5 Truck Repair Tips You Can Do Yourself

Effective DIY’s For Truckers

To truckers, fleet owners and operators, we would appreciate it if you could pause from your hectic schedule and spare a few minutes on this read. This article is going to come in very handy when your truck breaks down and the ultimate resort to rescue yourself and your truck is ‘YOU’.

It goes without saying how important it is to keep your truck in the best condition, which is possible to a great extent with routine and periodic truck maintenance by certified technicians and, to some extent, by the truckers themselves.

That is why it is necessary to select the right company who have the right expertise to handle repair and maintenance tasks to keep your fleet in top shape. Conducting early maintenance checks benefit truckers from catching problems early on before they become more significant problems and put a dent in your wallet.

While seeking a proficient mechanic can save you from costly repairs, one effective way to save you some more hard earned money is by learning or having the practical knowledge of basic DIY truck repairs. Knowing essential DIY maintenance is especially important when we know that a truck can break down unexpectedly when out on the road with a high probability that no emergency breakdown service may be around.

So here is a brief of 5 DIY truck repairs that truckers can make as a part of their maintenance and repair check:

DIY 1- Replacing Light Bulbs

Trucks are heavy-duty vehicles that commute through all kinds of terrains in extreme weather conditions, and for this very reason, truckers must ensure their ‘rigs’ lights are fully functional at all times. Almost every truck has headlights, taillights, signal lights, side marker lights, and backup lights, with each of them having a great significance of keeping you and your truck safe on the road, especially in poorly lit areas.

While driving your truck, you can quickly tell that you need to replace the light bulbs asap when they are flickering or emitting dim light. Now that you have realized that the lights are about to go out, it is time to replace them on your own with ease as it is one easy task. How to replace the bulbs (for truckers)?

• Take the old bulbs behind the housing,
• Unplug the wiring,
• Replace the old bulb with high-quality working bulbs, and that’s it.

Please read the truck’s manual to understand the specification of the bulbs that have to be used.

DIY 2-Replacing the spark plugs

What is the purpose of spark plugs? The spark plugs provide electric current to the combustion chamber from the ignition system, thus requiring regular maintenance for the pivotal role. Spark plugs have a reasonable life expectancy, but accumulated dirt, carbon, corrosion, and other damaging elements can cause early damage and deterioration. Their early damage and deterioration require your immediate attention because if the spark plugs are not replaced timely, they can cause the issue with ignition and high fuel consumption.

How to replace spark plugs? You may think it would be one challenging task, but it isn’t, so follow the simple steps with the right tools, and you are all set.

Clean off the dirt and debris once the engine is cool

• Remove the Spark Plug Wire.
• Remove the Coil On Plug.
• Unscrew the Old Spark Plug.
• Now Put in the New Spark Plugs.
• Re-install the Spark Plug Wires or Ignition Coils.
• Start Up the Engine.

DIY-3 Oil Changing

How to change the engine oil? The truck’s performance depends a lot on the engine’s health, and the engine’s health depends on the engine oil. It is the lifeline of the engine. Oil change in the latest models of heavy-duty engines is required after almost every 50,000 miles or more. Now that the frequency of oil change has lessened, you may do it yourself, considering it a significant opportunity to save a good amount of money.

All you have to ensure is that there is no overflowing of the oil, and you can do this by using a drain pan with enough capacity.

DIY-4 Mending A Damaged Windshield

The driver sees through the windshield, and if by any chance they get a cracked or damaged windshield, its repair or replacement (in case it is beyond repair) must be dealt with expeditiously as it can lead to a dangerous accident. If you get a noticeable crack that is not huge, all you need is a windshield repair kit that will help keep the gap from spreading, and it would cost nothing compared to availing the services of a mechanic.

DIY-5 Replacing Air Filters

Your truck’s engine needs to breathe fresh air to produce power, and this is why you need a quality air filter for good performance. You can easily buy a premium quality air filter online at a nominal cost. If you purchased from a mechanic shop, it would cost a lot more and to install them another 100$ for the labor charges. So it is time to save your money, pull up your socks and follow the steps to replace them on your own.

• Read the manual to understand where the air filter is installed.
• Wear gloves and open the engine hood.
• Remove the cover of the fresh air intake system and then the air filter of the truck engine.
• Clean off the dust and debris with a vacuum cleaner. At this point, take a note of how the old air filter is installed to know how the new air filter is to be installed.
• Fit in the new air filter and check all screws, nuts and bolts are tightened before shutting the engine hood.

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