Simple DIY jobs you can do on your car

For most people, working on their car may seem daunting at first, especially if they’ve never even opened the hood of their car.

Aside from saving a little bit of money, there’s also the sense of satisfaction after mending something yourself and you don’t need to be a mechanic to do so.

Here are some DIY maintenance jobs that you can do in under 5 minutes.

1. Engine Air Filter

Having a dirty engine air filter could result in poor performance & fuel economy, so it’s worth keeping it clean & replacing it according to the manufacturer’s recommendation. 

Just unlatch a few clips, replace the old filter, and redo the latches. That’s pretty much it.

2. Cabin Air Filter

Another filter you can change is the cabin air filter and it’s as easy to change as the last one. A clogged cabin air filter will cause strain to your car’s air conditioning system and not cool the cabin as effectively.

Most cars have the cabin air filter hidden behind the glove box or in the passenger-side footwell. Once you’ve located the filter housing, remove the cover and replace the old filter with the new one. 

Take note of the direction of airflow on the filter and make sure it’s installed in the proper orientation. After that, reinstall the cover and you’re done.

Remember, cabin air filters are cheap and unless you have a washable filter, DO NOT wash them as they are meant to be one-time use only.

3. Light bulbs

To access the bulbs in the headlight cluster, simply open the bonnet and you can just reach in and twist the socket from its housing.

For bulbs in the taillights, you either have to remove a few panels from inside the boot area or remove the entire tail light housing.

Use gloves or a paper towel when handling the new bulb as the oils from your fingertips could shorten the lifespan of the bulb.

Refer to the owner’s manual for the type of bulb you need, if not it should be printed on the bulb itself. 

4. Wiper blades

If your wipers are squeaking and causing water to streak across the windscreen, then it’s probably time to replace them. You have a choice of rubber or silicone blades - the latter being pricier but also a lot longer lasting than the former.

The two main things you need to note is the length of each wiper blade and the type of fastener your car has.

5. Car detailing 

With some basic tools & patience, you can have your car look brand new (okay, maybe not concourse-level but it's good enough). Check out this video for a step-by-step guide.

You can also clean & detail the interior of the car.

There you have it! Which of these DIY jobs have you done before? Let us know!