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Knowledge of basic car repairs can make motoring a lot more pleasurable. We give you the lowdown
We all dread a situation where our car breaks down in the middle of nowhere. You can avoid being stranded by making some repairs yourself. For example, if your exhaust pipe or bumper comes off after hitting a bad bump, you can quite easily put these back in place with the help of some basic knowledge.
Changing a tyre is a common motoring chore, but not knowing the right way around it, can cause a lot of inconvenience while leaving some of your body parts bruised at the same time. We tell you how to go about it the right way.
Additionally we have listed other minor maintenance tips which you will find handy from time-to-time. Things like cleaning the air filter which will improve both fuel efficiency and engine performance. Or checking and replacing wiper blades.
What you would require to execute these repairs are simple tools. Getting around these repairs will also help you avoid unnecessary visits to the local mechanic or service stations. Needless to say, understanding these repair techniques will also help save your time and money.
Identify the air filter box, hold the clips and pull it towards you. In older cars there might be a nut that needs loosening
After you open all the clips lift the cover slightly. Do not attempt to remove it completely. Hold the air filter lift it up and take it out
Use a blower to blow away the dust. Do not wash it as it’s important keep the filter dry. After you have cleaned it trace back the steps
Pull the hand brake and keep the car in gear. Make sure you are on level ground. Before raising the car, loosen the wheel bolts
Identify the point where you can place the jack. Make sure the device is firmly placed under the vehicle before you raise t
Unscrew the bolts. Replace the wheel. Screw the bolts back on, but don’t try and tighten them too much. Jack down and then tighten
Wiper blade should be soft and straight. Feel it. Also ensure that it has not become wavy. If it has, replace the blade
Lift the wiper. There’s a small clip at the joint; press it with one finger and push the blade down towards the car. It will come off
Now place the new one along the wiper and slide it up till it locks. Use wiper fluid regularly for longer blade life
Spark plugs generally sit at the top/side of the engine. To remove, pull the holder out
Use a spanner of an appropriate size to reach the spark plug. It is usually 16mm. Unscrew it in anti-clockwise direction
Take out the plug clean it with sand paper. Use spacer to correct the gap. Tighten with light hand
On the coolant reservoir max and min levels are marked. If it is low begin with taking out the cap
Only open the cap after the engine has cooled down. Check the new coolant viscosity by pouring some on the hand
If the coolant is thick but smooth, add some water. If it is too thin add coolant. Use recommended grade
If the silencer is loose, get underneath the car and inspect hooks for these may have come out
Lift the silencer with one hand, insert the hook using the other hand. Sometimes you need to use some force
If the hook near the bumper is broken replace it with one holding the silencer in the middle
These days bumpers are not bolted on the body but are fixed using hooks
Some cars also have screws to hold the bumper in place. Plastic clips are inserted in the body for the screw
These clamps and clips come out on impact. All you need to do is just insert them back, if not damaged
One end of the throttle cable is attached to a pulley on the carb or injector. Rotate the cable head in the direction shown to pull out wire
The other end is attached to the top of the accelerator pedal. Pull the wire, raise it and leave it
Unscrew the bolts holding the wire in place where it enters the cabin to take it out completely
The glass will have hooks that match with the mirror assembly. Match the point on both
Push the mirror into the assembly till you hear a mild click.
Get a tubeless tyre repair kit. Identify the punctured spot and remove the nail. Lubricate the entry point of the hole with vulcanising fluid to easy entry of the spiral tool into the tyre. Insert the rubber strip or plug supplied into needle eye of the tool and push it into the tyre. Pull out the spiral tool so that the plug fits into the enlarged punctured hole
5 Top-up the coolant |
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| On the coolant reservoir max and min levels are marked. If it is low begin with taking out the cap |
Only open the cap after the engine has cooled down. Check the new coolant viscosity by pouring some on the hand |
If the coolant is thick but smooth, add some water. If it is too thin add coolant. Use recommended grade |
6 Fixing the silencer |
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| If the silencer is loose, get underneath the car and inspect hooks for these may have come out |
Lift the silencer with one hand, insert the hook using the other hand. Sometimes you need to use some force |
If the hook near the bumper is broken replace it with one holding the silencer in the middle |
7 Fixing the bumper |
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| These days bumpers are not bolted on the body but are fixed using hooks |
Some cars also have screws to hold the bumper in place. Plastic clips are inserted in the body for the screw |
These clamps and clips come out on impact. All you need to do is just insert them back, if not damaged |
8 Replacing the accelarator wire |
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One end of the throttle cable is attached to a pulley on the carb or injector. Rotate the cable head in the direction shown to pull out wire |
The other end is attached to the top of the accelerator pedal. Pull the wire, raise it and leave it |
Unscrew the bolts holding the wire in place where it enters the cabin to take it out completely |
