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It can be very expensive to get your car fixed. This requires purchasing car parts and paying an auto shop for repairs. Wouldn't it be nice to do the car repairs yourself and save your hard-earned money. Well now you can, thanks to the tips in the following article.

You don't always need a repair-person for your car troubles. Many things are able to be fixed easily. If you are game, then check online to research the problem. If it is not a very difficult job, you can save some money by doing the repairs yourself.

Always keep and eye on the radiator to make sure that it is full. Run your car for a bit, turn off the engine and then open the hood. Never open the radiator while the car is on. Use a dipstick to check the fluid levels, and always add the correct amount of water to your coolant before adding it to your tank.

Whenever your car undergoes repairs, make sure you have the written record of what was done. If you have problems with your vehicle later on, you will find it helpful to have some records for the next technician to look at. If you don't have these records, you could pay lots more money and it can be harder to figure out where the issues is.

Look for online body shop reviews for any business you're thinking of patronizing. This can tell you about the public views of their skills in customer service and how well they can solve a problem. The information will help locate a local repair shop that you are comfortable with trusting with such an important job.

There is no better way to find an auto mechanic than to get a referral. Ask the people you know and trust who they take their vehicles to. This allows you to ask about the price, quality of work and satisfaction. Your friends are much more likely to be honest with you about how they felt about a particular shop.

pick and pull Pay attention to any red flags involving your auto repair technician. If they give you the runaround or ignore any questions, you may not want them. Since it is important to trust the person who is repairing your car, don't hesitate to look elsewhere for a person to repair your vehicle.

Ask your mechanic if he has had experience working on your type of car. Cars can differ significantly, even if the general mechanical principles are the same. A luxury SUV is quite different from a hybrid Prius, for example. If you cannot be sure, just take the car to a dealership.

Keep a repair kit in the car at all times. Your car probably came with what you need to change a tire. You will need to get a lug wrench and a jack if you don't already have them. In addition, include a few different screwdrivers and wrenches. You should not have cheap tools. Buy quality ones that you are sure won't fail when you really need them.

Find out a little about the car parts you need before you go to a mechanic. Parts have classifications, including salvaged, new, and re-manufactured and reconditioned. Parts that are new are recently created to fit manufacturer specifications. If a part is rebuilt or reconditioned, it has simply been fixed or restored. "Salvage" parts have been used without being improved or repaired.

At some point it's inevitable that you will have to get your car repaired. Still, you do not have to turn to a mechanic for all repairs. Perhaps you can take care of the repair yourself and keep more money in your wallet. The following tips can help.