Three car troubles you can fix yourself

Cars are becoming more complex and their upkeep is increasingly specialised, and while many maintenance tasks are best left to the experts, there are still a few minor but necessary fixes you can easily tend to yourself to save time and money.

Wiper blades

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Windscreen wiper blades should be replaced every 12 months, or when they start to leave streak marks and/or screech. All you need is a pair of cutting pliers. First, squeeze the small clip that holds the wiper blade in place, and to cut the new rubber to fit. It’s easier than you might think.

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Light globes

Replacing a blown globe is an urgent task, but one you can easily do yourself. The hardest thing is knowing how to access them. Fortunately, this information is usually on hand in the car’s owner’s manual or online, even on YouTube.

You may need a common Phillips-head screwdriver to access the globe, and long-nose pliers can prove handy for unplugging wires on headlight globes.

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Car battery

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If you’ve had to jump start your car, or your engine struggles to start every morning, than it’s time to replace your battery before it lets you down.

Changing the battery yourself is generally pretty simple. Use a spanner to carefully disconnect the black negative (-) terminal followed by the red positive (+) terminal, making sure you don’t touch anything else with the other end of the spanner. Then undo the battery clamp and remove the battery. Installation is the same, but in reverse.

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