By Frank Ling
Going to the auto repair shop for some routine car maintenance can cost you a big chunk of money even for little jobs. This is due to high hourly shop rates. On the average you can expect to pay at least $80 per hour for labor, and most times much more.
But there are a few car maintenance jobs that almost anyone can do without any experience in mechanics. All you need is some careful attention to detail, ordering the right parts, and taking your time in doing the task right.
Shop rates may be expensive but car parts such as air filters can cost you a bundle too. If you order aftermarket products, which can be just as good and sometimes even better than original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts, you can save substantial money.
Engine Air Filter
A dirty car engine filter can affect your car’s performance, how smooth it runs, and can affect your gas mileage. Typically a car engine filter needs replacement every 30,000 miles, but in dustier areas, this interval will be shorter.
Although the difficulty in swapping out an old air filter for a new one can vary, in general, this is one of the easiest DIY maintenance jobs you can do on your car.
You can buy a good inexpensive engine air filter from your local auto parts store. Tell the counterperson the make, model, and year of your car for the proper filter part. You can also buy one on Amazon.com or eBay, once you know which part you need.
Buying online or at your local auto parts store can save you a good deal of money when compared to buying the air filter directly from your auto dealer’s car shop.
Check with your car manual, YouTube, or online on where your car air filter is located. Unsnap the fasteners, take out the old filter, make sure the new filter is positioned correctly when inserting it, lock the fasteners, and you’re done.
As an example, the typical cost for an air filter is around $12-$15. It would take about less than 5 minutes to install. You’ve just saved yourself anywhere from $30 to $70 in parts and labor by not going to the auto repair shop and doing it yourself.
Cabin Air Filter
Ever notice that the air inside your car smells a little bit musty or old? If so this may be due to a dirty cabin air filter. If you don’t know what a cabin air filter is or have never heard of one, don’t worry, most of us haven’t either.
But the cabin air filter’s job is to make sure that the air coming into the car’s interior, heating, and air conditioning units is filtered from dust, pollen, debris, leaves, and other assorted airborne pollution. Car experts say changing it every 15,000 miles is a good rule of thumb.
Most cabin air filters are located behind the glove compartment or under the hood of the car for easy access. Some are located under the dashboard of the car and are more difficult to reach. Check YouTube or online for easy to follow instructions.
Air cabin filters are readily available for sale at car parts stores and online. If you've got about 5 minutes of spare time, you can do this maintenance yourself.
Source:
wikihow.com