Are you having problems with your car? Does it seem like it's not running as well as it should be, or not running as smoothly as it used to? You may be thinking that it's time to look for a professional mechanic, but that may not be the case at all.There are some small, basic problems that many cars have, and you may be able to take care of yourself!A common problem that many car owners have is hard starting.Hard starting is caused when your vehicle cranks slowly, which can be the sign of a low battery.If the battery is low, then you engine may also fail to turn over at all! Recharging your car's battery is possible, but if the battery is old or damaged, then replacing it may be your only option.Before you can do anything with the battery, you need to know what its current charge is.The charge level depends on how much acid the battery has inside it. if it has a higher concentration of acid, then it will have a higher gravity, which means it will have a higher charge level.If you have a battery with a removable cap, then you can check the charge level with a hydrometer.Some hydrometers contain a number of colored balls; the number of balls that float tells you the approximate level of charge that your battery currently has.If all the balls were floating, then it would indicate a fully charged battery.If no balls were floating, then it would indicate a dead or fully discharged battery.If your battery is low and undamaged, driving for approximately thirty minutes should recharge it.You can also use a fast charger, which plugs into any normal outlet and is then attached to your car's battery via cables that resemble jumper cables.Battery problems can happen at any time and any place, though, and may actually be covered by some car insurance.Another common problem that car owners don't always consider is a blown fuse.If your headlights suddenly stop working, then before calling an auto shop, you should look at your car's fuse box.Modern cars commonly have two fuse boxes, and normally use a "blade" type of fuse (older cars use ceramic and tube fuses).Once you have located your car's fuse box (generally somewhere around the driver's or passenger's seat), you will need to remove a plastic cover to get to them.This cover will have a diagram of what fuses go where, and may even contain spare fuses, along with a pulling tool.Simply look at the diagram, find the proper fuse (in this case, the one for the headlights), and look to see if the "bridge" of the fuse is melted.If it is, then you will have to replace it.If not, then your car may have bigger problems.Both of these tips should help you with small car problems, and are sure to give you a sense of accomplishment once you learn to do them yourself.
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