Sometimes things go wrong with our vehicles and we have no choice but to park it or get it fixed. Other times we simply let the problem go for lack of time and/or money. Some things must be fixed but other problems can be handled by you. Just check the following list of tricks and tips that will help you save money and keep your car in tip-top shape.
Accidentally knocked a hole in your gas tank? A piece of bubble gum should do the trick! Wipe the hole and quickly stick a piece of well-chewed bubble gum over the hole. The gum cant help you if its a large hole, but for small holes, its just the trick.
Bubble gum is also a handy way to fix a small leak in a radiator. Be careful to work with a cool radiator to avoid burns while trying to apply the gum. Another trick for stopping small leaks in radiators is to pour in black pepper. The pepper will build up in the hole and plug it. Dont like waiting for the defrost to get rid of the fog on the inside of your windshield? Rub shaving cream around on the glass, then wipe with paper towels, and youll prevent the problem. The car wont fog up for awhile, and when you see any signs of fog, just reapply the shaving cream. It doesnt take a lot of the cream to treat the glass. Have an ashtray in your car that you dont use? Fill it with potpourri! The scent will last much longer than the air fresheners you hang on the rearview mirror and the potpourri isnt nearly as intrusive as that annoying swinging air freshener. You can also place coins in the ashtray and youll never be stuck without correct change at a drive-thru. Fussy kids? Fill a clean ashtray with wrapped candies and theyll be quiet and content. Rinse off the bathroom plunger and use it to pop out small dents. Some dents wont respond to the plunger but many will. Stick the plunger over the dent and get the suction going by pushing it down and pulling it back up. Many dents will snap right out using the plunger method. Other dents can sometimes be fixed by hitting them with a rubber mallet from the opposite side. Rearview mirror fell off? No problem! Just cut a piece of double-sided tape to put it back on the windshield. Use several pieces to really secure the mirror. The tape can be found at most hardware or home improvement stores. If your head liner is starting to sag, and you simply dont have the money to replace it, create unique patterns with thumbtacks. The flat-head thumbtacks work best for this project. You can use stencils to draw patterns, then position each of the tacks, or you can just run tacks straight across the head liner. If its getting hard to turn your key in the car door lock never turn to oily sprays or substances. Instead use a pencil on the ridges of the key. Scrape the key across the graphite of the pencil then place the key in the hole. Turn the key back and forth a couple of times and you wont have any more problems. If youre starting to notice a few small rust spots on your car nip that in the bud! Use steel wool, dipped in kerosene, to easily scrub away the rust. Use gloves to apply the steel wool so you wont have to contend with lingering kerosene odor on your hands. If your vehicle has stickers you dont want, or residue where a sticker used to be, simply wipe the area with vegetable oil. Allow it to sit for an hour or so then easily scrape the sticker or adhesive away. Fingernail polish remover is also helpful for ridding your car of adhesive residue. Corrosion on your battery terminals? Dont get stranded somewhere because your battery cant get a connection. Use a solution of baking soda and water to clean away corrosion. An old toothbrush can be helpful in scrubbing away the corrosion after treating with the baking soda water.
No comments:
Post a Comment