April is National Car Care Month, and what better way to celebrate than to save a few bucks by performing some simple maintenance tasks on your vehicle? While you may prefer to take your car to your mechanic, if your budget is a bit tight, you should know that there are many maintenance tasks you can do yourself.
Air Filter
Replacing the air filter on your car is a rather simple thing to do and will only take about ten minutes and the cost of an air filter is minimal – usually around $15 – $20. Just pop open your hood, determine the location of the air filter (usually found in a black case with metal clips on the sides), open the case and make sure you make a note of how the filter is situated, remove the old filter and replace with the new one. It’s as simple as that!
Wiper Blades
Changing your wiper blades is another easy task you can complete without much difficulty. It usually takes about ten minutes, and new blades range between $15 – $25. Simply pull the wiper blade and arm away from the windshield, press the small tab or button on the underside of the wiper releasing the blade, then slide the blade off the wiper arm. Line up the new blade, carefully sliding it onto the wiper arm. Make sure the plastic clip on the wiper is facing the open hook on the arm. Pull the wiper blade until it snaps into place. Repeat for the other side.
Battery Terminals
A simple procedure that you can complete yourself is cleaning your vehicle’s battery terminals, ensuring your battery is able to charge properly. This takes about 20 minutes and costs around $5 (the price of the wire brush). Begin by removing the battery cables, starting with the negative cable. Clean both battery posts using a wire brush and a mixture of baking soda and water. Rinse the mixture off, and dry with a rag. Replace the battery cables, starting with the positive cable, and you’re done!
More Maintenance
Once you become comfortable doing these basic tasks, you may be able to save even more money by learning to replace headlamps, change your oil and oil filter, replace your fuel filter, and even your brake pads. Additionally, if your car has a cracked windshield or broken window, you can save money by purchasing used auto glass from Frank’s! We can replace your windshield with used auto glass on our lot or come to you for a mobile replacement.
