DIY Auto Repair.

Save Money with Easy DIY Auto Fixes and Updates

Some years back while sitting on the couch getting familiar with DIY programs like "This Old House" I thought back and (maybe like you) wondered why?? Why after 14 years of School in several states and some college, am I sitting here completely unprepared for life? How is it possible that I could benefit more from 14 minutes of browsing the web than a decade in school? I remember years of lectures and books thicker than my front door covering history, science, even economics in high school. Yet, I never once heard it mentioned what I needed to know about credit history and credit reports, taking out a loan, purchasing and refinancing a home, or buying, selling and maintaining a vehicle. It's like the secrets a parent keeps from a child, failing them when the day comes and they need to know. I can't change the mistakes of our society’s upbringing, but as a DIY enthusiast who doesn’t intend to make the same mistakes in the life of my children, money and credit management, home life, and the basics of automobiles are all on my family’s curriculum.

DIY Spark Plug Replacement

As luck would have it, I purchased my first full size truck two months before gas doubled. I went from no payment and $20 a week for fuel to $450 a month truck payment and $60 a week for fuel. I took immediate action to see what, if any increase in mileage I could get. I went to advanceautoparts.com and researched spark plugs, air filters and exhaust options. Ultimately, I bought Pulstar Platinum spark plugs; a Spectra performance air filter and something called a cyclone, and then replaced them in stages to see if I could notice an increase. Starting with the cyclone that fitted into the intake, there was no noticeable increase in MPG or power as advertised. Next, I changed the air filter. Very easy to change on a truck and I increased about 1 MPG in two days (not bad). Finally, I changed the plugs with EF1P Pulstar Platinum plugs, which on a dodge hemi was time consuming and inconvenient The alternative was paying $300 for a simple process of removing a cap, plug, applying dialect grease, anti-seize lubricant and replacing (repeat16 times) being careful to not damage the special plugs and reconnecting the battery and filter. I cover this in detail in my article How to Improve Fuel Economy. I did save a lot of money shopping for auto parts online. Advance Auto Parts online is a great resource, offering great promotional codes and FREE SHIPPING. In addition, if I have questions the local Advance Auto Parts have a knowledgeable staff to help and process returns without having to mail items off. Many spark plugs are now offering up to 18% increases in fuel economy.

DIY - Change Your Filter Permanently

Performance air filters are the easiest way to increase mileage and power while saving you money on replacement filters for the life of your car (green sense). K&N and Spectra filters both offer a great product. I believe Spectra filters are made with the same quality materials as that of K&N at about half the cost. Unfortunately, Spectra doesn't fit as many models as K&N filters, so you do end up spending a little more, but they look nice, last for a long time and it's easy to change and clean permanent filters. Dish soap and water work just fine to clean it, but wash it opposite of air flow and use the right filter oil. Also, do NOT use a pressure washer, because it will damage the filter. Unless you drive in dirty conditions or numerous miles, once a year cleaning is sufficient on these filters.

DIY Wiper Change is Easy

Wiper blades wear out and deteriorate often. When you need them, they play an important role in safety. Pulling off the road shouldn’t be your answer. Most blades today can be changed in less than 5 minutes, but good blades don’t have to cost a fortune. I like at least a double blade wiper and suggest silicone over rubber, because they do last much longer especially if you keep you car outside all year. I have found good wiper blades for cheap on Amazon and eBay. My favorite thing on Amazon is there ratings and customer feed back. I always give feedback on the products I buy for the next person. Plus Amazon auto makes it easy to find the fit and wiper blade size you need. PIAA and Silblade are two silicone wipers that last a long time and provide good results in rain. They are usually eligible for FREE SHIPPING with a $25 purchase. Sometimes buying in quantity with combined shipping at a different store works out for less. I keep a stock area for most of my purchases online, because I will usually buy at least two sets when I find a great deal. Check out the wiper blades below and get the results you want when you need them.

DIY Head Light and Tail Light Changes

Don't be pulled over because you didn't take five minutes to figure out how that light cover comes off and what size bulb you need. This DIY auto fix is simple for any skill level and takes relatively no time. If I buy lights at Advance Auto Parts, I put them in before I leave the parking lot. I also wanted brighter headlights for night time driving, so I tried Sylvania SilverStar Ultra High Performance Halogen Headlights which produced a brighter and wider lighting at night. It wasn't as significant as I would have liked, so I wouldn't suggest buying less than the Ultra if you want a difference you can see. These bulbs do burn out faster, but they still last over a year in most cases. When changing these lights apply a little bulb grease (they usually give it to you now) and check the back of the light housing to make sure the old seal from the previous bulb isn't left stuck behind. I fooled around with a light for over 30 minutes wondering why one went in with ease and the other didn't seem to fit. The old seal from a Sylvania bulb was bonded to the back of the lamp and I could barely feel it or see it. Amazon and Advance auto let you check if the part fits before you buy with their parts finder and don’t forget FREE SHIPPING on many items.

Amazon.com Widgets

Size Matters and Will Cost You Money

Changing spark plugs won't even save you 5% of the increase there’s been in fuel. Maybe it's time to reassess the needs of your family and its fuel consumption. Combining errands and adjusting schedules to make fewer trips and to be more time efficient for travel may not be enough to save gas. I decided I needed a Dodge Hemi and my wife had a Chevrolet venture van with us both traveling over 20 miles a day to work. Even when making good money, it’s hard to ignore a credit card bill that’s over a $1000 a month with half for fuel. Perhaps a blessing in disguise, our Chevrolet venture broke down for the last time and we found a good deal on a brand new Mazda CX-7 with hail damage from Twin City Mazda on the airport motor mile. With a $350 payment and a slight increase in insurance, I feel confident that we are roughly spending about the same amount we did before the purchase, by both driving the car and parking the truck. We get 26 MPG in the Mazda,considerably better than the van and similar room. Additionally, I purchased a Kandi reverse trike from SuperSportz.com (best prices and service online) to get 60+MPG . I need the truck, but realize driving it to work is completely unpractical. They can keep their $4 gas!