5 Money Saving tips to Avoid Spending on a Mechanichal Repairs and Learn to Do-it-Yourself Posted by DC Cargo Mall on October 21, 2013

Everyone knows that although buying your own truck- and a new one at that- is a hefty sum to pay, the payback is truly gratifying. It seems that an old beat up truck will win you more money, but at the end of the day you spent more on the mechanic than on your own dental insurance, and the new one would have saved you a couple good dimes.

But sometimes we have to first opt for the older one because we simply don’t have the funds to lay out for a brand new ride. So now it’s up to you to save yourself money and become a do-it-yourself guy. Yeah, you’ll have to spend money on tools, but in the long run, after using the same tools ten times each; you've saved more than you can calculate.

So let’s start with the must-have tips:

1. The Automotive Stethoscope – Be your Truck’s doctor

This funky tool will aid you in a wide range of problems and is not limited to a popped tire, or an oil change. Wear it just like a real stethoscope and scour for the problem via sound waves with the amplifier, and then dive more specific into the noisy area with the smaller metal probe. Finding the problem is already half the solution. Even if you don’t end up fixing the problem yourself after spotting the problem yourself, you will be able to tell the mechanic exactly that which is broken and he will not be able to overcharge you for unnecessary extras.

2. A Diagnostic Code Reader

Invest in a vehicle Diagnostic code reader. This is super practical for when you know something is wrong- you just don’t know what. This electronic device can be plugged into your connector under the dash (while the engine in off) and the screen will read a code that tells you what is going wrong. If you aren't a code maven – no problem, isn't that what Google is for? Just search up the results on the web and voila: there’s your diagnosis.

3. Brakes and Loading

The great big connection between your truck’s function and your safe-loading efforts, is that a short stop could mean life or death. Ensure that your break fluid and general breaking system are up to par.





If your truck does in fact have a malfunction, and a concrete boulder is packed unstably to the back, the impact could be a hard-on crash to the cab from the shifted boulder and a goodbye to your life, or at best, your mobility.

 California, get your game on. 155 people who killed within a two year period from objects spilled onto the road from neglectful loaders. Also in California, improperly secured loads accounted for 140,000 cubic yards of debris sprinkling the roads. In Georgia, 66 percent of road debris is the result of junk flying off of vehicles.

According to AAA’s foundation for Traffic safety, poorly secured loads are responsible for more than annual 25,000 crashes. To avoid becoming a statistic, we highly encourage the newest on safety loading equipment because an unstable load leading to an accident will, in a best case scenario, require an outrageous mechanical bill to repair your almost totaled truck.

4. A Flex-Head Ratchet

The ultra-thin head of this practical flex-head ratchet lets you squeeze into tight places, while the flex feature conveniently allows you to pivot the handle and get maximum leverage for loosening fasteners and spark plugs. The large plastic handle provides a grip for more muscle strength put towards where its really needed – for the ‘break’. 

Once the bolt comes loose, the handle just needs a 360 degree swirling and the bolts or nuts are out in seconds. It’s a must have tool, there are always the smaller spaces and it’s a pity to pay someone else to get into those nooks when you can do it yourself with this tiny power-tool.

5. Spark plug pliers prevent boot and wire damage

Grab hold of plug wires with pliers and you’ll for sure damage the boot. But the padded jaws on this spark plug boot pliers let you get a firm grip on the spark plug boot without tearing it. Slide it onto the top portion of the boot near the wire and clamp down. 

That’ll apply force to the metal clip inside the boot. Then twist and pull. No more torn boots or wires. That’ll save you dough on gradual dilapidated wire replacements and more.

 

There is just so much to save money on, and so many means of doing so, that we couldn't fit it all in one article. We do hope though, that this helps you through a fraction of your money saving goals, gives you a confident, do-it-yourself feeling, and gets you back on the road safer, and better than before.