When you think about fixing your car, you immediately consider taking it to a mechanic. Even when certain issues don’t seem major, you will want to let the professional see them. Of course, this is sensible if you want to keep everything in top shape. The truth, however, is that there are a lot of simple fixes that can make your ride smoother and safer. There are even fixes that you can learn in minutes.
With a little more knowledge, you can spend more time actually enjoying the ride. It’s all about the way in which you treat aspects you rely on. Whether you have a car for yourself or you have the perfect family car, it deserves more than just a little attention. If you begin handling the basics yourself, you will save a lot of money while staying connected to the machine that keeps you moving each day. These little repairs do not require special tools or a daunting amount of knowledge, fortunately. They are simple tasks that help to dodge serious problems later on. Let’s talk about them:
Clearing Foggy Headlights With A Little Trick
With foggy headlights, your car will lack visibility and simply look tired. Strangely, a quick fix is to use toothpaste. You can rub toothpaste on them with a microfiber cloth before rinsing. It will polish away the haze very quickly. As you would expect, it’s not a permanent solution, but it can drastically improve clarity in the short term. It is both cheap and surprisingly effective. If you are not willing to spend lots of money on full replacements, this little trick can be used a few times.
Fixing Your Squeaky Belt
If you hear a high-pitched squeal when you start your car, it’s probably the serpentine belt. It could be loose or dry. You can buy a belt dressing spray at any auto store and remove the squeal. Of course, make sure the engine is off when you spray. Then start the car up and let it settle. Again, this isn’t a permanent solution or a full replacement, but it will buy you plenty of time.
Sorting The Car Paint Match
While it can be tempting to look for a full respray, small scratches and chips don’t need it. Matching paint can be tricky, however. Fortunately, you can look at your car’s colour code as it’s usually found on the driver’s door. You can then order a touch-up kit based on the colour. If you want the best car paint match results, apply slowly in thin layers and let each coat dry. When done properly, even deep scratches will blend seamlessly.
Resetting The Check Engine Light
It’s common for the check engine light to be a hiccup. You might have a loose gas cap or a malfunctioning sensor. If you buy a basic OBD2 scanner, you will be able to find the code and reset it yourself. You would simply plug it into your car’s port, read what it says, and clear the alert if it turns out that there are no problems.
