Replace Tail and Headlight Bulbs
Many an unlucky person has been given a fine for a burned-out bulb. Avoid this by consulting your car manual and finding out how to do a bulb change yourself. Most bulbs cost under $10 and take 5-10 minutes to swap out using basic tools or none at all.
Change Your Own Oil
A standard oil change at a shop can cost as much as $100, but doing it yourself costs a mere $20. All you need is a wrench, a drain pan, a funnel, and the right oil and filter. Doing it regularly keeps your engine running smoothly and extends its life, giving you more time with your precious car.
Replace Your Own Air Filters
Filters cost around $10-$20 and usually take just minutes to change. First, locate the engine air filter box – this is usually a black plastic case near the engine - and unclip or unscrew the cover. Then remove the old filter, and insert the new one with the same orientation.
Rotate Your Tires
Don’t pay to have your tires rotated, a shop might charge $25–$50 for the job. You can do it yourself with nothing more than a jack and a torque wrench. Just follow the tire rotation pattern in your owner’s manual (yep, you need to have kept that) and make sure all lug nuts are torqued to the right specification.
Check and Top off Fluids
Monitoring and topping off fluids - like coolant, brake fluid, windshield washer fluid, and transmission fluid - can help prevent expensive repairs down the road. (Get it? Down the road?) A fluid check takes just a few minutes, and most fluids cost under $10.
Replace Windshield Wipers
People tend not to think about their windscreen wipers very much, but worn-out windscreen wipers are actually a safety hazard. Mechanics often charge $30 or more for a replacement, but you can buy a pair for $15-$25 and install them in under five minutes with no tools.
Fix Minor Paint Scratches
Planning to sell your car? Make sure you’ve touched up all the paint first. All you have to do is use a touch-up paint pen or kit matched to your car’s exact color. Clean the area, apply the paint, let it dry, and finish it all with a polish if needed.
Clean Headlights
This one’s really easy. Instead of replacing old headlights, use a headlight restoration kit or a DIY mix of baking soda and toothpaste to polish the lenses. Remember, foggy headlights make your car look older, and, worse, reduce nighttime visibility.
Replace Spark Plugs
Worn spark plugs make your car work worse than it should, but getting them replaced will put you back at least $100. Solution? Do it yourself. You’ll need a ratchet and spark plug socket, and the job costs about $20–$50 in parts.
Change Brake Pads
Replacing brake pads is easier than many people think. All you need is a jack, a lug wrench, a C-clamp, and new pads, which won’t cost very much. Remove the wheel and caliper, slide out the old pads, compress the piston, insert the new pads, and reassemble everything.
Reflate Tires
Tires are another thing that can cause serious trouble if not checked thoroughly, because deflated tires can be dangerous. So to do this yourself, buy a $10-$20 tire pressure gauge and check pressures monthly. You can add more air at a gas station or with a home compressor.
Flush Radiator Coolant
A shop might charge up to $100 for this, which is why it’s all the more important for you to learn how to do it yourself. Simply drain the old coolant, flush with water, refill with a 50/50 coolant mix, and properly bleed the system.
Clean Battery Terminals
Corroded battery terminals can cause electrical issues in your car, and you don’t want that. Simply use the cleaning supplies you already have to hand: disconnect the battery, scrub the terminals with a wire brush and baking soda solution, rinse, dry thoroughly, and reconnect.
Replace Serpentine Belt
Ask a mechanic about this one and they’ll probably quote at least $100. Yet you can do it yourself, as long as you consult the manual beforehand. All you have to do is remove the old belt, and route the new one in. YouTube videos might also help you get the process right.
Lubricate Door Hinges
This is a little thing, but you don’t want squeaky doors on your car, do you? Use white lithium grease on hinges, and congratulate yourself on saving money: that job would cost around $15 dollars if you went to the mechanic.
