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The Most Common Car Problems (and How to Fix Them Yourself)

If—or should we say when—one of these problems happens to your car, save yourself some money by repairing it yourself.

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how to replace a car batteryFamily Handyman

Dead Battery

Knowing how to jump start your car is a simple solution to the dead-battery problem, but if your car battery is more than five years old, it may be time for a replacement. You can save yourself a trip to the shop (and a bill!) by learning how to replace a car battery yourself. Check out this video for a step-by-step guide to replacing a car battery.

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how to change a flat tirefamily handyman

Flat Tire

Your car or truck owner’s manual shows you how to change a flat tire, assuming a best-case scenario. But the real world includes all kinds of surprises: lug nuts that won’t budge, a wheel that’s rusted to the hub or a spare tire that’s so underinflated, it’s useless. Watch a video tutorial on how to change a flat tire here.

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car won't start keysFamily Handyman

Car Won’t Start

If you turn the car key and your car won’t start, don’t give up. It can be frustrating trying to troubleshoot why your car won’t start, but before you call for a tow, try these simple tricks to get your car started again.

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change a headlightfamily handyman

Headlight Goes Out

Headlight burnt out? Yep, you can fix that yourself, too! Replacing a headlight bulb is easy. You can replace both of yours (always replace them as a set) in about 30 minutes and save some money. Get the full instructions here.

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how to fix car dentsFamily Handyman

Dents

Dents are unsightly and annoying—but fixable. It may seem intimidating to fix dents in your car yourself, but we’ve got you covered with the tools and materials to use and the steps to get it done.

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replace car fusefamiy handyman

Blown Fuse

Next time your radio, lights or other electrical feature in your car stops working, chances are a blown fuse is the culprit. Look under “Fuses” in your owner’s manual for help finding your fuse panels. Most manuals have a diagram showing you where each fuse box is. Each fuse panel cover should have a diagram listing each device and the corresponding fuse. Learn more about how to fix a blown fuse in your car.

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how to replace alternatorfamily handyman

Busted Alternator

If your car or truck won’t hold a charge, you probably need a new alternator. Learn how to test it, how to replace it, and where to find the best deal on a new one.

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replace brake padsfamily handyman

Grinding Brakes

If you’ve done some basic wrenching like replacing starter motors, alternators or even mufflers, you’re completely capable of doing your own brake job. We’ll show you how to do the front brakes on a late-model vehicle and get you up to speed on the newest techniques on how to change brake pads.

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change spark plugsFamily Handyman

Worn Spark Plugs

You already know that spark plugs wear out. Well, “burn up” is more like it, because when a spark jumps the gap between two electrodes, it actually burns off (erodes) minute amounts of metal from each one. Over time, the gap grows to the point where the spark can no longer make the jump. That’s when you get misfires, poor gas mileage, lousy acceleration and, ultimately, the dreaded “Check Engine” light. Change your spark plugs yourself to maintain peak performance and high gas mileage. In most cases and with a few of the right tools, it’s a simple job.

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touch up car paintfamily handyman

Chipped Paint

Roads can be rough on your car’s paint job! Small scratches and chips are unavoidable over time, and it’s important to remove and repair flakes, chips, dents, dings and scratches on your car’s finish before the rust sets in. It takes just a few minutes of your time over a few days. These great auto painting tips and techniques will show you how to touch-up those little eyesores and take years off the look of your car.