6 Car Repairs You Should Never Try to DIY
In an era where you can find do-it-yourself (DIY) videos for almost any skill online, it can be tempting to try to fix your own car problems in order to save money. But should you?
Be Aware: 6 Hybrid Vehicles To Stay Away From Buying
For You: 3 Things You Must Do When Your Savings Reach $50,000
There are certainly fixes you can do with little training, but you want to be careful when undertaking something beyond your skill set, even with the help of videos. These could lead to damage and potentially costly repairs you have to take to a professional after you botch them.
Here, auto experts explain what car repairs you should never attempt to do yourself — along and a few that are OK to give it a shot.
Trending Now: Boomers Hold Half of U.S. Wealth–So Why Are Thousands Living Without Homes?
Changing your own brakes might seem easy enough, but according to Lauren Fix, founder of Car Coach Reports and author of “Lauren Fix’s Guide to Loving Your Car,” brake work should always be performed by a professional.
“With anti-lock brakes and other safety features, you don’t want to take risks on safety and stopping,” she said.
Explore More: The 20 Cars Seeing the Biggest Price Drops in 2024
It’s tempting to try and diagnose a problem when a “check engine” light comes on in your car. However, don’t go digging around in your car engine for a problem by yourself.
“Bring it to a local repair shop that you can trust or have used before,” Fix advised. “This light can cost you up to 40% of your fuel economy too.”
Major engine, transmission, bearings and bushing issues are typically essentially to the running of your car. “These repairs should be left to those who have the proper training. They are not beginner jobs,” Fix said.
Additionally, when you do go to a professional, Fix recommended you always seek an Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) Certified Technician to do the work. “The blue patch is on the sleeve of the tech or on a sign in front of the shop. A Master ASE Technician is the best choice.”
As the owner of Vista Glass, Rich Main has seen many DIY windshield repair attempts end in disaster. “One customer used superglue to fix a crack, which then spread across the entire windshield a week later. We had to replace the whole thing, costing them an extra $500,” he said.
Another tried to plug a chip with nail polish, which failed within days due to foul weather. “By the time they called us, the damage had tripled in size. A simple $50 repair became $200 to fix the spreading cracks.”
link
