Auto Parts for Easy do-it-yourself Maintenance
- Tires – Of all the auto parts on your car, the tires are perhaps the most important, since they are your only connection with the road. You should check the air pressure at least once a month. Typically, the pressure should be around 32psi for most vehicles. However, remember to check the tire pressure when the tires are cold (not right after you have driven your car) to get the most accurate reading. You can find your vehicle’s specific recommended pressure in your owner’s manual or on a plaque located somewhere on the car (inside the gas lid, on the door jamb, etc.).
- Spark Plugs – These little auto parts make your car run, unless you drive a diesel, of course. Spark plugs have a general life span of 30,000 miles. Some plugs have platinum tips instead of copper, so they’ll last about twice as long. They cost about twice as much at a typical auto parts store, so the decision is yours on which to purchase. If you don’t want to worry about these auto parts as often, the extra money might be well worth it.
- Air Filters - One of the often neglected auto parts is your engine’s air filter. The engine breathes through a pleated filter designed to catch dust and small debris before they enter the engine and cause damage. If your filter is clogged, your engine won’t be able to breathe as well. Consequently, your gas mileage and horsepower will suffer. Depending on driving conditions, your air filter should be replaced every 20,000 to 40,000 miles. If it’s been at least that long since yours was replaced, head to your auto parts store! The price should be less than $20.
- Cabin Filters – Many late model cars have a new breed of auto parts designed to help you breathe easier, literally. Cabin air filters keep little things like dust and pollen out of your lungs while you drive. Like most auto parts, these filters wear out over time and can even put stress on other more expensive auto parts like your air conditioning components.
Where to buy
You can let the dealership install auto parts off their shelves if you choose, but you can usually find equivalent parts at auto parts stores such as DemandAPart or Cherry Auto. However, if there’s a compatibility issue, you will just have to pay the dealership for their “unique” auto parts. If the auto parts you need are more common, you can usually find them for much less expensive prices on your own, but make sure you know how to install them.
What to pay
I’ve heard several stories, mostly involving stranded single women, in which ignorant car owners are charged ridiculously high prices for auto parts. This simply shouldn’t happen, but it does. If you maintain your car with quality auto parts, chances are you can avoid the highway robbery. The easiest way to avoid extravagant prices is to do your homework. If you can, take a little bit of time to get a few quotes or go to the library and check out a book to see if you can discover for yourself what is wrong and which auto parts you really need to fix or replace.
“Check Engine” Light On?
This light indicates that your car’s emissions are above the limits set by the federal government. It should really be called: “the feds think your car is polluting too much” light. The two most common reasons for a “check engine” light are:
- your gas cap isn’t on tight enough
- your oxygen sensor has gone bad
Obviously, you’ll probably want to tighten the gas cap and see if the light goes out before spending money replacing auto parts. If the light is still on after driving for a while with the cap on tight, it’s probably time to replace the oxygen sensor. Some newer cars have more than one of these auto parts, but most cars made before the mid 90s only have one.
By Aaron McCullugh