Getting your car fixed can be stressful, time-consuming and expensive. You either have to spend an arm and a leg on a mechanic, or take time out of your busy schedule to do the repairs yourself. Regardless of which method is chosen, the article below will make the situation easier.

Don’t underestimate how important it is to have some kind of emergency kit within your vehicle. Assemble a kit that has tools for changing tires, charging the battery and putting more gas in the car. Also, flashlights, batteries and blankets are all crucial items as well.

You need to know about all costs before handing your keys over. If you don’t understand something, talk to the mechanic first. You probably don’t want to incur extra charges after the car has been repaired.

As the mechanic whether they’ve worked on your make and model before. If they have experience with your type of car, they are more likely able to correctly diagnose and fix the problems your vehicle is having.

Be wary of unscrupulous mechanics who make unnecessary repairs to your vehicle. Your mechanic should contact you if they come across additional issues while fixing your car and get your approval before they go ahead and replace more parts. If a mechanic performed a repair you did not authorize, you should not take your vehicle to them twice.

Watch out for blatant signs that your mechanic is not to be trusted. If they give you the runaround or ignore any questions, you may not want them. Run, don’t walk, to another mechanic.

Always try to figure out the problem with your car before you bring it in for repairs. You can save time and money if the problem is correctly diagnosed, and finding a reliable mechanic will also be easier. It’s an unfortunate fact that there are dishonest mechanics who will tell you your car has issues when it doesn’t.

Keep a tool kit for doing auto repairs in your trunk. You need basic tools like a tire changing kit, and you also need other equipment. Get a lug wrench and jack if you do not have one yet. A few good screwdrivers, wrenches and a socket wrench can also come in handy for any unexpected road-side issues. Avoid purchasing cheap tools. Solid and sturdy tools are ideal so you don’t have to worry about them malfunctioning.

If you’re having serious repairs done on your vehicle, make sure to get multiple estimates. Most shops are reliable but some mechanics will find additional repairs to charge you more. Find shops that specialize in the job that your car needs. Shops like this may understand your car’s needs better.

Cute keychains are fun, but they are not healthy for your car. The ignition on your car is not devised to hold all the weight, even when you don’t consider it heavy. When the key begins to stick in position, you have to replace all of the tumblers or endure more serious damage.

Keep an eye on the lights located on the dash, and make sure you are aware of what they all mean. They’re there to assist you, so take advantage of them. If you ignore them, the problem can get worse.

Before you drop off your car at a repair shop, take pictures of what the car looks like beforehand. Some shops might strip your car to justify billing you for more repairs. It is better to document what your vehicle looks like just in case this horrible thing happens to you.

Few people even open their car’s instruction manual. To better know your car, you should look over this manual. After reading this manual, you can perform a lot of repairs yourself.

After working on your brakes and prior to a test drive, bleed the brakes. Following this, pump the brake fluid. Look for leaks and make sure the fluid will not run out. Once you have done these things, you can take your car on a test drive; however, make sure you drive in areas without much traffic. Start slowly to make sure that the repair is done well before you start to drive faster.

OEM also known as original equipment manufacturer. This is good to know whenever your car or truck requires new parts. You will seem like you know what you are talking about if you tell a mechanic you only want OEM parts. This means you’re less likely to receive used parts.

Always ask to keep any part that was replaced or removed from your car. If they refuse the request, it may be because there was no replacement done whatsoever. This should be seen as a red flag and the person needs to be called out about it.

Visit the same shop time and time again if you are happy with the service. Build a good relationship with a mechanic to ensure you get good work. Being a loyal customer may also get you discounts.

If you plan to not use your car for a long time, put it up on jacks and fill the gas tank. This will avoid repair costs when you put the car back in use. Do not use your parking brake and inspect the garage to make sure it is dry and clean.

Don’t put water in the compartment for windshield wiper fluid. Water can clean your windshield, but since the system requires that specific fluid, you could damage it. Check the windshield washer compartment regularly and refill it as needed. If it’s empty, top it up.

Newer cars feature lots of sensors and warning indicators to let you know about issues. Don’t make this your sole source of information though, take the time to be aware of any issues that are occuring. A false warning can be caused by a defective sensor, so you need to do manual as well as computerized checks. This way you can be sure of an early warning to any problem.

Auto repair is never pleasant, but it doesn’t have to be a huge hassle either. The things you’ve gone over here are going to help you out quite a bit if you need to work on auto repairs in the future. You and the car should be pleased with the results.