Are you dealing with a car repair problem right now? If you reading this, there is a good chance you are. Thankfully, this article’s purpose is to help you do this. Most people were not born knowing how to fix cars, and this is why it is important that they follow certain steps. Read this article for some great auto repair advice you can use.

Battery Charger

Always have a good battery charger in your car. Dead batteries are common, and a good battery charger will come in handy more than once. Know where the cables should be connected and how. It is sometimes different for different cars.

Wash your car often so you can prevent rust. Rust will happen, but you can slow things down by keeping the car clean. Waxing your car helps protect the paint.

Record each repair that you have done on your car. If you have more problems later, other mechanics can decipher why. If you don’t have a record of past work, it may cost you money and make it hard for the technician to diagnose the problem.

Prior to paying for any repairs you’ve had done, you should go on a drive to figure out if it was really fixed. Most people do not do this and end up with the same issues that previously existed.

If you think your headlines are not as bright as usual, inspect them for cleanliness. Different substances from the road will accumulate on the glass of the headlights. This will block a portion of the light. Use glass cleaner to wash any dirt away from them.

Get together a kit for car repairs that you can keep in your vehicle. These tools should include a tire changing kit, which comes in most cars. Make sure you have a wrench that can loosen the lug nuts on your tires. A few good screwdrivers, wrenches and a socket wrench can also come in handy for any unexpected road-side issues. Do not waste money by getting cheap tools. If you buy high quality tools, they will not break when you really need them.

Windshield Wipers

Don’t forget about your windshield wipers. If your windshield wipers are no longer keeping the rain off your windshield, or if they make noise or leave streaks, it is time to replace them. If you live somewhere that gets rain often, think about replacing your wiper blades yearly.

There are many some unscrupulous auto body shops out there that will remove your tires and replace them with older ones. They profit from your oblivion. Marking your tires with chalk before taking the tires to be rotated is a good idea. If the marks are gone when you get your vehicle back, you have probably been swindled.

There are no auto parts that will last the entirety of your life, and you shouldn’t buy any products that claim to do so. This is usually a ploy to get more money from you. For example, some cars come with “lifetime” transmission fluid. It is true that this fluid does not need as much maintenance as other fluids in your vehicle, but you will still have to replace it after 80,000 miles.

Sometimes when you take your car in for repairs, you are told of other problems when you come to get it. People do this a lot of the time to make people think that they’re getting a good deal. Let them know you will be in touch, and look around for a better deal.

Always bleed your brakes if you have been working on them. Then pump out the brake fluid. You are trying to find leaks in your device to make sure there are no problems. You should then be ready to take your car for a spin down less-busy roads. Start slowly to make sure that the repair is done well before you start to drive faster.

Original Equipment Manufacturer is the meaning of OEM. Remember this when you have car parts replaced. When you tell your mechanic that OEM parts are what you want, you sound like you have some knowledge. It is not as likely that a technician will attempt to put used parts upon your automobile.

If you’re concerned about your mechanic, look at AAA. This can be a big help if you need to get a tow or work with an auto repair shop. The discounts they provide will end up saving you money over time.

Although mechanics from your dealer are usually expensive, there are times when using them is absolutely necessary. The mechanics at the dealership are experts in the type of vehicle you have. They can diagnose problems quickly and are well trained for issues common to your car’s make. These mechanics regularly receive additional training.

Keep a plastic accordion file in your car and put all your auto repair receipts in it. Either divide these files by the type of repair that is done, or chronologically arrange them so that you have the most recent receipt on the top of the file. The point is you have a good record of all things done to your car, and this can prove extremely helpful. This is particularly valuable when it is time to sell your car.

With any luck, this article should have helped you so that you can deal with future car issues. While you may not know the most about cars, you should know enough. But, you should also know how to pick a good mechanic. These skills will save you a lot of money over a lifetime.