One of the worst feelings in the world is when your car breaks down out of the blue. The problem isn’t just the danger you face in a broken car, but having to get it fixed, too. Do you know how to find a good mechanic or deal with repair problems? The following tips can help you when you find yourself in need of auto repair.

Familiarize yourself with the dashboard of your car. Your dashboard should display five different kinds of warning, including the check engine light, oil pressure warning, an alternator warning, a temperature warning and a brake warning. Learn to recognize these different lights so you can easily identify what needs your attention.

There are many how-to videos that you can turn to for auto repairs. Everything from a simple tire change to changing your fuel filter can be found in video form. These videos will take you through each step in making the repair and will save you the time and the cost of taking it to a mechanic.

Read your owner’s manual thoroughly if you want to save money on auto repair. In this manual, you can find a lot of tips and tricks that can get your car back into gear and save you a trip to the mechanic. Fixing issues on your own can help you in both a practical and monetary sense.

Wash your car often so you can prevent rust. When you keep your car clean, rust will be held back. Protect your paint with regular waxing.

Don’t neglect your regular maintenance. These scheduled visits are not there just to get more money from you. They are designed to make sure maintenance is done on specific components before you end up stranded on the side of the road. While you might be able to skip one or two and be okay, the damage will shorten the life of your car.

Protect your car from water damage. Take the time to make sure all windows and doors are properly closed. Keep your car on higher ground if you live in an area that’s easily flooded. If you have sandbags, build a wall around your car. Don’t drive in areas with high water levels. Don’t start your car if it’s been exposed to flood waters.

Before paying an auto repair shop for work done to your car, take it for a test drive to see if it is working properly. Lots of people skip this practice and they might end up not solving the issue they initially came in for.

Keep accurate records on what work has been done on your car and when. Many repair shops will keep this information for you, but that only works if you see them for everything for major breakdowns to oil changes. This can help in diagnosing problems, as you can show what fixes have already been attempted.

Avoid costly car repairs by sticking to the maintenance schedule of your car’s manufacturer. By doing regular maintenance on your car when necessary, you will avoid having to fix things due to maintenance neglect. Not sticking to the maintenance schedule will result in unnecessary repairs which could have been avoided.

If your car’s electrical system is behaving strangely, try cleaning the ground cables. Auto makers use the metal body of a vehicle to act as a “ground” for the electrical system. Over time the area where this cable connects to the frame can corrode, causing a stray electrical current that can wreak havoc on your system. This cable is usually connected on the firewall or fender, so simply disconnect it and use a wire brush or sandpaper to clean the contacts.

Think about snapping some photos of your car prior to taking it to the auto body shop. Some shops might strip your car to justify billing you for more repairs. You are safer if you have documentation of the condition of your car prior to having any work done on it.

Lookout for claims that are too good to be true. When mechanics use this claim, they are usually just trying to get you to spend more money unnecessarily. As an example, some vehicles come with transmission fluid marked as “lifetime”. While you don’t have to change this a lot, you need to be sure it’s changed about every 80,000 miles.

OEM means Original Equipment Manufacturer. Keep this in mind when you are having parts replaced on your vehicle. Your mechanic will consider you as a knowledgeable customer if you ask for OEM parts. This will make someone less likely to try placing used parts on your vehicle.

Without knowing where your car problems lie, repairing your car is impossible. Therefore, you must be able to recognize problems when they arise. For example, if your car belt has cracks in the perpendicular edge, or pieces fall out, you need to replace it immediately. Failing to recognize problems on time can lead to permanent damage to your car; therefore, recognize and resolve these problems as soon as you can.

Always inquire about the qualifications and experience of the technician who will be repairing your car. You want to know if they have experience working on your make and model of car. You also want to know if your mechanic has any special qualifications, like A.S.E. certification, that demonstrate their competence.

Once a mechanic diagnoses your car, ask if you can take some time to consider whether or not you want to hire them. Call several other places to get quotes on the same work the original mechanic says you need. If another place can fix it cheaper, pay the first place their fee for the diagnostic and have your car fixed somewhere else.

Selecting the best mechanic is not easy. If you’re equipped with great information, however, it is quite a bit easier to do so. Asking the right questions and understanding red flags is key. The next time your vehicle plays up, keep this advice in the front of your mind.