To save money on vehicle maintenance and repairs, I’ve learned to handle many automotive tasks myself. The projects listed below represent hundreds of dollars in labor costs I’ve avoided by doing the work in my own garage. Each completed task has not only saved money but also given me a better understanding of how my vehicles work.
✅Finished
Replaced Engine Air Filter
Level: Easy as Hell
Dealership Asked: $89.95
Parts: $10.74
Pop up the engine hood, snap up the engine intake housing, swap the new engine air filter and close it up.
Replaced Cabin Air Filter
Level: Easy as Hell
Dealership Asked: $89.95
Parts: $20
Basically no skill, squeeze the glove box from side, then swap the new cabin air filter with the old one.
Replaced Taillight Bulb
Level: Easy
Auto Shop Asked: $500 (replacing full assembly)
Parts: $15
Replaced Spark Plugs
Level: Easy to Mid
Dealership Asked: Around $200 to $300
Parts: $60
Better to have a torque wrench.
Changed Engine Oil & Oil Filter
Level: Easy to Mid
Dealership Asked: $120
Parts: Oil $19, Filter $12
The difficult part of this is — you need a pan to fill the oil, you need a car jack and at least two car stand to drain the oil.
Installed Dash Cam with Hardware Kit
Level: Easy
Auto Shop Asked: Around $80 to $150 (installation only)
Parts: $100 to $300
Takes time. Need to bump the trim to put wires in it. Make sure it won’t affect airbags.
Washing Auto Body
Level: Easy
Auto Shop Asked: ???
Parts: $60 to $100
Finally adopted ONR rinseless washing.
Restoring Yellow Headlight
Level: Easy
Auto Shop Asked: Around $100
Parts: $20
Use 3M Ultra Headlight Restoration Kit, use a power drill to polish it.
Flushing Coolant
Level: Easy
Dealership Asked: $160
Parts: $40
Got the OEM coolant, follow the instruction on the manual to replace it. Takes time to flush it all out, because you need to wait for the coolant to cool down.
You probably don’t even need a car jack and stand to do this, my car has a service hole that is close enough for me to open it up with my arm.
I prepared 2 gallon of coolant, and my vehicle has 7.2 L volume for the engine cooling system. I flushed it three times to approximate for full coolant replacement.
Q: Do I need spill-free/no-spill funnel (Lisle, Harbor Freight) to replace the coolant?
A: No, you don’t, I use a QuickFill Funnel and add keep my eyes one it so it will not overflow or introduce too much air bubbles in it.
Cleaned Mass Air Flow (MAF) Sensor
Level: Easy
Dealership Asked: Around $100
Parts: $5
Cleaned Throttle Body
Level: Easy
Dealership Asked: Around $150
Parts: $5
Replaced Front Fog Light Assembly (Bezel)
Level: Mid
Dealership Asked: Around $300?
Parts: $50
It’s mid because it’s tedious, you will need to take off the front bumper and part of the mud guard. But overall it’s still doable.
Flushed Brake Fluid
Level: Easy
Auto Shop Asked: $150
Parts: DOT 3 Fluid $10, Tool $5
Replaced Brake Rotors & Pads (Front & Rear)
Level: Mid to High
Auto Shop Asked: $1000
Parts: $200
Get loaner master disc brake kit from Advance Auto Parts.
Total work hours: 15 hours
- Rear Right: 3 hours
- Rear Left: 1 hour 20 minutes
- Front Left: 1 hour 27 minutes
- Front Right:
- SOP: 1 hour 30 minutes, found that the caliper dust seal was broken
- Search for parts: 1 hour
- Drive to buy parts: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Fix the seal: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Cleanup remaining works + flushing brake fluid: 3 hours 47 minutes
Replaced Front Brake Caliper Piston Dust Seal
Level: Easy to Mid
Auto Shop Asked: Around $100 – $150
Parts: $6
See: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwrMek5L6y0
Since the vehicle doesn’t run at cold weather place, it didn’t get rust inside the caliper and piston.
Pop out the piston by the hydraulic system, check master cylinder brake fluid level, top-off if its close to low, put the caliper inside a pan. After the check, press brake panel multiple times until the piston pop out.
Replace the O-ring, put on the dust seal onto the piston first, and then push the seal to the bottom of the piston (see the youtube video above), put the piston onto the caliper, and seal the dust seal into it, make sure its sealed, then clock-wise rotate the piston into the caliper, make sure its parallel and straight into it.
Yout don’t need to push it to the end by your hand, just push it in a little bit, then use master disc brake kit to push the piston back into it. Remember to check the straightness of it when you tried to push it back, don’t cock it.
If you feel the piston is cocked, use the brake hydraulic system to push it out, again – check the master cylinder brake fluid level and put it in a pan to prevent brake fluid splash out.
Sewing Leather Steering Wheel Cover
Level: Easy to Mid
Auto Shop Asked: Around $100 to $150
Parts: $35
Technical Service Bulletin: 06-001/25, Leather Steering Wheel Surface Wear/Peel
Takes me 3 hours to sew it on it.
⏳Pending
Replacing Wiper Blades
Level: Easy as Hell
Dealership Asked: ???
Parts: $60
Replacing Drive Belt Auto Tensioner
Level: Easy to Mid
Dealership Asked: Around $300
Parts: $45
Technical Service Bulletin: 01-008/23, Oil Leakage From Drive Belt Auto Tensioner And Rattle Noise From Engine Compartment
Saw oil residues on alternator case and belt tensioner, according to the TSB above, it should be replaced. According to part seller, replace the belt with tensioner together.
Replacing Drive Belt (Generator & Water Pump Drive Belt)
Level: Easy
Dealership Asked: Around $250
Parts: $25
Get loaner serpentine tool kit from Advance Auto Parts.
Replacing Cylinder Head Cover (Valve Cover) Gasket & Engine Valve Cover Washer Seal
Level: Easy
Dealership Asked: Around $150
Parts: $60
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