When you own a vehicle, it’s important to know a little about it, beyond the gas mileage and how fast it goes. As you learn more about what’s under the hood, you might even find it enjoyable to DIY car repair.

Is It Worth It to Fix Your Own Car?

The answer to this question depends on how you like to spend your time and money. Many people derive satisfaction from tackling a problem themselves and following through with a solution. Others prefer to rely on others, like the Murray car repair experts at Master Muffler. Whichever you choose, here’s a look at the pros and cons of DIY car repair.

Pros to DIY Car Repair

We’re not talking simply topping off fluids, changing out windshield wipers, or getting the right air pressure in your tires. When it comes to DIY car repair, we’re looking at the pros of popping the hood and really getting your hands dirty.

With that in mind, here’s why fixing your car yourself might be worthwhile.

Get to Know Your Vehicle

When you spend time under the hood or body of your car, you get to know more than just how it looks on the outside; you get a better understanding of how all the parts work together, and what signs your car exhibits when it’s in distress. 

For example, if you learn to change your vehicle’s fluids yourself, you get to know what those stains are that appear in your parking spot. You’ll recognize that a black stain probably means you have an oil leak, while a reddish-brown stain may indicate a transmission fluid leak, and green means to check your coolant.

Additionally, doing your own car repairs at home gives you an opportunity to research the sounds your car makes. If you get to the bottom of the squealing, grinding, or knocking sounds your engine makes, you’ll know what to do to fix the problem yourself and keep your car running smoothly.

Free Labor

Part of the expense of Murray car repair is paying for labor. And while that can be worth it for many people, others like to spend their hard-earned money differently if they can. A pro of doing your own simple car repairs in your garage is that you will only be paying for parts, and not the labor required to install them.

No Markup on Parts

Speaking of parts, when you purchase directly from a manufacturer or source them from a pick-and-pull junkyard, you save money. Without a middle-man making the purchase, you can save significantly on various parts you need for car repairs.

Faster

This is up for debate depending on your skill level, but it’s often faster to fix your car yourself. If you’ve gained a wide knowledge base of your vehicle, you don’t have to wait until other customers’ cars are fixed before a mechanic can get to yours. You can dive right in and make repairs on your own schedule.  

Cons to DIY Car Repair

Even if you know what you’re doing, there are cons to DIY car repair. Let’s start with that potentially steep learning curve.

Learning Curve

What you’ve learned about one car may not apply to another. Different makes and models present their own challenges when it comes to how the various systems are laid out or accessed. Even if you drive the same car for 20 years, you’ll spend quite a bit of time reading the manual, scouring Internet forums, and watching videos to figure out how to make your own repairs. For some, that time is better spent doing other things, making DIY car repairs less appealing.

Takes Longer

You may have the skills to fix your car, but do you have the time? When you bring your car into Murray car repair teams at Master Muffler, it’s their job to spend the day diagnosing and repairing your vehicle. If you’re doing it yourself, you might be squeezing in repairs after your own 9-5 job, or during nights or weekends. This can drag out your repair timeline.

Safety Risks

Not many people happen to have an engine hoist, floor jacks, or transmission jack in their home garage. Without this type of equipment, it can be a bit risky to perform your own car repairs. Having the proper tools and machinery combined with automotive know-how not only makes the job easier but safer.  

May Void Warranty

To go along with safety risks, sometimes performing your own car repairs voids your warranty. Your vehicle’s manufacturer may require that all routine maintenance be conducted by professional mechanics. Some warranties even include services such as oil changes or replacement parts within a certain timeframe or mileage quota. 

Car Repairs to do Yourself

All that being said, what are some simple car repairs to do yourself? You don’t have to visit our Murray car repair team for everything, and the following might be a good place to start.

• Change battery
• Oil change
• Change head or tail lights
• Replace brake pads
• Replace a tire
• Replace air filter

If you’re ever in doubt, just give us a call and we’ll see how we can help!