Do It Yourself Auto Repair Tips: Once-A-Month Maintenance to Keep Your Car Running For Years

November 15, 2009 | By admin In Car Repairs | Comments(0)

Auto Repair Tips: Common Do-It-Yourself Auto Repair Advice

NoCarCredit.com Editor Note: One of the best things you can do to avoid auto loan debt is to maintain the car you have. Following are some simple auto repair tips you can do yourself to keep your car running for years — and stay out of car loan debt!
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Preventative maintenance isn’t a “cool” topic, but in today’s economic climate it’s more important than ever to keep your car in top running shape so that it will last as long as possible — without costly repairs. By performing a few minutes of maintenance once a month, you can help ensure that your car will be running for a long, long time.

Auto Repair Help for the “Do It Yourselfer”: Learn where things are located under your car’s hood in the video below so you can become a real do-it-yourself auto repair expert in no time.

 

Auto Repair Tip: Arm yourself with this information so you’ll never get ripped off by auto repairmen again.

With just a little practice, the following tasks can be done in less than 15 minutes. It might take a little longer the first few times you run through the steps, but a few minutes now prevents lengthy waits in repair shops, so it’s worth it. Just follow this list:

  • Check the air filter - If you can’t see any light through the sides, drop it lightly on a hard surface and look again. If you still can’t see light, it’s time for a new filter. Regardless, your air filter should be replaced once a year or each 20,000 miles.
  • Check the belts - If any of the belts has more than 1/2″ of give when you push it, you might be able to adjust it if the belt is in good shape. If any belt is cracked, frayed, or shiny on the inside it should be replaced regardless.
  • Check the battery - If the battery has caps or bars on top, carefully pry them off and check the water level. If low, fill to the top of the metal plates with distilled water. If there are powdery deposits on either of the terminals, they’ll also need cleaning. You can clean the worst of these deposits with a small amount of Coca-cola followed by a small amount of clean water for a rinse. Dry the terminals completely then coat with a small amount of petroleum jelly to keep the corrosion from coming back.
  • Check the radiator - Most modern cars have a coolant overflow tank, so there’s usually no reason to open the radiator. Check to make sure the fluid is at the “full” line. If not, add a 50/50 mixture of coolant and water. Most modern engine blocks are aluminum and require the protection of coolant, so only add straight water in an emergency. Straight coolant is overkill. Never open a pressure cap while the engine is hot!
  • Check the hoses - walk around the front of the engine compartment and feel/look at each hose. Any that are cracked, bulging, or excessively soft should be replaced. It’s cheap and easy to replace a hose before it bursts. If you lose on on the highway the tow charge alone could be 6x the cost or more.
  • Check the oil dipstick - pull out the dipstick and wipe it with a clean lint-free rag (or paper towel). Put the dipstick back in the engine and check it again. The oil level should be between the “add” and “full” lines. If the oil is dirty or smells like gasoline, it’s time to change it.
  • Check the transmission fluid - the transmission dipstick is nearly the same as the oil dipstick, but it’s usually a little harder to spot. It’s checked in the same manner, but if you have to add transmission fluid, it’s added via the dipstick tube. After you check the level, rub a little of the oil between your fingers. It should be pinkish and clean. If not, you’ll need to have your mechanic replace the transmission fluid. This job is far less costly than a new transmission.
  • Check brake fluid - If your car has ABS, refer to the owner’s manual before checking this fluid level. Otherwise, open the top of the brake fluid reservoir and check that the level is between the low and high level marks. Be careful to not get brake fluid on anything painted- it eats paint. Also, brake fluid can be ruined if it’s left exposed to air in as little as 15 minutes, so be sure to keep the bottle closed tightly. If the brake fluid looks dirty, have your mechanic replace it. On average, brake fluid should be replaced every 2 years.
  • Check the power steering fluid - again, make sure the fluid level is up to the fill mark.
  • Check the wiring - if any wires look frayed or if there is lots of corrosion on them, they’ll need to be replaced by your mechanic. Again, this job is far less expensive if you replace them before they fail.
  • Check the washer fluid - while not as critical as the other fluids, it’s worth taking the time to check and fill your washer fluid while under the hood. If you’re in a cold area, it’s important to use a solution that contains antifreeze.
  • Check wiper blades - Obviously you’ll know when your blades are getting old when they start skipping or streaking during a rain storm. Replace them as soon as you notice a problem.
  • Check tires - Check the air pressure in your tires. Properly inflated tires will help improve your gas mileage and will help with even tire wear. If your tires are worn, get them replaced for both safety and to prevent a costly road call.

 Fifteen minutes of effort once per month can prevent hours of towing and repair shop waiting, as well as the costs associated with them. These maintenance items can also help your car las as long as possible.

P.S.: If you’re passionate about getting — and staying — out of car debt, follow us on Twitter.

P.P.S.: From NoCarCredit.com Editor — Have an inspiring story about getting out of car debt like this one? Send it in and share it with our readers (NoCarCredit {at} live dot com).

