As you know, fixing a broken car is never a fun thing to handle. Once you learn a few things about the auto repair game, saving money and reducing stress become simpler. Look to use all of the tips you’ve learned from this post. It will be handy later on.

Get a good battery charger to keep in your vehicle. People commonly experience dead batteries, making battery chargers good for helping stranded drivers. Know where the cables should be connected and how. It is sometimes different for different cars.

Make sure that you do not neglect the radiator in your car. You need to allow your car to run for a couple of minutes, shut down the engine and then open up the hood. Never, ever open the radiator while the car is still on. Use a dipstick to check the amount of fluid in the radiator. You should also make sure to mix coolant fluid with water before you pour it into your radiator.

Clean you car on a regular basis so it doesn’t become rusty. All cars are going to rust, so make sure that you wash your vehicle at least once a month. Protect your paint with good wax.

Tag the important pages in your vehicle manual. When you need to go to an auto repair shop, the professionals you are dealing with will want to know certain information regarding your car. You can find the information you need to know in your owner’s manual.

Ask your mechanic to use OEM parts. These are the manufacturer’s original parts. 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. You may save in the short term, but additional failures could end up costing you big time.

Make sure that you always keep a spare tire and jack in your vehicle. A lot of newer vehicles are already equipped with these things. You do not want to stuck in the middle of nowhere and have to pay a ton of money for a tow. You do the job yourself with less time and expense.

Put together an auto repair kit and keep it in your car. The basic tools you will need include the tire changing equipment which should have come with your car. A lug wrench and a jack are essential. You may ask want to get a variety of screwdrivers, ratchets, socket wrenches and the like. Cheap tools are not worth your money. Get sturdy, quality tools that will not break on you.

When your headlights or taillights burn out, you can save a lot of money on repairs if you do it yourself. You can do this easily on some vehicles, and you’ll find it costs you less than having a company help you. See if you can get instructions from someone you trust.

Problems with your automobile can be very annoying, a source of great frustration. It also can be expensive. You can save a lot of time and money by learning more about auto repairs and preventative maintenance. This article was just the beginning; you should do more research on this topic.