Many car owners or truck owners don’t have the single idea that some repairs could be done in their back yard, without having to go to a mechanic. The general idea is that if they break something, it might be better done by the mechanic, so that they could have someone to blame.

However, things are not quite like this. An hour at the mechanic can cost you a lot of money, and most of the times, the repairs are very small – the mechanic will still charge you for an hour, even if the actual repair took just 15 minutes.

Let’s see what you can do and what you can’t do for your car at home – small repairs and other projects for your car.

Changing a Light Bulb

All the cars have a headlight, so when the bulb burns, it’s time to have it replaced. It’s actually a very easy procedure, and if you go to a mechanic, you will be charged with an hour of work, no matter if it takes just 10 minutes. This is why you can do it at home, without worrying too much about the costs. Here’s what you need to do:

First of all, you need to know what kind of bulb works for your car. If you don’t know the type, you can take out the bulb from the headlight and take it to the shop to buy exactly what you need. Having the bulb in your hand will help you get exactly what your car needs, without worrying that you’ll get it wrong.

If you don’t know how to take the bulb out, there are plenty of video tutorials in the online environment that can help you with this, taking you through all the necessary steps – removing the cover and unscrewing the bulb and so on.

It’s a sure way to save more than enough money, especially if you need to save something extra.

Fixing a Tire

A flat tire can be the result of more situations – you could have taken a nail in the tire, or it has a pore somewhere and it becomes flat when the car is not rolling. For situations like this, it’s better to have an air compressor that is adequate for pumping up the tires – it’s cheap, it’s small and it’s very easy to use, especially if you’re a woman. This type of compressor will help you pump up the tire until you get with the car to a mechanic to change the tire or fixing the damage that it has.

For using it, all you have to do is connecting it to the car lighter and plug it in the valve of the wheel (tire) – you will soon see that the tire will start pumping up and you’ll be ready to go in no time. However, make sure you don’t pump too much air – the compressor has a scale for showing how many atmospheres are pumped, so don’t go over what your type of car can sustain.

What You Can’t Do
If your car has problems with the engine, it’s better to take it directly to the mechanic. This is because the engine is big and complex and even if you might suspect that something in particular is not working, the best course of action would be to let a professional take a look at it. Not only they are qualified for this type of work, but they will also offer you a warranty for the job done.

Something else that you need to remember is that if you have problems with the break system, it’s also good to take the car or the truck to the mechanic. This can be a DIY project only if you are a mechanic, otherwise it’s not something to play around with.