These days, more and more people are opting for DIY repairs to their cars for two main reasons.
a) The cost of car repairs is on the rise. It’s no secret that labour rates are getting more expensive, parts are getting more expensive and servicing is getting more expensive.
b) The rise of Youtube has convinced car owners that they can be experienced mechanics in less five and a half minutes. It’s just a matter of finding the right part at the right price on eBay and the jobs a good’un.
Of course, there are repairs that almost anyone can take on themselves, such as scraping the rust off their brakes, or changing their tyres or replacing the spark plug. However, a lot of the repairs should not be touched by amateur mechanics and should be trusted by no one else but a real mechanic, a certified mechanic.
To help you distinguish what part of your car should and should not be the victim of a DIY attempt, below is a list of car repair jobs that you should not do yourself, no matter how easy you think they are:
The WindscreenA cracked or chipped windscreen is not just an annoyance, but a serious safety hazard and one that should only be carried out by a professional, no matter how simple the adverts make it look. Not only should it be carried out by a pro, it should also be addressed immediately. Your insurance may cover any windscreen damage but, if it doesn’t, then repairing a chip tends to be a lot cheaper than replacing the whole screen.The TransmissionThere are no two ways about this one; a car’s transmission is usually the most complex and most intricate part and should not be touched by anyone but an experienced mechanic. Every transmission is made up of hundreds and hundreds of tiny bits, tiny complications. Transmission failures are also the most common reason people scrap their cars in favour of getting a new one. So why not save a lot of time and money and take it to a pro to be assessed, and make your decision on the back of this. The BodyworkYou probably think you can do the bodywork, and you’re probably right. It would certainly be cheaper. But not by much. And not in the long run. You see, car scratch repair specialists are not only able to come to you, but they aren’t that expensive anymore. They’ll also do a better job than you when it comes to matching colours, correcting heavy dents and ensuring no damage has been done to the chassis. You’ll thank us for this when you decide the time has come to sell on your beloved car. The RadioLike the bodywork, you probably think you can do this yourself. However, cars are more technologically advanced than ever, and that means they have more electricals than ever. So unless you are proficient when it comes to wiring, what should be a cheap job for an expert could see you cause some serious damage to your pride and joy – ever heard of an electrical fire, or short-circuiting. Just trust us, take it to a mechanic before it costs way more than you bargained for.
