Yes, A Woman Can Fix Her Own Car!

Every woman, at one time or other in her life must face the challenge of having to perform a task that may seem beyond her ability. Having had my share of experiences with cars, I would like to contribute some helpful tips on what I've learnt - for other women.

When it comes to car problems, most women suddenly feel: "I can't possibly do this". With lack of confidence, they come to depend on their local garage stations with a male mechanic of their choice. However, this may perhaps be partially due to inbred stereotyping in our societies with a conditioned message that "only men can fix cars, and not women".

Alas, wrongo in the congo.

First, let's get one thing straight. Cars can be as unpredictable as a computer. Whether for a man or woman. One never really knows when a vehicle will suddenly blow a head gasket, which can prove to be anyone's nightmare especially when in the middle of nowhere with no assistance.

However, this is not about changing head gaskets in the middle of nowhere. This is about succeeding through rough situations when an unfortunate incident happens or a car suddenly decides to have a mind of its own.

For starters - ounce of prevention

It's always advisable to get a car checked out before leaving on a long road trip. Routine periodic maintenance can also save you from having to pay huge unprecedented bills later in the future. Why add to potential problems which could suddenly erupt? Get the car checked first. Safety is essential as well as security and peace of mind.

Always keep the necessary tools in a vehicle which you think will be needed in case an emergency happens. It's always wise to travel with an extra amount of money for this reason as well.

Fixing flat tires

I will never forget the time when I travelled to Toronto, alone. This was a good 7 hour drive from my original starting point. Due to events which happened a few days after I arrived in the city, I had to return home overnight. The last thing anyone wants is for something to happen to a car on a highway in the middle of the night. Especially if you're a woman. Well, I was not one of the fortunate ones. Around 4 a.m., my right front tire suddenly had a blowout. I gave thanks it was only the tire. It could have been worse if I would have lost control over the vehicle.

After regaining my senses, I looked around to suddenly realize that I was - indeed - quite alone in the middle of nowhere with crickets chirping in the nearby fields. Sure, I could have waited for someone to pass. At 4 a.m.? Fortunately, I knew what needed to be done.

I opened the trunk of the car and proceeded to do the chore. Most drivers usually keep an inflated spare tire for emergencies. For a woman who has difficulty lifting objects, the trick is not to have the tire inflated, as it just makes it heavier. A deflated tire can make the chore less strenuous.

Tools needed:

- A tire inflator (either foot pump; air compressor plugged into a cigarette lighter; or a pressurized tire "air can" inflator which can be purchased at any tire shop);
- A crossbar for removing tire bolts. It must be a crossbar and not a straight bar. The reason? Cross bars can offer 4 different "bolt fit-sizes" for each end, just in case one bolt happens to be a tad smaller than another due to wear and tear by rust. Variable bolt sizes can be an asset. As well, a cross-bar is easier to turn and "kick" (if need be) in order to remove the bolt;
- A can of WD-40 to spray around the bolts, just in case the bolts are jammed by rust. WD-40 repels the rust and grime and allows the bolt to be removed much easier;
- A jack or small hydraulic lift;
- A crowbar.

Doing the work

Remove all the tools from the trunk, including the deflated tire. Do not lift the car yet. You don't want the tire to keep going around in circles while you're trying to remove the bolts. Allow the weight of the car to assist when attempting to remove the bolts.

Instead, remove the hub cap with the crowbar and place it near the tire. Then spray the bolts with WD-40. Allow a few minutes for the lubricant to penentrate into the cracks. With the cross-bar, find the end that will snugly fit over the specified bolts to your tires. Once inserted over the bolt, with one hand hold one of the parallel horizontal extensions, while simultaneously giving sharp downward kicks to the other horizontal end. This should release the pressure around the bolts. By the way, the bolts should be turned counter-clockwise. Do this procedure with each bolt before removing any of them. Once all bolts have been loosened, then carefully remove them and place them all in the interior of the hubcap near the car, so you won't have to go waste energy searching for your bolts after.

