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5 Car Problems You Should NOT Fix Yourself

ByTsukasa Azuma-December 23, 2020

While most of our blogs in this Maintenance Tips category tell you what you can fix, this one is entirely different. This blog tells you what not to do. Yes, here we talk about 5 car problems you should not fix yourself. There are issues which you can totally fix on your own but these 5 issues need the attention and expertise of a professional mechanic. Depending on the nature and time of the problem, you may either seek roadside assistance or take it to your authorized service provider.

5 Car Problems You Should Not Fix Yourself

When we buy a new car, we don’t expect any kinds of hiccups to come our way. However, if you are going for second hand cars, you more or less prepare yourself for some hiccups. In either case, the gravity of the problem should decide what kind of attention and car repair it needs. So, take a note of these.

1. Timing-belt Replacement

The job of the timing-belt is a very important one. It keeps the engine in sync. It ensures the synchronization of the crankshaft, cylinder heads, valves and pistons. With due course of time, it wears off. That is when you it needs replacement; around every 100,000 km or 5 years, whichever happens first.

Top Car problems you shouldn’t fix yourself (photo source: Simazoran/iStock/Thinkstock)

It requires some massive dissembling of the engine – something better not done at home. So, you need your mechanic to take a look at it and replace it meticulously.

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2. Fixing the Radiator

The radiator keeps the heat of the engine in control and saves your car from engine malfunctioning. The cooling system of your car cannot work without the radiator. In case the radiator malfunctions, you will need to invest quite a few dollars on car repairs.

Why should you not dare replace it on tour own? There are a host of hoses that connect various systems to the radiator. These are delicate and can often come out lose. That will only aggravate the problem. The biggest risk is that if you botch up the replacement task, it can blow up your engine. So, better leave it to a professional.

3. Repairing Transmission

If there is a problem with the transmission, take it for granted that you will need professional help. Consider it one of the typical car problems you should not fix yourself. A lot of people do venture and try fixing it on their own, only to fail miserably. If the transmission is broke, your car will refuse to budge even an inch. And, remember that both automatic as well as manual drives are equally complicated.

Agreed that repair and/or replacement of car transmission cost a lot, but there is no chance you can fix it on your own. The only alternative is to sell your car as scrap. So, get some help.

4. Engine Diagnostics

With most electronically complex cars on the market, the engine diagnostics are becoming complicated too. As the check-engine light goes on, we most often give into the temptation of opening up the hood and messing with the engine. The problem is that without sophisticated diagnostic equipment you can only cause more harm to the engine. The spectrum of reasons behind that light being on is broad. It could be as silly as a loosely screwed gas cap, or as serious severe heating up of the engine. Only a mechanic with their advanced diagnostics can tell it for you.

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5. Repairing the Windshield

Repairing the Windshield is not as simple as you thought. (photo source: DusanBartolovic/Getty Images)

The commercials make it look as easy as a piece of pie like removing car decals. Thus, it is one of the most undermined car problems you should not fix yourself. The truth is that repairing a windshield is no child’s play. If done incorrectly, I can crack up the entire windshield. And that, only a new windshield can remedy.

Believe, if you may, but those chip/crack repair kits are no good. Call a professional and let them do the job.

So, don’t be a jack of all trades. Make sure that you get a mechanic to help you in case of any of these problems.

Tsukasa Azuma is an awesome car blogger of Car From Japan. He owns a car repair shop at downtown Osaka, and he put all that experience to good use in his sharing posts. Tsukasa’s blog is one of the best resources for information about keeping your favorite imported car running smoothly. Moreover, because of being passionate to learn about the recent happenings in auto industry, he doesn’t only provide great car maintenance tips, he also always updates latest trends in among car brands and share them in his own interesting viewpoint.

Comments

Deidra Monika22:18 March 12, 2019
Reply

While purchasing a used car, we should get ready to face some temporary or minor problems. From the gravity of the problem, we should decide whether it needs to be done by a professional or we can do it ourselves at home. But, there are some repair works that can’t be done at home. The author in this blog has mentioned about five such car problems. Transmission repair is one of those problems. If we repair the transmission on our own and it breaks by chance, then the car will not move an inch. So it is better to hand over such type of repair work to an experienced professional.

Shemekia Bailey20:11 February 15, 2019
Reply

Sometimes it is advised to do some repair works ourselves at our home using the required tools. But there are some repair works that we can’t do ourselves . The author has provided with some of these tasks in this blog. Timing belt replacement is one of such type of jobs. It requires some massive dissembling of the engine which can’t be done at home. So, we need the help of a mechanic to do this replacement. Other such types of jobs are- fixing the radiator, transmission repair, engine diagnostics and repairing the windshield etc. which is needed to be done by a professional.

Lyle Colon22:03 February 14, 2019
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A car gives rise to various complications over the time. Well, there are some easy fixes that any operative can do in his car port. However, recognizing when to turn the undertakings over to an automotive expert is perhaps the best thing that a motorist can do to safeguard his speed machine. When it comes to doing bodywork and painting, fixing ECU, replacing windshield, restoring the AC system, fixing the defective airbags, it is best to back off in order to protect your adorable road companion.

Linda03:52 January 05, 2019
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Very weird problem. When I turn my signal to go right it flashes left. When I turn left it’s still flashes left. What could that be.

Paula B. Wade02:58 November 02, 2018
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May I simply just say what a relief to discover someone that actually knows what they are talking about online. You actually know how to bring an issue to light and make it important. A lot more people ought to look at this and understand this side of the story. It’s surprising you aren’t more popular given that you definitely possess the gift.

Raj Sharma18:21 April 23, 2018
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Thanks for the great tips .Very informative article. People think that by knowing everything about the car they can do everything on their own .This article is perfect for this people .Thanks for sharing it with us.

Hiroshi Bangladesh15:36 April 01, 2018
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thanks for this nice blog.

Baryabanohe Callistus18:02 December 28, 2017
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Thank you for those guiding ideas.

Scott kenny17:56 December 19, 2017
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I noticed there’s an error on the word (your). It says tour
Just wanted you to know ?

William00:39 September 03, 2017
Reply

the temperature is supposed to rise to what extent.