Car trouble is the bane of many a motorist’s existence. In some cases, it’s easier just to buy a new car rather than attempt to find someone with the skills necessary to repair your worn out clunker.
If you’re in one of those unfortunate situations, or just looking for new tips on how to troubleshoot automotive issues without breaking your wallet, here are five quick fixes that you can use right now.
Yes, buying a new car is an expensive solution to a non-existent problem, but in most cases, it’s the best choice you can make. If you have the cash, buy a new state-of-the-art model with all the bells and whistles to make your life easier.
It’s probably going to be more expensive than fixing your car, but you’ll be able to avoid spending money on unnecessary parts and labor when you’re already knee deep in repairs.
Tip #1: Clean your Alternator
One of the easiest and cheapest electrical fixes you can make is to clear out the buildup from your alternator. Dirt, grime, and road-filth (to name a few) can build up on the alternator, making it work harder and harder to keep up with your engine. The fix? Remove the belt (or top of your alternator) and get an old toothbrush to scrub off all of the buildup.
Tip #2: Tuneup your Car Battery
As the cliché goes, “You’re only as strong as your battery,” and if you’re having trouble getting your car started, it’s time to get a battery charger and have a technician check over your car’s electrical components.
Most modern vehicles are capable of electric start, so if you’re having trouble with that feature, make sure you test the system to ensure it’s working properly. Once that’s done, bring the car out on the road and see if it starts up.
- Garage Door Openers
At least you won’t be spending your entire paycheck on a new car. If you’re lucky enough to have a garage with an automatic door, then a good-sized hammer and screwdriver is all you need to fix those pesky garage door openers.
Fixing this may take longer than some of the other fixes, but if there’s a broken one in your house, or school yard (giggle), it will be well worth the effort.
- Tire Pressure
Changing a tire is an important task for any vehicle owner. Unfortunately, the first thing most drivers try is to inflate their tires more than necessary. While it’s true that having too much air in your tires can cause a car to ride jaggedly, it’ll make getting the tire off of the rim more difficult.
What you want to do is make sure that you’re inflating your tires evenly so they don’t break when removing them from the car. Check the pressure in each tire and make sure to keep the pressure consistent for all four tires.
- Coolant Level
It may be tempting to just add coolant when you notice that your car is starting to break down. However, this can cause major problems with your engine as coolant additives can clog up the cooling system.
You’re better off leaving coolant at a standard level, and only adding it if you detect any signs of a cooling system leak.
- Brake Line
If your car is making hard braking, going into a skid or just begins to feel like it’s not responding to your commands as quickly, then one of the obvious culprits is your brake line. Brake fluid can leak out unbeknownst to you.
This can result in a lack of brake fluid or worse yet, fluid overflowing the brake line and pooling on the ground. With a new part not so hard to find, it’s easy to fix.
- Belts
If you have a problem with your belts, the first thing you should do is check any safety belts you have in the car. This is especially true if you’re driving down the highway and suddenly feel like your gas pedal just went to the floorboard as you hear them screech across the metal casing of your car’s engine.
Checking these belts is an easy task, but not something many people do.