how much to fix car ac

The Most Common Car Problems (and How to Fix Them Yourself)

If—or should we say when—one of these problems happens to your car, save yourself some money by repairing it yourself.

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change a headlight family handyman

Headlight Goes Out

Headlight burnt out? Yep, you can fix that yourself, too! Replacing a headlight bulb is easy. You can replace both of yours (always replace them as a set) in about 30 minutes and save some money. Get the full instructions here.

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how to fix car dents Family Handyman

Dents

Dents are unsightly and annoying—but fixable. It may seem intimidating to fix dents in your car yourself, but we've got you covered with the tools and materials to use and the steps to get it done.

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replace car fuse famiy handyman

Blown Fuse

Next time your radio, lights or other electrical feature in your car stops working, chances are a blown fuse is the culprit. Look under "Fuses" in your owner's manual for help finding your fuse panels. Most manuals have a diagram showing you where each fuse box is. Each fuse panel cover should have a diagram listing each device and the corresponding fuse. Learn more about how to fix a blown fuse in your car.

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replace brake pads family handyman

Grinding Brakes

If you've done some basic wrenching like replacing starter motors, alternators or even mufflers, you're completely capable of doing your own brake job. We'll show you how to do the front brakes on a late-model vehicle and get you up to speed on the newest techniques on how to change brake pads.

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change spark plugs Family Handyman

Worn Spark Plugs

You already know that spark plugs wear out. Well, "burn up" is more like it, because when a spark jumps the gap between two electrodes, it actually burns off (erodes) minute amounts of metal from each one. Over time, the gap grows to the point where the spark can no longer make the jump. That's when you get misfires, poor gas mileage, lousy acceleration and, ultimately, the dreaded "Check Engine" light. Change your spark plugs yourself to maintain peak performance and high gas mileage. In most cases and with a few of the right tools, it's a simple job.

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touch up car paint family handyman

Chipped Paint

Roads can be rough on your car's paint job! Small scratches and chips are unavoidable over time, and it's important to remove and repair flakes, chips, dents, dings and scratches on your car's finish before the rust sets in. It takes just a few minutes of your time over a few days. These great auto painting tips and techniques will show you how to touch-up those little eyesores and take years off the look of your car.

Originally Published: July 19, 2019