| You can save hundreds of dollars on garage | | | | diagnostic tools are required in order to |
| fees every year by carrying out minor | | | | make adjustments to the engine timing and |
| servicing and maintenance jobs on your car | | | | fuel air mix, whereas in the past, these jobs |
| yourself. Armed with a selection of widely | | | | could be done quite simply. |
| available automotive tools, a garage manual | | | | |
| for your car, and enough time and patience to | | | | Areas of the car that almost anyone can |
| get a job done properly, pretty much anyone | | | | handle the regular maintenance of are the |
| can carry out the routine tasks needed to | | | | interior and exterior panels. Simple |
| keep your car on the road and running | | | | scratches and dents to the bodywork are easy |
| smoothly. | | | | to repair using a soft mallet for panel |
| | | | beating and abrasive paper, spray paint and |
| One of the most satisfying aspects of | | | | filler for paintwork repairs. |
| carrying out maintenance tasks on your | | | | |
| vehicle - aside from saving money on | | | | If your car is well used, the interior is |
| expensive garage bills - is that you are able | | | | likely to start to look tired and dated and |
| to get an understanding of how the car works, | | | | in need of a little tender loving care. |
| and the more you understand about the | | | | Thankfully, there are many automotive |
| vehicle, the easier it is to put things right | | | | upholstery tools available to help you to |
| in the event of a breakdown. | | | | tidy up the interior of the car and bring it |
| | | | back to its sparkling best. You can repair |
| Any home garage requires a good selection of | | | | small tears and burns on the seats by darning |
| automotive tools to carry out work on a car. | | | | them or applying a repair patch over the |
| Some vehicles from certain manufacturers have | | | | affected area. The trim of the car can be |
| non standard machining and sizes used | | | | brought back to life with a good buffing |
| throughout their construction, and you will | | | | using a polisher, while using specialist |
| need to get automotive specialty tools | | | | tools it is possible to repair the carpets or |
| designed for the purpose of working on that | | | | even replace them. |
| particular car from a motor store. No home | | | | |
| workshop is complete without a trolley jack | | | | Of course there is much more to owning and |
| and axle stands to allow you to get under the | | | | maintaining a car than just tightening nuts |
| car and do things like oil changes and | | | | and sewing up split seams, and you may find |
| exhaust checks. | | | | that you want to add non-stock parts such as |
| | | | a more efficient air filter or new exhaust to |
| For most small jobs, such as changing the oil | | | | improve performance, and once you understand |
| or replacing filters, changing the spark | | | | the basics of automotive maintenance, |
| plugs and brake pads on your vehicle, general | | | | upgrades and tuning will become more |
| tools such as a wrench and a screwdriver are | | | | accessible, saving you even more money in the |
| all that is required, and these are widely | | | | long term. |
| available in most hardware stores. It is a | | | | |
| good idea to keep your automotive tools | | | | Doing small jobs yourself can save you plenty |
| separate from other tools you may have, | | | | of money on garage bills, and having the |
| because if you begin a job and then discover | | | | right automotive tools to get the jobs done |
| that the tool you want to use is missing, it | | | | is an excellent idea that will save you time |
| can cause major headaches. | | | | and effort in the long run. However, one of |
| | | | the most important things for any mechanic to |
| Twenty years ago, cars were much simpler to | | | | know is when to pass over a job to an expert, |
| maintain and understand than they are today. | | | | and rather than potentially do more damage |
| Computerised engine management systems and | | | | than good, to get a qualified mechanic to |
| adjustable fuel injectors are now | | | | carry out work on a car. |
| commonplace, and special automotive | | | | |