Of course, depending on the severity of the fault at hand, it may still be a better idea to take it to a specialized workshoplest you have to write off your vehicle and end up having to buy another car.
Repair your car yourself
2CarPros It is one of the reference sites in terms of a community specialized in repairs. Active since 1999, it specializes in resolving responses related to breakdowns. This kind of Yahoo Mechanics Answers It is one of the best places you can go to explain what is happening to your car and they can enlighten you with the possible breakdown and even with the steps to follow to repair it.
If you don’t want to be the one to lead the way, you can also search for previous queries from other owners and see if the same thing that happens to you has already been resolved in the past. Car repair inquiries are categorized by car brand and components, helping you find a solution more easily. Repair guides combine step by step instructions with illustrationsso they are very intuitive even if you do not have great mechanical knowledge.
Another internationally renowned website and one of the most reputable is AutoMDa gigantic database containing, among many other things, hundreds of how-to guides and how-to videos on car diagnostics and repair. You can also drill down by brand, model, type of guide, etc. You can take advantage of tools like AutoMD’s repair cost estimator and “Question Tree” diagnostic process that helps diagnose car problems by symptom, area, visual inspection, and possible causes.
Pages of spare parts and accessories, as happens in AutoZone, they also have guides for doing small repairs yourself. Go to the home page of repair tips in for guides on how to keep your vehicle running smoothly. You will find articles categorized by car parts, such as the engine or filters.
Specialized forums to play to be a mechanic
If you want to go to places where other drivers support you (and even console you) when telling about your breakdowns, one of them is CarTalk, a perfect place to talk about the good and the bad sides about cars. The community of car owners and buyers on this website share their experiences and opinions. Go to the Mechanical Files page and describe your car’s problems to get answers in a few minutes and from people probably more expert than you.
Another of the most ideal places to meet other owners who may have the same problems as you is Carcomplaints. This is a massive database of car complaints submitted by vehicle owners over the years. Based on data from these complaints, the website presents graphs showing automotive defect patterns by vehicle make, model or specific problem.