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Sometimes the best solution is to talk to a professional if you want to learn how to take care of your car. Rather than damaging your car through fixing it yourself, learn how to call upon a reliable mechanic. Read this article for tips on how to do just that.

Don't take an emergency car kit for granted. You need to have tools in your kit that will allow you to change the battery, help you get some extra gas and tire changing tools as well. A few spare, blankets and flashlights batteries are also great to have.

Don't pay money for air. Familiarize yourself with the correct air pressure of your car tires and invest in an air compressor. Check your tires on a regular basis and keep them properly inflated on your own. Being able to do this yourself on a regular basis will save you money in terms of tear and wear and regular maintenance.

Checking and repairing the air conditioning in your car is quite complex. If you need to have it checked or fixed, find a mechanic with an air conditioning certification. The gas used for air conditioning is potentially dangerous and this system is a lot more complex than the other parts in your vehicle.

Be sure to wash your car often so as to prevent rust. Your car will rust out but you can easily delay this process by washing off chemicals and salt. Make sure you regularly wax your car so that you protect the paint.

Buy OEM parts. These are original components from the manufacturer. Although using generic parts may provide some short-term savings, it's impossible to know whether or not they'll hold up as well as OEM parts. Getting a good deal on generic parts means you might have to purchase the same parts again and pay a mechanic to change them within the next few years.

Although the dealer for your car's make may provide the highest expertise when it comes to repair service, it may not always be the most cost effective choice. Many independent car repair shops have technicians that formerly worked at dealerships and are factory trained. You may be able to save a good amount by choosing an independent shop over the dealer, without a loss of quality.

If you are paying to have new parts installed in your car, ask the mechanic if you can see them. There is no reason why he should refuse to let you see what you have paid for. If you have any indication that the items are not new, tell the mechanic that you will be getting the work done elsewhere.

Before you set out in your car, avoid unexpected auto repair problems while driving by performing a basic safety check. Start your engine, turn on your lights and your flashers and walk all the way around your car. Check your tires and make sure your lights and flashers are working properly. This simple check will ensure a safer ride and help you avoid the need for emergency repairs.

Avoid being run over by your own car! When you jack your car up, be sure to set your emergency brake. Place bricks behind the tires you are not working on to keep your car from rolling. Keep a set of wedges or three or four bricks in the trunk of your car in case you have to change a flat tire on a hill.

Avoid being run over by your own car! When you jack your car up, be sure glass repair greenville sc to set your emergency brake. Place bricks behind the tires you are not working on to keep your car from rolling. Keep a set of wedges or three or four bricks in the trunk of your car in case you have to change a flat tire on a hill.

Always keep some tail light tape around. You could get pulled over and get a ticket for a broken tail light. You should remove the light from your vehicle, replace the light-bulb if you need to and wrap the whole light in tape. This is a temporary fix but it is better than driving with a broken light.

Bleed your brakes before you take your car on a test drive. Afterwards, be sure to pump your brake fluid. Make sure there are no leaks causing you to lose valuable brake fluid. Now you are ready for a test drive on streets that don't have much traffic. Don't drive too fast at first to make sure everything is working properly.

Before you let a mechanic work on your car, find out about labor rates. You should have your mechanic diagnose the issues and assess how much work will be needed. Make sure you understand how the mechanic will bill you and have a manager give you an estimate of how much labor time is needed instead of trusting a technician who is not responsible for giving quotes.

Before you need one, scout out a reputable auto repair shop. Finding a good automobile servicing shop can take some effort and time. You don't want to wait until you are in desperate need of repairs, since you may reach out to the first shop you find. Instead, ask friends for references and check out BBB records well in advance so you are fully prepared when car trouble strikes.

Get a good estimate of what your bill will be, before you have a mechanic work on your car. Understand how much the labor costs will be. This will avoid most surprises. If the repairs will cost significantly more than the estimate, have the mechanic call first to authorize the additional costs.

The condition a repair shop is in tells you a lot about the service you can expect from them. If everything is out of place and messy, that is the way the job may get done. Try to do business with a shop that is neat and cleanfull and clean of modern equipment.

Never allow low prices and flashy advertisements to lead you to an auto mechanic. Usually when people try that hard to get customers, it means that they are not that great at what they do. Research the place ahead of time to see if there is anything you should be concerned about.

Keep your car parked out of the sun whenever possible. A garage is the best spot to stick your vehicle, but if there isn't a garage available, stick it in the best shade possible. Damage from the UV light and heat becomes obvious after only a short period of time.

There's no reason that anyone should have to deal with auto mechanics anymore. Something as simple as auto repair is made into nightmare due to mechanics, and it has to stop. Take the given tips and start repairing your own vehicle. You'll be much better at it than any mechanic you've ever visited.