Once all the bolts have been removed, carefully place the jack or hydraulic lift under the part of the car closest to the tire, making certain to leave enough room for the tire to be removed without any obstruction. Carefully start pumping the bar to the jack or hydraulic lift. Do this slowly so the car can adjust to the changes.

Once the car has been elevated enough clearing the tire an inch off the ground, remove it and place it to the back of the vehicle near the trunk. Proceed to insert the deflated tire. Fit the bolts to snug the tire. Do not yet tighten. Inflate the tire. Then return to the jack or hydraulic lift and slowly lower the car. Take the cross bar and proceed to fully tighten the bolts. If you see the tire seems more flat than the others, inflate more air. Place back the hub cap. You should now have a good tire to roll on.

Make certain to place your damaged tire and all tools back into the trunk. You're now ready to continue your journey.

A tire leaking air

Have a nail in a tire? Leave it there and keep the car moving. If you attempt to remove the nail, then you'll have to do what I've just explained above. Removing the nail allows air to escape faster.

Fixing a fan belt - temporary

So your fan belt has snapped? Believe it or not, a "nylon stocking" (better known as panty hose) or taut rope wrapped and tightened snuggly around the reels or pulleys will get you to the nearest gas station. Keep the engine revs low until you can replace either of these "emergency items" with a real fan belt.

Stalled car

There can be several reasons why this could happen. The most common is a flooded engine.

If you smell gas fumes, your car is flooded. Don't try to keep starting it, as this will only worsen the situation. Contrary to what some people may think, do not depress the accelerator pedal without pumping and keep cranking the engine. Bad mistake. You could blow a solenoid switch, or what is commonly termed as your "starter switch". Then you'd really have problems.

The best thing to do is let nature take its course. Have patience. If you're in the dark, don't turn on your dome light. You'll only drain your battery. Just patiently wait. After a lapse of 10 minutes, try starting the car again without pressing on the accelerator pedal. If it still doesn't start, turn the ignition off and wait some more. This waiting method may not be appreciated during the winter season, but it's a necessity if you really want to get the car started again. Speaking of winter, don't forget to always keep a warm blanket in the back seat. With patience, your car will eventually start.

Radiator leak

The first signs of a radiator leak is a temperature gauge needle going up. The second sign is smokes fumes. When this starts to happen, pull the car over immediately to the side of the road without obstructing traffic, if any. Shut the engine. If you don't do this, you risk blowing a head gasket. Trust me, a burnt engine is very costly to repair. Sometimes it's not even worth repairing. You're better off getting a new car. However, there is a way to prevent this. Depending on the situation, keep a gallon of water in your car in a plastic container as well as radiator coolant (such as Prestone). If you're travelling long distances, double or triple the amount of water. Keep a thick small towel or cloth with both water and coolant.

When the radiator starts to act up, you'll once again need patience. Open up the hood, go back into the car and wait for the engine to cool down a bit. Fifteen minutes should do it. Take out your water and splash a small amount over the engine. If it starts to really smoke, wait some more before attempting to remove the radiator cap. You don't want the pressure erupting searing hot radiator liquid in your face or on your arms and hands.

After the "smoke test", take the thick cloth and place it over the radiator cap. Slowly twist the cap gently. You might hear some steam pressure escaping and gurgling noises. This is normal considering the situation. After the cap has been removed, fill the radiator with two parts coolant and one part water. Secure the radiator cap back. Proceed to roll the car again. Watch the temperature gauge needle. As soon as it starts rising. Stop the car and repeat the process. Keep doing this until you've reached either your home or the nearest car station for repairs.

Tail "side light" not working

If this is important to you for security reasons, take your dome light to replace the burnt bulb. Either that or always keep some extra bulbs in the glove compartment.

Windshield dent

Travelling and then a small rock hits your windshield and creates a nick or small crack? Keep a tube of silicone in the glove compartment. Place some silicone over the dent. This will prevent your window from cracking further until you can get it "repaired". Unless you want to restore and pay for a whole new windshield, it's much better to pay for a small reparable nick.

Conclusion

These are just a few examples how a woman can learn to maintain her own vehicle and save herself a lot of money in the long run. For the heavier jobs, mechanic repair books are always available at your local automotive hardware store.