The costs associated with maintaining and repairing a vehicle can add up quickly. Luckily, several vehicle repairs and must-do maintenance actions are easy to perform at home.

You don’t need a ton of automobile knowledge to get the job done, and even better, performing DIY vehicle maintenance can save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars. That’s especially true if you also opt to purchase quality used auto parts from a reputable salvage yard.

Which car repairs and maintenance tasks can you easily take care of on your own? Read to find out!

1. Diagnosing Vehicle Problems

If you want to save some serious money on caring for your ride, consider purchasing a code reader at your local auto parts store. That way, if your vehicle ever throws a code (meaning your check engine light or any other dash light illuminates), you can plug in your code reader and find out what’s going on.

Some auto parts supply stores will also read codes for free, so if you have a shop you trust near you, you can try paying them a visit, too.

2. Battery Replacement

Is your vehicle due for a new battery? On most vehicles, battery replacement is a fairly simple and quick job. And when you buy a quality used battery from a reputable salvage yard, you can save a bundle. But to find out whether your vehicle’s battery is easy to replace, you’ll need to locate the battery first.

On some vehicles, the battery sits in front of the driver’s side tire or in the trunk, which can complicate the removal process considerably. If, however, your automobile’s battery is in an easy-to-reach spot and you have the tools necessary to remove it and install a new one, consider doing this job at home.

3. Oil Change

You won’t need many tools to perform a DIY oil change on your vehicle (a couple of wrenches, a drain pan, a new oil filter, oil, a funnel, and some gloves). If you need to raise your car to access the drain plug, you’ll need a floor jack, too, and probably some safety stands.

While acquiring this equipment does involve an upfront investment, it’ll be a one-time purchase. And since your vehicle’s oil should be changed every 3,000-5,000 miles, you’ll save a ton over the time period you own your ride.

What’s more, you’ll likely save money on the oil itself when you perform do-it-yourself oil changes. An auto repair garage will inevitably mark up the price of the oil to make a profit and you’ll pay labor costs, too.

When you do this job yourself, you can pick up quality synthetic oil at your local auto parts supply store for a fraction of what you’d pay at a mechanic. Just make sure that if you do decide to take this route, you dispose of your old oil properly. 

Find Quality Used Car Parts in St. Paul

Want to try your hand at repairing and maintaining your automobile at home? If so, and you’d like to lighten the load on your wallet even more, check out Ace Auto Parts in St. Paul for all of your vehicle parts needs! For nearly 100 years, we’ve supplied Twin Cities drivers with quality, discount auto parts pulled from virtually all makes and models of vehicles, and we’d love to help you save money, too.

To get your search started, feel free to use our online parts search tool or give us a call today at 651-717-4299 to learn more!