For many of us, our car is a very important part of our lives. It gives us the freedom to travel, the ability to get around, and the convenience of being able to pick up and go whenever we please. You have worked hard to save every spare dollar so you had enough for a down payment. Each month you have to keep paying for the costs of your loan payments and insurance premiums. However, when your car needs automotive care, the extra expenditure can throw your budget off. That’s why these tips for getting inexpensive car parts and automobile repair tools can make a significant difference in your month-end finances.
Mainenance Costs: Automotive Repair Tools for Much Less
If you have a maintenance issue, such as an oil change, brake pad replacement, or burned-out light, why not save money and 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 car repair tools, plus, it can cost $65 or more per hour to have their employees do the work. If you are uneasy about fixing your own vehicle, ask your friends and family if they can help you out or if they have a friend who is in the car-fixing business. Family members are usually happy to help and don’t expect much in return; 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 you can still do them. Take, for example, resurfacing rotors, figuring out what an engine code means, or replacing spark plugs. Local auto accessories 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 go to a local parts store and they will diagnose the problem. But in some states they do not permit this, but the code-reading tool is inexpensive to purchase (approximately $200). The dealer charges about $80-$100 per visit to diagnose a problem code. But you can have this tool in your arsenal of car repair tools for about what it would cost to visit the dealer twice!
How car parts Stores Can Save You Big Money
Rotor resurfacing can be tricky because they have to have enough “meat” on them in order to be resurfaced. A minimum millimeter of metal is required so that they 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 will either resurface them for you or can help you purchase new rotors. Just as simple, you can buy spark plugs at the car care and supply store and the needed gap is displayed right on the package. A gapper tool for your spark plugs costs only $50 or less if you don’t already have one. A jack and some muscle are all you need to easily rotate any of your tires.
You can save major cash by doing the minor repairs on your automobile or truck. You can extend your car’s life and get more out of your hard-earned dollars, while using the additional cash to enjoy more time enjoying life!
Do you worry about keeping the vehicle in working condition? Frank Stewart provides tips and advice based on his experience and discusses topics for your auto care needs, including
auto repair and
auto emission systems.
