What Are the First Five Repairs Everyone Should Know How to Do?

"Wobbles the Mind" (wobblesthemind) 01/29/2016 at 16:46 • Filed to: Repairs

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Everyone should know how to take care of their property. That means the correct way to wash their clothes, using the hex key on a jammed garbage disposal, and of course doing simple repairs on their vehicles.

Assuming this person is not an enthusiast, and certainly is not interested in anything mechanical, what are the first five “repairs” that everyone should know how to do?

I’m personally fond of this order:

Replace wiper blades

Replace engine air filter and the cabin air filter

Checking tire tread and pressure (inflating/deflating)

Checking and filling all fluids (not changing fluids however)

Replacing exterior lights

Of course I’m bias as this is where I started. I look back and think this was a progressive strategy since, depending on the vehicle, replacing bulbs is right when tools become necessary (not to change the bulbs just to get to them). I found it to be a good lead into changing a tire and replacing the engine oil and filter.

What are/were your First Five ?

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > Wobbles the Mind 01/29/2016 at 16:50

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1) Changing a spare tire.

2) Jump starting/replacing a battery

3) CHanging an exterior lightbulb

4) Changing a fuse

5) Replace wiper blades and clean glass.

My basic rules here are - what are things you can do to fix your car at the side of the road in about 15 minutes? All of these things could potentially cripple your car, and be dealt with by a single person in way less time than it takes to call a tow truck. Knowing these things can literally be life saving.

EL_ULY > Wobbles the Mind 01/29/2016 at 16:50

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Those. I’d move bulbs to #1 tho

TheHondaBro > Wobbles the Mind 01/29/2016 at 16:51

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Muffler bearing

Blinker fluid

DON’T DO ANY MOAR THE DEALER IS THE BEST!!!!!

Steve in Manhattan > Wobbles the Mind 01/29/2016 at 16:51

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Change a tire is up there ...

And certainly the tires - the only part of the car that touches the road (if you do it right) - are of huge importance. I would also say listening skills - the squeal of a worn out brake pad, the grinding sound a bad wheel bearing makes, the whine of a bad fuel pump.

PotbellyJoe and 42 others > Wobbles the Mind 01/29/2016 at 16:52

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I like you list, number 6 should be something to do with wash and wax.

McMike > Wobbles the Mind 01/29/2016 at 16:52

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The “All fluids” is a litte broad. Brake/clutch/tranmission/PS steering/coolant fluids require a little more than oil change skills and knowledge.

Edit, you said “check and fill” not replace.

I agree.

PowderHound > Wobbles the Mind 01/29/2016 at 16:54

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I will say that not all exterior lights are easy. The tail lights in my old legacy was a breeze and I thought the ones in my WRX would be just as easy but I was wrong. You have to remove some interior trim pieces and remove the entire taillight to get to them. Not exactly hard but I could see people with no mechanical ability not being able to do it

Wobbles the Mind > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 01/29/2016 at 16:56

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Once upon a time I would agree with changing a spare wheel, however I see a lot of 19 inch plus wheeled vehicles that have drivers like my mother. I think the days of changing a wheel are no longer applicable for most unless the vehicle is riding on fairly small wheels, like a Spark, Fiesta, or Mazda 3. I’m not sure about starting out with their parents old Tahoe for teens. Definitely repair 7 or 8 for me though regardless.

Wobbles the Mind > EL_ULY 01/29/2016 at 16:59

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I find it more tedious than the other four though. Especially on larger vehicles where you need to take out the air box in order to get to the driver side light...or get a step ladder and blanket just to get that deep down. Or getting into the lights in the liftgate for shorter, less spry owners.

Wobbles the Mind > TheHondaBro 01/29/2016 at 17:00

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“You’re leaking blinker fluid! You can tell because it looks sort of like condensation on the inside of the housing.”

DrScientist > Wobbles the Mind 01/29/2016 at 17:01

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is checking and refilling fluids really a repair?

i think that all of these are actually maintenance except maybe wipers... maybe... in that none of these things will really leave you stranded. what are the chances that both headlights will blow and you can’t get home? including the high beams?

if it is raining/snowing extremely hard, and you have no wipers you may not be able to see enough to drive.

but i can’t belive you forgot changing a tire!

Wobbles the Mind > PotbellyJoe and 42 others 01/29/2016 at 17:02

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True, though I hate all the swirls and scratches I see on cars. It’s because people buy new cars and wash them by hand all wrong on the weekends, regardless of age or gender.

DrScientist > McMike 01/29/2016 at 17:03

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still...

i think one should be able to change a flat tire before he/she needs to know what spec brake fluid their car needs.

Wobbles the Mind > DrScientist 01/29/2016 at 17:08

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I’m not saying it isn’t important, but I wouldn’t start someone off with, “This is how you change the wheel on your Wrangler, Becky.” I’ve seen a lot of overheated vehicles due running low coolant, or exhaust smoke due to overfilled oil, or the loud clatter of fuel injectors because they are a quart low. All things that, yes would be maintenance, most people are stranded because they can’t diagnose those. A flat tire is obviously a flat tire, and whether you have a replacement is rare with vehicles having such huge wheels.

nermal > Wobbles the Mind 01/29/2016 at 17:10

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Take one of these:

To these guys:

...and admire the results:

Wobbles the Mind > PowderHound 01/29/2016 at 17:11

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That’s why I place it at the bottom. It’s usually the first run in with using tools and being “careful.” You don’t want to fuck up an oil change, and changing wheels is really difficult if you can’t lift that kind of weight, especially out of and into a trunk or back area.

