Probably not many of us remember dad parking the car in the driveway on a warm summer’s day, pulling on the coveralls and propping up the hood and spending the day in the engine compartment checking this, removing that and tightening the other thing.

Truth is, many of today’s cars just aren’t as easy on which to work for the layman, and some are downright impossible, with all the electronic controls and longer lasting parts (some of which will likely outlive the new car itself).

by Kevin Groulx/QMI Media

Still, there are some things you can do yourself and website AutoMD recently outlined the five everybody can (and should, in this day of high prices) do yourself and the five you really don’t want to get into. There are also five in-betweens that people who follow the directions for the easy five might want to challenge themselves on.

The “easy” repairs are right up there with the idea that common sense has gone out the window. Take wiper blade replacement, for example; the instructions are on the blade packaging, for criminy’s sake – remove old blade; snap new blade in … it’s that simple. Similarly easy are replacing a fuse, replacing the engine air filter and replacing a burned out bulb.

Some are a bit more involved but for the person willing to invest some sweat equity into the vehicle are easily, although not always quickly, done. Changing the oil and filter, for example is actually easier today than it dad’s day because all the components are easier to access. The toughest part is properly disposing of your used oil and filter.

Changing a flat is grouped into the in-between set but it really takes no mechanical ability (just a lot of sweat), and you will get dirty, regardless how careful or experience you are. Sometimes, the flat won’t fit into the place of the temporary spare, so some companies actually provide a big garbage bag in which to put the dirty flat so it won’t soil your rear seat.

For some who want to get more adventurous, there are straightforward repairs for which you’ll require extra equipment that may not be lying around the house. Changing brake pads, for example, requires some safety equipment such as Axle stands (the little metal pyramids you see in auto stores – they go under the car, after you’ve jacked it up, and provide a more stable platform than your car’s jack when you start pulling, pushing and twisting components) so the investment may be easier made in getting somebody to do it for you.

Similarly costly-tool repairs include changing spark plugs and replacing the engine accessory belt. Replacing a battery falls into the in-between category as well, simply because of the electricity intimidation factor.

Do not under any circumstances attempt to align your wheels (even if you do have “a good eye”), recharge the air-conditioning or change your engine, transmission or its clutch … even if you do have an engine hoist in the corner.

Tags: do it yourself, Maintenance, repairs