If this article is something you’re reading, you may have had car trouble in the past. Luckily, this piece is meant to help. Most people aren’t car people, so it is important that they know what to do in the event of a car problem. Keep reading for important advice that will teach you more about auto repair.

A record of maintenance and repairs should be in your car. One good place to keep them is in a folder in the trunk right above your spare tire. Auto service experts may need to refer to them. They will be able to find the problem easier and faster.

Make sure you replace old parts with OEM parts. These parts are the genuine article, produced by your car’s original manufacturer. While generics are much cheaper, they are not held to the same quality standards. What saves you a bit of money in the short term, may end up costing you dearly in the long term.

You should not send your vehicle to a repair shop without getting quotes from different places. While most mechanics can be trusted, you might wind up being charged more than is necessary. Try to find shops that are experts in fixing your specific type of car. These shops are more likely to understand how to perform the repairs your car needs.

The warning lights on your dashboard have an important function. Refer to your car manual for explanations. Paying attention to these warnings is always in your best interest. Do not ignore these lights or you might have to pay for more expensive repairs later on.

Do not forget that fixing your car yourself comes with some dangers. Always have a buddy nearby that can assist you if there is an emergency. Purchase quality tools you know will last. Nowhere is this more applicable than with the items you use to change a tire. Remember that your jack needs to hold your car up very securely, especially if you are going to be underneath the car. Approved jack stands, working in conjunction with a high quality hydraulic floor jack, are the best tools for tire changes.

Every time you get gas, you should also check the pressure of your tires. Check your tires regularly for embedded items and for uneven wear patterns. If there’s an issue, get it fixed quickly. It is very dangerous driving on bad tires.

Don’t try and figure out what is wrong with your car by yourself. You are not the expert, and you must remember this. Modern cars include complex computer systems, and problems that were simple in the past are no longer so easy to fix. Allow the automobile repair shop to correctly diagnose the problem. Provide them with every detail of what happened and what was heard, but let them provide the final diagnosis.

Don’t believe a mechanic who tries to tell you that you need to get your engine flushed as a part of a routine maintenance. This is a pretty expensive service and you do not really need it unless you have been doing things that have been particularly bad on your engine, like failing to change your oil regularly.

Hopefully, you have learned enough here to prepare you for any car issues. You’re not quite an expert yet, but you’re getting there. It is also important to know how you can find a reliable mechanic if you need to get some major repairs done to your vehicle.