Car Repair, The Common Issues

Here are the most frequent repairs according to the survey:

5. Replacing Spark Plugs

This is a small part that when faulty can result in huge problems for car owners. While changing the spark plugs on your own is a possibility, and can cost significantly less, a faulty spark plug can cause significant damage to your gas mileage and your catalytic converter. The latter of these car components is very expensive and therefore it is worth the small expense of the experienced mechanic to save on the potential costs of further repairs.

According to the survey, spark plugs were responsible for 3.71% of all repairs.

4. Replacing Mass Air Flow Sensor

This device measures how much air is supplied to the engine and then determines the amount of fuel that is required to keep it running. Nearly one in twenty repairs (4.36%) are because of a faulty mass air flow sensor; but this needn’t be the case. This repair is preventable if you replace your air filters on a regular basis. Replacing the air filters would cost you about $20-$30; a sensor repair can cost you approximately $200.

3. Catalytic Converter Replacement

The catalytic converter replacement takes up 6.4% of all repairs and the most expensive on this list. However, this repair is completely avoidable if you pay attention to other, less expensive, components of your car; for instance, your spark plugs and fuel injector. Ignoring these components for too long will result in a damaged catalytic converter and an expensive repair bill, often over $1000.

2. Loose Fuel Caps

Nearly one in ten repairs (9.28%) are because of loose fuel caps. While this repair is fairly cheap to correct, it can cause additional problems: mainly to the efficiency of your fuel usage. CarMD estimates that approximately 147 million gallons of gas is evaporated each year because of lost, damaged or missing fuel caps.

1. Oxygen Sensor Replacement

Only just being the top reason why cars end up in the repair shop, the oxygen sensor is an essential repair that needs to be done by a mechanic. The main reason for this is because the sensor that detects whether there is too much or too little gas in the tank is often hidden behind special covers that require specialist tools.

Conclusion

Many of the most frequent car repairs are fairly inexpensive. Those that are expensive are often the result of poor maintenance or smaller items not being repaired early enough. Ensure you don’t create a larger bill for yourself by having a preventative car maintenance schedule in place.

Actions you can take:

• Conduct regular car maintenance to check for potential problems before they become too serious.
• Change your air filters regularly.
• Speak to us about what preventative measures you can take to ensure your car is only in the repair shop when it is needed.

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When Should You Get a Timing Belt Change?

Because most cars have a timing belt installed, your car most likely has one too. If you are unsure if your car has a timing belt or chain, remember to check your owner’s manual and the scheduled maintenance section or just give us a quick call, we are happy to help you figure things out.

Timing belts should be replaced at scheduled service intervals. The timing for these changes can range from 60,000 to 110,000 miles; depending on your vehicle’s make, model, engine type and the year it was produced.

If you haven’t had a timing belt change for 72 months, even if you haven’t reached 110,000 miles, you should arrange for a new belt to be fitted anyway. This is strongly recommended by many car manufacturers, including Honda, as belts can degrade over time.

It is not safe to judge the condition of the timing belt by visual inspection alone. Some damage may be hidden and incorrectly assuming a belt is safe can be dangerous and expensive.

What Happens If Your Timing Belt Breaks

If you are unfortunate enough to have your timing belt break, your car will come to an immediate stop. Your car will need to be towed to the nearest repair shop and your engine may have suffered internal damage. Next to the timing belt change, this could result in your vehicle needing a new engine, which is very expensive and takes a significant amount of time to complete.

Change The Water Pump

Even on regular changes of your timing belt you should look to replace the water pump. Not doing so can cause more trouble for you later on, such as breaking the timing belt: which makes the original work pointless and add additional repairs.

Not having your vehicle can be very inconvenient. Therefore, ensure you aren’t making one of the most common car maintenance mistakes and ensure all the maintenance is undertaken at the same time. This will save you time, costs and be more convenient.

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There is no single error indicated by the light; it could be one (or more) from a host of various problems. So what should you do? How do you check what is wrong with your vehicle?

While the activation of the light does not necessarily mean you need to immediately end your journey and call for assistance, it does indicate there is a fault with your car. The most common causes for the indicator are a malfunction of the oxygen sensor, mass air flow sensor, spark plugs or wires.

Not getting the vehicle quickly enough to a mechanic could result in a higher repair bill later on when the fault worsens or causes further damage. Also, the longer you leave the maintenance check, the more money you are spending due to a decrease in fuel efficiency.

What To Do When Your Check Engine Light Comes On

If the check engine light starts flashing, you should immediately schedule a check for your vehicle. This is a sign that there is a major fault with your vehicle and this could be dangerous.

When your vehicle is in for a maintenance check, your OBDII trained and certified technician will use the best diagnostic tools to identify the cause of the fault. Then your technician should be able to advise you of the best course of action and what repairs are required to return your vehicle to its peak performance.

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