Being able to care for your car by yourself can not only save you a ton of money, but it can also give you a great sense of accomplishment. With the right tools, some research, and a little elbow grease, there are plenty of DIY projects you can do from the comfort of your own garage.
First Time DIY Car Projects
Before you get started
If you’re just starting out, we recommend always having these items on hand:
- High-performance gloves to protect your hands
- A box of nitrile-dipped gloves for particularly dirty jobs where you’ll need to throw them out
- Safety glasses to protect your eyes
- Set of portable work lights you can move around your vehicle as needed
- A case of wipes to give your car a quick wipe down when you’re done
Motor oil and filter change
Motor oil lubricates all the moving parts of your engine. Without it, your engine would come to a standstill. It also reduces friction between those moving parts and helps transfer heat from the engine’s cooling system.
But because motor oil (also called engine oil) does all those tasks, it gets dirty over time and needs changing. Knowing when to switch out your oil will depend on your specific vehicle and driving habits. For most vehicles on the road today, an oil change should be done every 5,000 km to 8,000 km or every six months. At the station, this service can cost anywhere from $20 to over $100, depending on the kind of oil your car takes.
If you gather everything you need ahead of time, you can complete an oil change in about an hour. If you want to avoid a potential engine failure, you must change your oil filter every time you perform an oil change. Check out this article for detailed steps on how to change your car’s oil and oil filter.
Remember to properly dispose of old oil and oil filters at an authorized used engine oil drop-off centre or recycling centre.
Air filter change
Enjoy breathing clean air inside your vehicle? So do we. And so does your engine. Most modern cars have both an engine air filter and a cabin air filter. These should be changed roughly every 20,000 km or every 12 months.
Engine air filter
The engine air filter is a key component in getting the engine in your car to run. It keeps dust, dirt, and other contaminants out of your engine. You may not need to replace the engine air filter as often as the cabin air filter, but some people find it convenient to complete both tasks at once.
Cabin air filter
The cabin air filter prevents dust, pollen, and other airborne contaminants from getting into the vehicle’s cabin. This task shouldn’t take more than 10 minutes, and it’ll make your driving experience a lot more comfortable for you and your passengers.
Replacing spark plugs
Spark plugs produce the electricity needed to ignite your car’s engine. Most manufacturers recommend changing your spark plugs every 50,000 km, but you should refer to your owner’s manual for specific guidelines.
Old spark plugs can lead to a loss of engine power or inability for the engine to start at all. Read this full guide on replacing your spark plugs before attempting this project.
Improving visibility
Better visibility equals safer driving! There are many steps you can take to help you see better when driving. Cleaning your windshield and applying a rain repellent is a great place to start. Most maintenance tasks related to visibility are fairly simple and therefore make excellent first-time DIY car projects.
Headlight restoration
Clear headlights are critical to safely lighting your way on the road. Over time, headlights will become foggy and hazed over. You may not notice this change right away, so it’s important to restore your headlights every three to six months to maintain adequate visibility.
If you’re worried this might require an electrician, it actually doesn’t. Depending on the degree of fog on your headlights’ plastic covers, polishing them with toothpaste that contains silica may be sufficient.
If the fog is excessive—that is, you’ve owned your car for quite some time and have never thought to polish the plastic covers on your headlights—you can purchase a for under $50 that will make the job easier.
Changing light bulbs
How many DIYers does it take to change a light bulb? With the right instructions—just one!
If the bulb in one of your headlights starts to dim or burns out, change it right away. The three main lighting options on the market today are H4 halogen, high-intensity discharge, and LED. Be sure to pick the right lights for each part of your vehicle. How to change the bulbs in your car will depend on which lighting unit you select.
Replace windshield wipers
Many people forget about replacing their windshield wiper blades. This task should be done every six to 12 months with new blades that are suited to the current weather conditions in your area.
Choose the right blades for your vehicle and environment and follow our instructions on how to change them yourself in under 10 minutes.
Battery
Maintenance
To prolong a battery replacement, you should perform routine maintenance to keep it in top shape. This means thoroughly cleaning the battery and protecting it from corrosion. We’ve compiled our advice on how to maintain your car battery and what tools you’ll need for the job here.
Replacement
Even with proper care, you may notice your battery needs replacing after about four or five years of use. Here’s our guide to changing your car battery on your own. This is often a straightforward task, but if you find your battery difficult to remove, we recommend getting help from a professional technician.
Our final tips for first-time DIYers
Before attempting any DIY project for the first time, be sure to gather the proper equipment (including safety gear) and refer to your owner’s manual for any additional information on how to care for your vehicle. You can also come into any NAPA Auto Parts store for car maintenance advice or browse our blog for more articles and tips.
Happy DIY-ing!
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