tools, you may need to go out and purchase some new ones. Cars require some specific tools, and if you are going to be working on your car a lot, it is a good idea to invest in them. Here is a quick list of tools all beginner mechanics should start with.
Begin your repair
You have your parts, and you have your tools. Now you just need to follow the tutorials you found to try and fix your car. While fixing it, do not grow disheartened if it is not as easy as it looks in the video you found. Remember to keep at it, and if things are still not going your way, look for another tutorial and see if they can help.
Lastly, whenever you are repairing your car, it is important to take safety precautions. Many car repairs come with injury risks if you are not careful, so pay special heed to any warnings given in the tutorials or guides that you find. Safety goggles and gloves are a good addition to any toolkit, and always make sure your car is properly mounter on jack stands before you slide underneath.
Fixing a car is not always easy, but if you can accomplish it, it is always rewarding. Use the steps above, and before you know it you'll have repaired your car on your own, and no longer need to waste.
