We all know how important preventative maintenance is in keeping your car in tip-top shape over its life. Unfortunately, the cost of these mechanic visits can really add up. Read on for more advice on how to save money by doing two of these simple tasks yourself.
Checking Your Tire Pressure
Driving your car with low tire pressure can significantly reduce your fuel economy, and increase your risk of a tire blow-out. Checking your tire pressure isn’t difficult, yet it’s amazing how many people neglect this simple auto maintenance step. To get started, all you need is a simple tire pressure gauge. You can get a simple metal version at any gas station, hardware store or auto shop for a few dollars, or you can pay a little bit more for a digital device that displays your tire pressure down to a tenth of a pound.
Drive to a gas station with an air machine so that you can fill any tires that are low. It’s best to make this your first stop of the day, as driving on tires causes them to warm up. As the air in the tire warms, it expands, making it harder to get an accurate pressure reading. With the car off, get out and locate the valve stem on one of your tires. Remove the cap and press your tire gauge firmly against the stem. Compare the number your gauge reads with the tire’s recommended psi (found on the tire or in your car’s manual), and add or remove air as necessary. Repeat at least once a week – preferably every time you fill your car up with gas.
Replacing a Burned Out Headlight
If you notice a headlight or taillight on your car, head to your local auto parts store instead of a body shop, where the markup on replacement lights is huge! Most auto parts shops will have a paper or electronic guide to help you determine which replacement bulb will fit your car, or you can ask a salesperson for help choosing. It’s important to be sure you’re buying the correct bulb – at best, a wrong size bulb won’t fit, and at worst, it will blow out elements of your electrical system.
Once you have your bulbs, head home and pull out your owner’s manual. In most cases, you won’t need any special tools to change the bulbs, although a pair of pliers may come in handy if you’ve never changed the bulbs before. If it’s a front headlight you’re replacing, you’ll need to open the lid and locate the lamp case mountings located inside the front bumper. There should be several large screws – unscrew them, and you’ll be able to either pull out the light bulb mounting or the lamp case itself. For rear lights, you may need to remove the trunk lining, but the set up is mostly the same as in the front.
Of course, if something is jammed or stuck, don’t force the bulb. If you snap the bulb, you could injure yourself or jam part of the bulb further into the light bulb mounting. In this case, seek professional help from your local mechanic – creating a larger problem could wind up costing your more than the money you’d save doing it yourself!
