You probably think of your vehicle as one of the best things in your life because you need it to to go places. You might be uneducated about cars, but are looking to learn more about them. If that’s the case, read this article and learn how to do simple maintenance!

Find an ASE certified mechanic if you need some repairs. Mechanics can obtain the ASE certification by taking a test and having more than two years of experience. This tells you that the mechanic is qualified to work on your car.

Invest in high-quality battery chargers and keep them inside your car. This is a common cause of breakdowns, and carrying a charger helps other drivers as well as yourself. Learn how to find the points where the battery charger connects.

Every time you’re going to have an automobile repaired, you have to get a record of what is done to it. If your car ends up with more problems later on, your mechanic will appreciate having access to your past records. If you do not have the records, you might end up paying more for the mechanic to poke around trying to find the source of the trouble.

Try to get OEM parts for your car. These parts are the genuine article, produced by your car’s original manufacturer. Although generic parts are more affordable, OEM parts are better quality and will last longer. Though you may think you are getting a deal with generic parts, in the long run, you will end up paying double than you would have if you had gotten OEM parts.

Find a technician knowledgeable in your kind of car. While all cars have the same basic components, there are big differences as to how they are attached and located under the hood. If you don’t think he has, go to the dealer.

In the winter, you still need to wash your car. While it probably doesn’t seem like there’s a point, winter time can be damaging to your vehicle. Rust and abrasion can occur from the particles flying around in the air. Just make sure you dry the car thoroughly before heading back out onto the roads to prevent icing.

Be certain your technician is properly certified. You can recognize a good mechanic thanks to the NIAE seal of approval. This usually means that they are qualified and knowledgeable and that you should receive good service.

Unfortunately, some repair shops aren’t honest. They will take off your tires, only to put others on that aren’t as good. Do not let the auto shop you go to trick you. Before going in, chalk tires in order to mark them. You have been duped if there is no chalk on the tires when you pick it up.

If you are living on a budget, but desperately need to repair your car, then get in touch with your vocational school’s auto repair department. You’ll pay much less for having students do work on your vehicle under a licensed mechanic’s supervision.

It is important not to neglect your car. Just by learning some basic auto repair tricks, you can save lots of money. Apply what you’ve just learned here, and you’ll be confident making repairs going forward.