I’m a car expert… here are five things to do and two to avoid when fixing your car radio on the cheap – I saved £500

A MOTORS expert has revealed five things you should do when repairing a car and two things you should definitely avoid.

Andrew Collins explained to the drivers how to get their project car into shape without damaging it.

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Write for The ridehe explained his top tips for dealing with a fixer-upper.

First, he warned about some common practices that are actually big mistakes.

He said: “Unfortunately at some point in mine [Honda] In the life of a Civic, someone used an ill-advised interior cleaning technique, completely wearing out the radio’s LCD screen and leaving strange marks on the plastic.

“It was probably an ammonia cleaner and a harsh paper towel.

“Many interior elements are delicate and can be damaged by the wrong cleaners.”

Ammonia is a caustic chemical used in strong cleaning products.

It is not suitable for polishing delicate materials or sensitive surfaces.

Instead, Andrew recommended using “interior specific” cleaners to get your engine up to speed.

Car interior sprays can be found online from just £1.45, so it’s really worth buying one to avoid unnecessary damage.

Also, try using a soft cloth or microfiber cloth instead of a paper towel to avoid scratches.

Luckily, if your car’s screen is scratched, Andrew has just the thing for you.

He suggested using Novus, an “acrylic treatment product” that fills the spots and makes them invisible.

All you need to do is apply some liquid to the body and wipe along the grain of the scratch with the cloth provided.

You can buy a pack of three bottles on Amazon for £25, each with a different thickness for different scratching depths.

Andrew added that Plexus can also be used to polish plastic scratches and that he’s heard it’s particularly effective on old headlights.

Plexus is an aerosol plastic cleaner and protection spray. While it is currently available online, similar products can be purchased for around £10.

And when it comes to headlights, Andrew urged cleaning fans to be careful.

When restoring a car, the last thing you want is to get the bodywork spotless and then find that your lights are either broken or scratched so badly that they are ugly.

He suggested using a store-bought headlight restoration kit.

This often involves a range of cleaning products and some specially designed soft tools to keep your lights sparkling without damage.

They’re available online for under £3, while Halfords sells a more upscale set for £22.

Even then, Andrew said it might be best to find an old headlight to practice with first to make sure you get it right before tackling your beloved project car.

Spare parts are usually available cheaply on eBay or from scrap dealers.

This comes after over three million cars from two major brands were recalled due to fire risks.

Meanwhile, a man used his savings to convert a van and traveled around the world. He explained how it left him £1,000 a month better off.