Do It Yourself Auto Repair

   Most people cringe when they have to spend money on car repairs. Richard Secrest of Napa Auto Parts says nowadays, customers want to save as much money as they can.
   Richard Secrest, "A lot of people are coming in more because they want to do the at home stuff they want to do the oil changes, different things, they buy tire supplies to keep their pressure good, anything to maximize mileage."Auto Repair
   Most new cars can run 100,000 miles before they need a tune up and built in computers let drivers know if something is wrong. To save money, some drivers invest in readers like this one, hoping to diagnose their own car problems.
   Secrest, "People want to jump the gun, today's cars with all the computer systems in it, it can read a number if items that could be wrong."
   Mechanic Lewis Ellis says that's a common problem when people try to cut corners.   
   Ellis, "They have been somewhere and had their code read, they'll buy a part and put it on and then the light's still on or comes back on, now they've spent 75 dollars."
   You can do some maintenance on your car to save money, like oil changes, but Ellis says if you're not sure what you're doing, leave it to the experts.
   Ellis, "A belt, maybe changing the air filter that's a fairly simple procedure, the biggest thing is pay attention to how the part comes off, how it's oriented."
   If you do have to take your car in for service, Ellis says be specific about the problem. He says just asking your mechanic for a tune up doesn't help them figure out what's wrong.
   Ellis, "If it's running bad in the morning then your mechanic needs to know that."
   With hot summer weather on the way, Ellis says it's better to pay sooner than later.
   Ellis says checking your tire pressure and air filter does indeed make a difference and it could help you save gas.