Fixing Cars Is Like Cooking Dinner (Auto Repair Made Easy)

Auto repair isn’t as hard as you think. It’s like learning a new recipe. You gather the ingredients (tools) and follow the instructions step-by-step. If something goes wrong, you can always order pizza (go to an auto shop). If this blog doesn’t motivate you to pop open your hood, I’ll buy you a margarita. 😉

You have no reason to feel intimidated.

I know you might be afraid to pop open your hood. Don’t be. It’s not a big deal.

How do you learn anything? You practice until you get comfortable with it. Auto repair isn’t any different.

You might not be able to name a single part of your engine the first time you look at it. And that’s okay. Good things come to those who are patient and persistent. 

Gender stereotypes hold no power over you.

You don’t “belong” in the kitchen, do you? No! Men and women are equal partners in a relationship. It’s totally okay to cook for a man, but it should never be expected of you. Big difference.

Forget about gender roles. They don’t hold any power over you unless you let them. Yes, most mechanics are men. But that doesn’t mean working on cars is a “manly” thing to do (auto repair changed my life in tons of ways!).

Ask someone to show you how to open your hood.

Hey, you have to start somewhere. Ask your mechanic to open your hood and show you some important parts of the engine (hint: ask them to point out which fluids to keep an eye on!). No mechanic? Ask a friend or relative who works on cars.

Here’s a basic preventive auto repair even you can do. Check your fluid levels once per month. If a fluid like coolant is low, go to the auto shop. Also look under the hood before big trips. It would be horrible to get stranded on the way to Disney World!

Spend a day flipping through your owner’s manual.

Your owner’s manual contains all kinds of knowledge that can empower you. You’ll find a picture of your engine with essential car parts labeled. There’s a section that explains the meaning of every light on your dashboard. You can even access a recommended maintenance schedule.

That maintenance schedule is the absolute most important thing inside your owner’s manual. It tells you what services your car needs to thrive at 100, 1,000, 10,000, and 100,000 miles. Your car could join the 200,000 mile club if you take those suggestions seriously. Even better, you’ll prevent expensive repairs that break the bank!

Don’t feel pressured to learn anything super complicated.

I’m not suggesting you should quit your job and become a mechanic (unless you really want to!). You don’t even have to learn how to replace your air filter or windshield wipers if you’re not interested in it. All I ask? Be mindful of your auto’s needs. To achieve that, you need to learn basic facts about your engine and the fluids that keep it running.

Please share this blog with your friends so they can be more confident about auto repair like you. Thanks! 🙂