About the Author: Doug has been writing articles for nearly 4 years. Come visit his latest website over at http://daletiffanylamp.org/ which helps people find just the Dale Tiffany Table Lamp they are looking for.

Filed under: Car Repairs

Auto Payments: Why Never Having One Can Make You a Millionaire

May 6, 2009 | By admin In Auto News, Car Insurance, Car Loans, Car Repairs | Comments(1)

No Car Credit Means No Car Payments – Ever! Imagine what this would be like for you.

Need a car? Pay for it in cash and never have to worry about monthly payments!

American consumers are drowning in debt. And, one of the biggest budget busters many hardworking citizens face is the monthly car payment. It’s usually the biggest bill after housing (mortgage/rent).

Did you know? The average American car payment is $400/month. And the average length car payment loan is for five years!–Source: National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA.com)

The average monthly car payment in America is $400. And if you have a car loan, by law, you must have full coverage. Full coverage for car insurance can add another $100-$200 per month to the average car owner’s monthly payment.

Turn $400 a Month into $2.2 Million

Now imagine not having a car payment and investing that money $400-$600 per month for 25, 30 or 40 years. You could be well on your way to being rich. How? Consider this: on average, the stock market has returned 10-12% for the last 50 years. Keeping this in mind, let’s crunch some numbers.

To keep things simple, let’s say you invested $400/month (the average American car payment). And, let’s say you earned 10% interest, compounded annually. If this was the only money you ever saved, your investment would grow to $497,264 in 25 years. In 30 years, your account would grow to $831,717. In 40 years, $2,237,843.

In 40 years, your actual deposits would only be $192,000. The rest is interest earned. This is the power of compounding interest; ie, saving nominal amounts of money and letting it grow.

No Car Payment Means You Can Retire EARLY and Be a Millionaire!

What does this mean? If you’re 20 years old and forever shunned getting strapped with a monthly car payment, you could retire at 60 (5-7 years before the standard retirement age) – AND be a millionaire a couple of times over – IF you invested what would have been car payment money.

Work Menial Jobs and Still Retire a Millionaire

Even if you work menial jobs and never make truckloads of money, if you avoid car payments (and other consumer debt) and invest that money, you will never have financial worries.

Social Security isn’t there when it’s time for you to retire? No problem. Employer doesn’t have a 401K plan? No problem, you’ve got it covered.

You’ve socked away over $2.2 million dollars to see you through.

And, because you will have been smart enough to avoid debt traps like car payments, you will probably make other wise money decisions as well, like:

i) buying an home and paying it off early (eg, 15 or 20 years instead of the standard 30);

ii) avoiding credit cards debt (did you know that average American family – with at least one credit card — carries $8,000 to $10,000 in credit-card debt. Source: CardWeb.com);

iii) paying off student loans as soon as possible after graduation and/or not getting them in the first place.

Consider this: In each year between 2000 – 01 and 2006 – 07, an estimated 60% of bachelor’s degree recipients borrowed to fund their education. Average debt per borrower rose 18%, from $19,300 to $22,700 in 2007 dollars over this time period. Average debt per bachelor’s degree recipient increased from $10,600 to $12,400. Source: AMSA.com (American Student Assistance)

While an Ivy League education is great, statistics show that over time, it’s the fact that you actually have a four-year degree and your experience that counts more than the “pedigree of your degree.” Local colleges and universities are cheaper and in many cases, just as good as Ivy League schools.

Invest Potential Auto Payment Money to Grow Wealth

Note: Rate of return depends on type/length of investment. From the beginning of 1970 to the end 2003, the average compounded rate of return for Standard & Poor’s (the S&P 500), including reinvestment of dividends, was roughly 11.7% per year. During same time frame, the highest 12-month rate of return was 64%; the lowest was -39%.

When you consider that most savings accounts pay anywhere from 1-3%, investing your money in the stock market (mutual funds and the like as opposed to single stocks) is one of the best ways to grow wealth.

Imagine Never Having to Worry About Bills – Living the Debt Free Life!

When you have no car credit (eg, no car payments) you’re literally investing in your future. Imagine never having to worry about money; never being saddled with debt; being able to choose work you love and retire in peace, comfort and wealth.

When you have no car credit, you’re doing more than saving money; you’re investing in your peace of mind. You’re investing in a stress-free life. You’re investing in long-term financial security.

At NoCarCredit.com, our mission is simply to keep you out of the trap of auto loan debt (and other consumer debt). We do this by constantly reminding you of what your life will be like if you choose to pay for your cars as you go.

When you forego auto payments, your money can be saved to make you rich, not someone else.

Remember this the next time you’re thinking of buying vs leasing and/or taking out a long-term car loan. No car credit is ideal. However, if you have to take out an auto loan, it should be paid back as quickly as you can (eg, within a year); even if this means sacrificing the type of car you want.

Copyright 2009: NoCarCredit.com. This content may not be reproduced or redistributed without the express written consent of the author. Violators will be prosecuted.

Filed under: Auto News, Car Insurance, Car Loans, Car Repairs