For most of us, our vehicle is one of our most-prized possessions. Cars give us a chance to be free to go anywhere, as far as we feel like going, and at whatever time we want. You must have worked hard to save enough money to put a good-sized down payment on your vehicle when you bought it. Each month you have to keep making your car loan payment and afford insurance coverage. However, when your car needs auto care, the costs can really hurt your wallet. This is the reason why these tips for getting inexpensive car engine parts and auto repair tools can make an important difference in your financial bottom line.
Mainenance Costs: Car Repair Tools for Much Less
If you have a standard maintenance repair; maybe a light to replace or a brake pad or oil change, why not try to do it yourself? There are many books and videos that show you how to get these simple tasks done quickly. The advantage to getting it done yourself is that you only have to pay for the parts; no labor costs are involved. At the repair facility, you’re paying more for everything because they have specialized automotive repair tools, plus, you’ll pay around $60 to $70 an hour for someone else to do the work for you. If you don’t think you can do the maintenance yourself, ask your family or friends if they can help you out or if they know someone who can help at a low rate. Many friends and family are glad to help out and can be paid for their time with a six-pack or a pizza lunch; college shops cost at least half of what the repair shops cost.
The Benefits of Local Car Care
Other maintenance issues can require additional training or tools, but still can be done by you. Take, for example, resurfacing rotors, figuring out what an engine code means, or replacing spark plugs. Local discount auto parts stores oftentimes provide certain specialized help with issues like this for much less than the dealers. Diagnosing engine codes can be especially frustrating. In some states, you can drive to your parts supplier and they can run the diagnostic test for you to determine the problem. But in some states they do not permit this, but the diagnostic tool is only a nominal cost at around $200. The dealer charges about $80-$100 per visit to diagnose a problem code. But you can have this tool in your arsenal of automotive repair tools for about what it would cost to visit the dealer twice!
Car Parts For Less: You Don’t Have to Visit the Dealer
Rotor resurfacing can be especially challenging because they have to be of a certain thickness before they can be resurfaced. A specific range of rotor metal in millimeters must be met to remain at a safe depth. The good news is that many shops will measure them for you and tell you right there if they can be resurfaced. Additionally, they have the machine right there to get the job done. In an equally easy manner, spark plugs are available for purchase at the automotive care and supply store and the minimum gap is stated clearly on the package. If you don’t already own a gapping tool, one can be bought for only a few dollars. You can also rotate your own tires by using a standard jack.
It is possible for you to save tons of money by doing your own maintenance on your vehicle. You can extend your car’s life and get more out of your hard-earned dollars, while using the extra cash to spend more time on the road!