If you’ve been thinking, “I need to finish some of those automotive DIY projects I’ve started,” you’re not alone. When you’re passionate about DIY, it can be easy to forget about some of your old projects and start on new ones before you’ve ever had the chance to finish one. That said, your old car could probably use some attention going into 2023 - so as the new year is here, why not get motivated to start on a DIY project to improve your aging car and make that morning commute to work just a little bit more tolerable?

Let’s go over a few of the most creative DIY projects out there for you to make your old car feel brand new, as well as some step-by-step ways to use any car parts that you just don’t think you can salvage. From fixing tears to replacing your old car radio, it’s time to get to repairing and replacing!

Fix Tears In Upholstery

It is inevitable that some parts of your car see wear and tear over time, especially the upholstery. Whether you placed too heavy of an object on your car seat or your dog decided to chew up all of the leather, the damage tends to happen to fabrics over time. Thankfully, most tears in upholstery can easily be repaired at home, even for those without a lot of DIY experience.

Depending on whether the seats are cloth, leather, or vinyl, you will need to take a different approach to repair them. For cloth upholstery, you can simply sew the hole back together, or patch up larger holes. To repair leather or vinyl upholstery, you’ll need to take a trip to the auto parts store and purchase a specialized leather kit. From there, you can carefully fill in any tears.

In very rare cases, if there is severe damage done to your upholstery past some basic wear and tear, it might be a better idea to take your vehicle to a professional rather than trying to repair it yourself. You should immediately take your vehicle to a mechanic or repair shop for repairs if you notice that your seatbelts, airbags, or other safety features are damaged.

Replace Gaskets

Sometimes, your aging car might need more major repairs, like replacing the gaskets. If you don’t replace your gaskets when you need to, oil might leak from your car, resulting in both short-term and long-term damages. Thankfully, you can replace the gaskets on your car at home if you have the right materials and just a bit of experience. You’ll need to use a silicone sealant that is resistant to high heat, such as Hi-Temp Red & Blue 100% RTV Silicone Sealant & Gasket-Maker, to create new gaskets on your car.

Update Your Sound System

Some newer cars come with state-of-the-art sound systems built in, but many older vehicles still retain the original sound systems with which they came. Even newer cars can benefit from an aftermarket sound system since many built-in sound systems are relatively lackluster and cannot attain the same levels of bass as custom ones.

If you're stuck using FM/AM radio, it might be time to update your sound system by adding Bluetooth compatibility, an auxiliary cord port, and more. You can then connect your phone, using services like Sirius XM, Spotify, and Android Auto. Not only will you have access to more music and more flexibility of what you can listen to, you will also increase the quality of your audio in the process of fully replacing your car’s sound system.

Upcycling Your Car Parts

Sometimes issues go beyond minor DIY projects like fixing low tire pressure, the need to add some new in-car entertainment, or replacing your windshield wipers. If your dedicated repairs and TLC still don’t make your old car feel new or that engine light stays on, it might be really time to get a new vehicle - but you don’t have to sell your trusty old truck or sedan for parts. Instead, give your car new functionality after it wears out by choosing to reuse your car parts and turn them into something brand new.

Upcycling Idea: Wheel Rim Fire Pit

If you have been searching for a fire pit to add to your backyard, there’s no need to go out and buy one from the store; instead, you can use upcycled car parts. A wheel rim fire pit makes for a phenomenal and creative DIY that will delight your friends and family. If you’ve been thinking to yourself, “I need an interesting piece of furniture to add to our other patio,” don’t hesitate to turn your worn-out wheel rim into a delightful fire pit. No one can even tell that the parts have been upcycled!

Upcycling Idea: License Plate Decor

Use old license plates in a variety of ways to create decorations for your home and yard. You can cut up multiple license plates and weld them together to create wall hangings in any shape you desire, bird feeders or birdhouses, or even a stylish purse to carry with you. Don’t hesitate to get creative with your designs; these also make great and exceptionally unique gifts!

The Best Silicone For Automotive DIY Projects

When you’re working on making an old car look new again, you’ll need some tools to help you along the way. One of the most useful materials you can have in your toolbox while working on automotive DIY projects is silicone sealant. Silicone sealant can be used to repair gaskets, cracks, and tears in your auto body, and resolve many other problems that old cars tend to face.

For all of your automotive car sealant needs, look no further than Silicone Depot. We offer multiple types of hi-temp automotive car sealants that are perfect for any at-home DIY project, equipping you with durable, highly effective sealants that will solve all of your automotive problems.