How often have you driven past an oil change business and put off spending the extra money to have your oil changed? How long have you let a burned out headlight or taillight sit while you tried to find the time to take your car to the shop? When was the last time you found yourself calling a tow truck or roadside service to replace a dead car battery for you?
These jobs can seem like a hassle, and the price of having a mechanic do them can add up. But these, as well as a number of other Audi repair jobs, can be done at home. Below we’ll go through eight repairs you can easily do yourself.
1. Replace Your Battery and Alternator
Car batteries have an inconvenient habit of dying at the worst times, and so having them replaced can be a hassle, involving tow trucks and mechanic expenses.
But when it comes down to it, all battery replacement involves is unhooking a few terminals and making sure to reattach everything to the same places on the new battery. You should also know that most auto parts stores will replace your Audi’s battery for free when you buy the new one.
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Alternators can also cause your car not to start, making them as inconvenient an Audi repair as the battery is. The alternator is what recharges your battery while you drive so the car will start the next time you get in it.
As with the battery, replacing your Audi’s alternator is a matter of unhooking a few things and making sure they get hooked back up properly.
2. Replace Your Brake Pads
Brake pads have a built-in system to let you know when they need replacing – your Audi will start screaming every time you hit the brakes.
You could take your car to the mechanic to replace the brake pads, or you could take on this Audi repair yourself. With a few hours and the right tools, you will be able to manage this repair.
You’ll need to take off the wheel to get to your car’s brake pads, so make sure you’re working on a stable, level surface. It may make your job easier to turn the steering wheel before you start work so that the wheels are angled to make the brake pads more accessible. You also want to make sure to check the brake fluid level before you test-drive the car.
3. A Tune-Up
If you’ve had a tune up done on your Audi, you’ll know it can get expensive in a hurry. But actually, this is a very simple Audi repair for you to do at home.
Basically, a tune-up involves a few check-ups for your car: replacing spark plugs, replacing the air and fuel filters, checking the car battery, changing the oil, checking the car’s lights, checking belts, and checking tires.
Replacing the air and fuel filters is a matter of unclipping the current filter and snapping the new one into place. Checking the battery, belts, lights, and tires can be done with a few basic tools. And replacing spark plugs is an Audi repair that can be easily managed at home, saving you money on regular car maintenance.
4. Change the Oil
Changing your Audi’s oil is part of the regular tune-up process. This needs to be done about every 3000-5000 miles. It’s a job you can do at home with a few simple tools and a couple of hours.
You’ll need to check on what kind of oil your Audi takes. Oil comes in a variety of qualities within each type, so what grade you get comes down to how much money you want to spend on the job.
Many auto parts stores will recycle the old oil for you, so be sure to collect it in a transportable container when you’re doing this Audi repair.
5. Replace a Headlight or Taillight
If your tune-up turns up a burned out headlight or taillight, don’t worry. This is an Audi repair you can easily do at home. Go to your local auto parts store or look online to find the light model you need.
Changing the light is just a matter of popping off the light cover with a screwdriver, replacing the bulb, and making sure everything gets put back in place. You will want to use some sort of rag to hold the new bulb when you’re putting it back in. The oils from your hands can cause the bulb to burn out faster.
6. Pop Out Minor Dents
If you’ve ever parked too close to someone in a parking space, you’ve probably wound up with a small dent in your car. These can be annoying, and it may not seem worth the money to pay to have them repaired. Good news – you can perform this Audi repair at home.
You’ll need to get a can of compressed air from your local auto parts store for this job. You’ll want to heat the area around the dent with a hair dryer and then spray the compressed air on the area. The quick temperature change from the cold, compressed air will cause the metal to contract and will fix most minor dents.
7. Get Rid of Minor Paint Scratches
Like dents, minor scratches can be annoying and overpriced to have fixed professionally. But if you want to keep your Audi in pristine condition, you can take care of minor scratches at home.
The quickest way to do this is with a scratch remover pen available at your local auto parts store. If a scratch remover pen isn’t working for you, you may want to look into some heavier-duty scratch removal tools.
You can get a buffing pad and polishing compound online for an affordable price. However, this still has limits; if you can feel a scratch with your fingernail, you may want to fix the scratch another way or take it to a professional.
8. Rain-Proof Your Windows
If driving in rainy conditions has become a problem for you, you may want to look into rain-proofing your windows. This Audi repair only takes a few minutes and can make a huge difference in your driving experience. And it’s very affordable.
You’ll want to start by cleaning your windows gently with steel wool and then with a glass cleaning spray. Because these sprays can damage paint jobs, you may want to spray the solution on the rag and then wipe it on the window.
Once your windows are clean, coat the window in the rain-proofing solution, let it set, and then buff your windows until they shine.
Resources for Your Audi Repair Jobs
Maintaining your Audi doesn’t have to be expensive or difficult. With a little time, a few basic tools, and some general know-how, you can keep your car in top-notch condition for a minimum price.
If you need more detailed instructions on how to do any of the jobs above, as well as a number of other service jobs, visit Online Auto Repair.
