When you do not know how to properly care for your car, you could end up spending a lot of time and money on it. You should familiarize yourself with your vehicle, and learn certain tricks that can help you with it. Continue reading so that you can save yourself both time and money.

Always know how much your repairs will cost before handing your car over to a service department. If something is not clear, clarify it with the service adviser or mechanic before starting any repair on the car. This will give you a good idea of what you will be paying.

Ask the tech if they’ve done work on your model and make of car before. If the answer is yes, that’s a very good thing.

You must wash your car to keep the rust away. All cars will rust up eventually, but you may delay it considerably by ensuring all chemicals and salts are washed off quickly. Wax the paint job to protect it.

Every time you’re going to have an automobile repaired, you have to get a record of what is done to it. Future problems can be easily solved when auto technicians have access to past records. If you lack such records, you may end up paying more money for diagnostic work.

Has your mechanic worked on your model of vehicle before? While most vehicles are made in similar ways, a lot of the time things are fairly different under the hood. The safe route is to pay a little more to have a dealer’s specialized techs work on the car.

Have a DIY kit for auto repair in your car at all times. You need basic tools like a tire changing kit, and you also need other equipment. Make sure you have a wrench that can loosen the lug nuts on your tires. You should also have good quality Phillips head and flat head screwdrivers, socket wrenches and a ratchet set, a torque wrench and an adjustable wrench. Avoid purchasing cheap tools. Get high quality tools that will be able to withstand the test of time.

You should not have a lot of heavy items on your keychain. Your car ignition shouldn’t have to hold so much weight. Too much weight on your keychain can cause your key to stick.

Before you settle on a mechanic, inquire about their rates and prices. If you have questions on the service, pose them immediately. This will give you a better idea of what you will be billed. Are the repair times established? A manufacturer may consider a relatively minor repair to be an all day job.

Clean your car regularly, even in the winter. Your car may get dirty again quickly, but all that buildup is terrible for your car. Salt and sand lead to rust and abrasions. Just be sure that you’re drying your car off before you start to drive around so that ice doesn’t form.

Warranties serve an important purpose when your car is repaired, especially when you buy expensive parts. Talk to your repairman about the warranty parts come with. Find out how long the warranty lasts and ask for a printed version of the contract so you can review it.

You are completely capable of changing your oil, checking your fluids and simple maintenance tasks such as these. It’s only a myth that it takes a professional to get a maintenance job done. Realize what you’re getting yourself into, but don’t be afraid to get dirty!

Taking your car to a dealer for repair can be somewhat more expensive, but sometimes that is your best choice. They really specialize in your make of car. They know what’s wrong and can fix it fast. They are in regular training programs.

For you to be able to identify issues with your vehicle, you need to be somewhat familiar with its various components. An auto repair class may be a great first step. Although you probably do not want to spend money on a class, educating yourself on car fundamentals can help you save money in the future because you will be more knowledgeable on how cars operate. This allows you to see potential issues as they arise, instead of allowing them to become much bigger deals than they should be.

When you find a reliable repair shop that does quality repairs, show them you appreciate their work by giving them your return business. Building a relationship with your mechanic is a great way to guarantee that all work will be done well. You could qualify for discounts for being a loyal customer.

If you plan on storing your car for long periods of time, you can prevent unnecessary repairs by jacking up your car with jack stands. In addition, you should fill up the tank. Do not use the parking brake, and store only in a dry location so as to prevent rusting.

Windshield Washer

Do not add water to the car’s windshield washer reservoir. The system needs windshield washer fluid, so water can damage the system. Check that compartment frequently and refill it when you need. Don’t wait for the compartment to empty before refilling.

Spray your car mats with a hose when washing the car. Dirt pieces get really lodged into the mats, and over some time they can do some serious damage to those mats. Holes allow water, salt and dirt to pass through to your carpets.

As discussed above, learning a few things about auto repair can help you fix small problems yourself and save a lot of money. Not only can you prevent having to rely on others whenever car problems arise, you can also save a lot of money and teach others. Keep in mind the advice from this article in order to perform minor repairs on your own.