Experienced Drivers Share Their Best Car Hacks: Better Visibility, a Cleaner Backup Camera, and Battery Care

A WORKBENCH THAT FOLDS AWAY

Where do you put your tools and removed parts during a repair? How can you find affordable alternatives to expensive replacement parts? And what can you do to help your car battery last longer?

Working on a car often means dealing with a lack of space for tools and removed components. A garage with a workbench solves the problem, but what if you’re working in the driveway or at a vacation property?

I turned an old folding ironing board into a portable workbench. I removed the fabric cover and placed a piece of plywood cut to size over the metal mesh that supports the ironing surface.

The result is surprisingly practical. I can unfold it whenever I need a work surface and fold it away just as quickly when the job is done. Its slim, flat shape makes storage easy, too. I hang mine from the garage ceiling to keep it out of the way.

KEEP YOUR BACKUP CAMERA CLEAN

In wet, slushy weather, a backup camera can quickly become covered in road grime. I use a water-repellent spray designed for automotive glass and exterior surfaces.

A quick application helps water and dirt slide off the camera lens, keeping the image clear for longer. If the lens does get dirty, I can use the same spray to help clean it without getting my hands covered in grime.

A CLEARER VIEW THROUGH THE WINTER

Here are two simple modifications that can make the Chevrolet Cobalt sedan more convenient to drive.

First, I wanted windshield washer fluid to reach the glass immediately when I activated the washer system, rather than making the wiper blades drag across a dry windshield. I installed an inline check valve from a Toyota model in the washer hose. I found the valve at an auto salvage yard for a few dollars, and the installation took about five minutes.

The second modification addresses a winter problem. When the wipers are parked, they sit in an unheated section of the windshield where ice can accumulate.

During cold weather, I remove the rubber seal along the rear edge of the hood. This allows warm air from the engine compartment to reach the windshield and wiper blades, helping prevent ice from building up in that area.

A PLUMBING CLIP WITH AN AUTOMOTIVE JOB

The lug nuts on my Opel Mokka crossover are hidden behind plastic caps recessed deep inside the factory alloy wheels. The special removal tool disappeared, so I tried lifting the caps with a screwdriver. That only scratched the edge of the wheel's recessed opening.

Then I spotted a plastic pipe clip in the trunk. It was designed to secure plumbing pipe with a diameter of about 0.8 inches, and it turned out to be a perfect fit.

The clip's inward-angled tabs spread slightly and snap over the raised edges of the plastic cap. By gently rocking the clip from side to side, I can pull the cap out without damaging the wheel.

I now keep the clip in the vehicle as a handy backup tool.