Taking your car to the shop is expensive. When you’re on a budget, car problems can be more than just a major annoyance. They can totally wreck your budget unless you’ve included an emergency fund.
Typically shops charge you twice the cost of parts for the labor to install them. So if the parts are listed as costing $100 they will charge you another $200 to install them.
To make matters worse, shops generally get a discount on the cost of the parts and then mark them up to more than they would have cost you if you paid retail. So those $100 parts may have only cost them $60 at wholesale, and you could have bought them retail for $75. But if you’re willing to put in some work, you can save big money by handling those repairs yourself.
Recently, my son noticed some strange vibrations in the front end of his 2005 Dodge Stratus. So he took it to the shop and they told him he needed nes Ball-Joints and a change of his Power steering fluid. Total cost $960 of that $90 was to change the power-steering fluid cost of the fluid itself at O’Reilly’s would be about $16.20. However, this was probably just an “add-on” and not really necessary at all. Just a way for the shop to tack on another $90 to the bill.
The real problem was the ball-joints so my son decided to tackle that problem himself. A few YouTube videos and he was ready. The parts at O’Reilly’s range from $20 each to over $230 each (and he needed two) so his total cost for parts was $90 (he got the middle of the road quality for $45 each). So by doing the job himself (and skipping unnecessary fluff) he saved almost 94% of the quoted cost.
Here are a few tips that will help you get your car patched up without going broke along the way.
Get a Good Tool Set
If you’re serious about working on your car, then you should invest in a good set of tools. You don’t want to end up trying to make due with whatever you have laying around, as that can make repairs take longer, if you can do them at all. Even though tools aren’t cheap, they can last a lifetime, and you may find some deals if you check online for used sets. You also don’t need to buy them all at once and some Auto Parts stores will loan you specialty tools like a ball joint removal tool if you buy the parts from them.
Educate Yourself before Making Any Repairs
There is so much information out there that it’d be foolish to jump into any repair without doing your homework first. Read the owner’s manual for your car. Look up tutorial guides and YouTube videos online for the repairs you need to do. If you have any questions, post a topic on a car forum to ask. A couple hours of research can make repairs much easier, give you tips and tricks for your specific model and help you develop your overall automotive knowledge.
Shop around for Quality Parts
Besides saving on labor costs, another perk of doing your own car repairs is that you can buy the parts yourself. Take your time checking out different online marketplaces to see where you can score the best deals. When you research, see if you’ll be okay buying aftermarket parts for less money or if it’s a part you should get OEM.
Know When to Call for Professional Help
Although there are plenty of basic repairs that you can handle on your own, they aren’t all that easy. If after doing your research you’re still hesitant, then you may be better off getting professional assistance.
And some jobs like Wheel Alignments require special equipment that may not be feasible for a DIYer. Huntington Beach Transmissions recommends, “getting a wheel alignment done after you have new tires fitted. Correct wheel alignment is a major factor in maximizing the life you get out of your tires.” They also recommend one “After accident repairs, or replacement of any steering or suspension parts.”
With some knowledge, along with the right tools and parts, you’ll be able to fix many common car issues. Give it a try so that you can start spending less on car repairs.
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