Wobbles the Mind > nermal 01/29/2016 at 17:13

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Money doesn’t buy happiness, but it does buy the company that provides that service!

smobgirl > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 01/29/2016 at 17:13

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#1 - I’m with Wobbles on this. Used to agree, less so now. It’s getting hard to find a new car that even HAS a spare.

smobgirl > DrScientist 01/29/2016 at 17:16

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I know how to change one, but it wouldn't do me any good if mine went flat.

jariten1781 > Wobbles the Mind 01/29/2016 at 17:16

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I don’t really consider changing a tire, swapping a bulb, topping off fluids, or jumping, etc repairs...they’re necessities just like filling gas.

My list would be something like

1. Oil change

2. Battery swap

3. Window Regulator

4. Pads/rotors

5. Coil packs/plugs

unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins) > TheHondaBro 01/29/2016 at 17:16

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Dealerships have the best oil (mr. Regular).

unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins) > Wobbles the Mind 01/29/2016 at 17:19

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1. Tap faulty starter with hammer to limp home

2. Fix flat/change

3. Keep some spare fluids in trunk.

4. Jump start

5. Light bulbs.

EL_ULY > Wobbles the Mind 01/29/2016 at 17:27

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I see it more important for overall safety to everyone on the road than the others

Amoore100 > Wobbles the Mind 01/29/2016 at 17:34

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Good list. I have done all of these with my dad save cabin and air filters, all within half an hour increments at a time. If everyone could learn to do just these five things then the American roads would already be a safer and more pleasant place.

JustAnotherG6 > Wobbles the Mind 01/29/2016 at 17:51

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My first five?

1) Oil Change

2) EGR Valve

3) Tire Change

4) replace Brake Master Cylinder

5) Replace Heater Core

Oh, you mean should...

mcseanerson > Wobbles the Mind 01/29/2016 at 17:54

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1) Checking fluids
2) Changing oil
3) Jumping/Replacing battery (also how to bumpstart)
4) Replace a belt
5) Change a tire

Checking fluids will help avoid easily avoidable catastrophes, like the quick lube guy not installing your drain plug properly.

Knowing how to change your oil is useful knowledge even if you don’t change it yourself. You at least know how to check if the quick lube guy at least replaced your filter.

The last three can all get you out of a jam when you have no cell reception and AAA isn’t on the way.

Nauraushaun > Wobbles the Mind 01/29/2016 at 18:27

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using the hex key on a jammed garbage disposal

To what does this refer?

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > Wobbles the Mind 01/29/2016 at 18:28

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Well I guess I assume teens are still buying late 90s/early 2000s cars for cheap. I had to change quite a few tires and once I had to change a tire on an old jetta at midnight about 80 miles from home.......I should also mention this car had lug BOLTS, not nuts. Thankfully my tire pump had a little light on it. Knew it would come in handy someday!

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > smobgirl 01/29/2016 at 18:29

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Eh, I am assuming this list is for people new to cars i.e. teens/ young adults who aren’t buying the latest and greatest yet. Also they probably lack the money to get a good roadside assistance plan. So having a spare tire and the skills to change it could be a lot cheaper as well as safer and easier.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > Wobbles the Mind 01/29/2016 at 18:32

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See you and others keep saying that but I actually have a full sized spare come standard on my Fiesta. Granted, it’s only 17"(can’t believe I’m saying that). But how many people for their first solo experience in driving a car are in a brand new vehicle with 21" wheels on it? And even if the tire is flat, knowing how to use the fix a flat/inflate the tire would be useful.

dietryng > Wobbles the Mind 01/29/2016 at 18:51

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1.changing a tire

3. the prestart walkaround inspection, where you look for new spots on the ground, in order of importance water, gas, oil, trans fluid, see if theres air in the tires

2, battery/connection rundown for starting. up to and including shorting across the starter posts to get it fired.

4. banging on the carb to make it quit flooding./(why doesnt it have gas? hang a jug from a fender with a hose in it.)

5 how to diagnose a funny sound/vibration. whether it is rpm(engine) related, speed(chassis). load specific.

Wobbles the Mind > Nauraushaun 01/29/2016 at 19:19

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Under sink garbage disposals have a place on the bottom where you insert an Allen wrench in order to manual turn them (as well as a reset button). Most “broken” garbage disposals just need this “repair” to be fixed. Just like everything “repair” I listed for cars, this isn’t a repair when you know how easy it is. Just like sewing a tear in your shirt back together. Most people would just get rid of or call in a professional to fix these. Easy money.

NJAnon > Wobbles the Mind 01/29/2016 at 20:12

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A general 5. As many install profiles as cars have though, there is no universal 5. Go ahead and make me replace my headlights after reading what I read >:) (the tail lights aren’t a problem though)

wafflesnfalafel > Wobbles the Mind 01/29/2016 at 22:36

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yeah.. the headlamps on my Mazda are a pain in the a$$...

Nauraushaun > Wobbles the Mind 01/30/2016 at 07:29

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Oh wow. We don’t have sink garbage disposals here.

Wobbles the Mind > Nauraushaun 01/30/2016 at 11:32

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Woah! You could start a business out there then. It is a near standard feature in kitchens, just like a dish washer.

Nauraushaun > Wobbles the Mind 01/30/2016 at 17:30

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Maybe I should :P Very strange though. Wikipedia says:

Garbage disposal units are widely used in United States households, but far less commonly used elsewhere.