Owning a vehicle means accepting the complexity and variety of issues that come with it. These issues often have high-priced fixes. The good news is that many auto issues are fixable with nothing more than some basic home materials and some imagination, so there’s no need to go into debt.
In this article, we’ll go over some of the most useful tricks that every automobile owner should know. These hints and advice are likely to enhance your car-owning experience, whether you’re getting ready for a road vacation or simply want to make your everyday commute more enjoyable.
Extend the Reach of Your Key Fob
The limited range of the key fob is a typical concern regarding keyless entry devices. Surprisingly, the answer to this problem may be found in your own thoughts. If you bring the remote up to your temple and push the “Unlock” button, you may open your vehicle from farther away.
The key fob may also be held in a submental pocket. Water molecules in your brain really assist the key fob’s signal go further by interacting with it.
A Look at a Penny
Tire inspections should be a routine part of automobile maintenance. They eventually wear out, and you should be aware of when that happens. The penny test may help you decide whether it’s time to replace your tires.
Eliminating Headlight Fog
Over time, dirt, filth, and oxidation accumulate on your car’s headlights, making them dim. Headlight fog reduces visibility at night and may cause accidents. Try this easy tip for a more secure ride.
Try to Spot the Arrow
It’s embarrassing to pull up to the incorrect side of the gas pump and have to get back in your vehicle to reposition it if you’ve ever drove an automobile you weren’t acquainted with.
Thankfully, you don’t have to get out of your automobile to find out which side houses the fuel tank. Find the arrow next to the gas gauge on the dashboard of your automobile. The direction the tank is facing is indicated by the arrow.
Beware of Being Locked Out of Your Vehicle
These days, most brand-new automobiles include a keyless entry mechanism that eliminates the need for a physical key. If it suddenly quits functioning, then what? Even while most modern automobiles have a keyless entry mechanism, they usually still have a manual lock.
The purpose of posted speed restrictions is to guarantee that motorists are able to make it through each green light. Following the speed limits will result in less delays at intersections and more time spent traveling.
Keep Your Vehicle Free of Garbage
When you go in your vehicle, do you ever see garbage lying around? This little fix might help make the interior of your vehicle seem less like a dump.
A plastic cereal box may be found in just about every home or at any dollar shop. Wrap it in plastic and stow it somewhere in the trunk. Get rid of garbage and maintain a clean automobile with your new makeshift trash can.
Easy Key Ring Opening
To add additional keys or tags to a keychain without damaging your fingers or fingernails is next to impossible. The good news is that there’s a simple technique to access keyrings without risking bodily harm.
To replace a key or tag, just pry the metal parts apart using a staple remover. Your fingers will thank you later for this. If you strain the keychain too much, your keys might come loose.
Efficient Decal Removing
Some individuals take great pleasure in affixing bumper stickers to their vehicles, but they often forget how difficult it may be to remove them. Avoid applying stickers to your automobile in the first place since they leave behind sticky residue and may damage the paint if removed improperly.
Grab some coffee filters from the kitchen and use them to dust and wipe off surfaces. You can get hundreds of coffee filters for just a few bucks.
Apply Vaseline to Remove the Marks
Vaseline’s uses extend beyond soothing chapped lips and dry skin; it may also be used to remove minor dashboard scuffs and restore its pristine appearance. Get an inexpensive, large container from any grocery store and have it close by.
Start by giving the dashboard a good wipe down with a clean cloth. The next step is to use a microfiber cloth and a dab of Vaseline to thoroughly clean the dashboard. The dashboard will seem smooth and well-maintained after this treatment.
Pack a Snack Basket for the Road.
You can still maintain a nutritious diet even if you’re always on the go. Put dried fruit, almonds, sunflower seeds, and other nutritious snacks in a cloth basket. Make sure it’s within easy reach so you and your passengers may snack whenever hunger strikes.
Keeping a snack basket in your vehicle is a terrific way to save money by reducing the frequency with which you have to stop for food when out and about doing errands. You may use a wicker basket or even a laundry basket if you don’t have a fabric one; the important thing is that you have nutritious food handy at all times.
Install Cargo Hooks using Command®
If you hang a paper bag from a command hook you can keep your vehicle clean of trash when driving long distances. Don’t let your rubbish accumulate into a mountain of clutter; instead, toss it in the paper bag
Be Careful
This isn’t so much a “car hack” as it is advice for being safe while on the road, particularly if you’re by yourself. Someone may be trying to divert your attention if, upon returning to your vehicle, you discover an unusual object or one stuck in an unusual location.
You guessed it: cat litter. If your automobile becomes stuck, you may get some additional traction by putting kitty litter under the wheels. Not only is it cheap, but any cat owner is likely to already have some on hand.
Take Care of Auto Messes
How often do you have oil leaks? It never fails to occur in the most inconvenient of settings. Clean up that nasty mess with the aid of this hack. As was previously established, kitty litter has several surprising automotive applications. Although this tip applies more to the outside of your vehicle, we feel it’s important enough to include.
It’s easy to use cat litter to clean up oil spills. If you have access to a brick, you may increase the absorbency of the cat litter by grinding it up and applying it to the oil spill. Don’t clean up the cat litter and oil until at least 20 minutes have passed. Take care while disposing of the oiled cat litter.
Homemade Survival Kit
It’s common sense to carry about a survival kit in case of an emergency on the road. You can’t predict when bad weather or an unexpected emergency may force you to spend the night in your car, even if your daily commute simply takes you across town. A do-it-yourself automobile emergency pack may be assembled in minutes.
How Fast/Long Can You Drive With A Spare Tire?
There are a few things to keep in mind when you are driving on the temporary spare tire. You need to slow down a little. It’s not a regular tire, and you shouldn’t treat it like one. It’s recommended that you go at a pace of 50 miles per hour or less.
If you need to use it while driving on the highway, you’ll have to stay in the far right lane and turn on your hazard lights since you can’t travel faster than 50 miles per hour. The temporary spare tire should be used only in extreme circumstances. Using the spare tire for an extended period of time increases the likelihood that it may get deflated.
Shades That Stick To The Windows
Every motorist has experienced the peculiar time of day when the sun shines directly through the windshield, making it impossible to shade one’s eyes with the visor. Not prepared to commit to a full-blown window tint (which may be prohibited in your state)?
Here’s the cheat you’ve been looking for. You may get rapid respite from the strain on your eyes by strategically placing a piece of removable window shade. When pilots flying thousands of feet in the air use it to escape the heat, you know you’re onto a good thing.
A Car-Tracking App
Quick, tell me where you parked that automobile. It always seems to happen when you least expect it, like after a long day at the amusement parks or a gorgeous trek. It’s the point at which anticipation begins. You’ve reached that “ahh take a load off” point before you have to get back in the car and go on to your next destination.
The one and only catch? No idea where you put the vehicle down! Have you heard that there’s an app for it? Instead of endlessly wandering the parking lot with your key fob in hand, you may use an app to find your vehicle in a flash. Think of it as your very own “cookie trail” in the digital world!