DIY: Are you ready to become auto empowered?

You might be thinking, “Why do I need to know how my car works when I can pay my mechanic to figure it out?” You’ve got a point there, but how do you know when your mechanic is trying to upsell you on a repair that might be unnecessary? How will you know when a […]

You might be thinking, “Why do I need to know how my car works when I can pay my mechanic to figure it out?” You’ve got a point there, but how do you know when your mechanic is trying to upsell you on a repair that might be unnecessary? How will you know when a shop double-charges on labor when two repairs overlap? I’m not trying to say mechanics are crooked. But you have to keep in mind that your mechanic is running a business, and the more he sells, the more money he makes. If you’re automotive empowered, you’ll be able to spot the upsell right away, and that’s the day you save some money and refuse to be taken advantage of.

That’s what automotive empowerment is all about. Repairing and maintaining your own car can be fun and rewarding. You’ll save precious time and money every time you stick your head under the hood instead of dropping your car off at the shop. Everybody has their own comfort level when it comes to do-it-yourself repairs. You may be comfortable replacing your shocks and struts, but somebody else may only want to check their fluids. But both these people are empowering themselves by learning about their car.

It’s never too late to get acquainted with your engine. Look at it, listen to it, smell it. The next time something’s wrong, you’ll know long before an unempowered driver, and you’ll save some serious money. So, poke around autorepair.about.com and do a little learning. We make it laid back and fun without all the technical jargon and scare tactics you find on many car repair sites. Don’t forget, this auto repair site is run by a real person, me! My name is Matt and I’m always around to answer a question or two. Be sure to sign up for my weekly newsletter so you can become more empowered every week. Now let’s go get greasy!

Are you ready?

So how do you know when you’re ready to tackle a specific repair? Nobody knows better than you do. Ask yourself a few questions:

* Are you familiar with all of the necessary tools for the job?

* Do you have enough available time to complete the repair?

* If the repair requires another person, do you have somebody who will help you out?

As long as you’re realistic, you can tackle any repair or maintenance job you set out to make. Knowing your limitations, however, will keep you out of trouble. There is no worse feeling than seeing the sun set on a Sunday evening while your car lies in pieces in the driveway, knowing that you have to figure out how to get to work Monday morning. As you step off the bus in front of the office, the mail clerk will be laughing as he blows by in his lowered Civic. Sure, you’re his boss, but he’s laughing extra hard on the inside.