Keeping Your Car Breakdown Free

Keeping Your Car Breakdown Free

With the average cost of a new car over $25,000, maintenance is crucial

Cars just aren’t made the way they used to be. Thanks to Total Quality Management, they’re made better. But not even the most demanding of automakers has figured out a way to keep a car running if it’s not properly maintained. And with the average price of a new car now exceeding $25,000, at least, the price of neglect can wreak havoc with your budget. To keep your garage bills down and your wheels running smoothly, Automotive Services at the American Automobile association, recommends the following maintenance schedule:

Check the brakes for wear once a year. The front brakes wear out more quickly than the back brakes, particularly in the city, where you have to start and stop in traffic. Many repair shops have free safety checks. Replacing wrn brake pads should not cos much, including labor. If the pistons have to be rebuilt or replaced, that would cost more, but it will not be too costly.

Change the oil and oil filter every three months, or every 3,000 to 4,000 miles. Oil lubricates and cools the engine. When it becomes dirty, it’s doing its job. But if it gets too contaminated, it can cause more wear on the engine than there should be. An oil change will usually cost less than a hundred dollars even at a garage. Manufacturers typically recommend standard oil, which is defined as meeting manufacturers’ specifications. Synthetic oil is blended better and only needs changing once a year, but it’s considerably more expensive. If the auto manufacturer stipulates that the oil be changed at certain intervals, and you don’t do so, the manufacturer won’t accept liability if the car breaks down.

Replace the air and fuel filters when they are dirty, or once a year. The fuel takes particles from the gas tank and filters it, so it doesn’t clog fuel injection equipment. It also stops water that may build up in the fuel injection system. Replacing the fuel filter should cost about $55: about $20 for the filter and about half an hour of labor, depending on where it is located.

Air filters screen out dirt from the engine clean. They need to be replaced once a year unless you live in extremely dusty conditions. Filters cost $10 to $15 and take only a couple minutes of labor to replace.

Replace spark plugs every 30,00 miles. Spark plugs ignite the mixture of fuel and air in the cobustion cylinder. They are like the pilot light on a gas stove. If they’re not replaced from to time to time, the car may not start or may be sluggish or jerky. Depending on how many cylinders your car has, it takes about one and a half hour of labor, at anywhere from $60 to $80 per hour.

Check the battery regularly. The average life of battery is two to three years, possibly longer. A new one costs around $100. Corroded connections need cleaning or replacing. If you don’t have the maintenance-free variety, be sure to check the water.

Replace radiator and heater hoses every five years. The radiator and heater hoses are made of rubber, so they can get brittle and crack , which is when they fail. It’s usually the bottom radiator hose that goes; it’s the hardest to see and it id not regularly looked at. A replacement hose doesn’t cost much, plus about one and a half hours of expert labor. But replacing hoses before they go can save as much as $1,000 in repairs on an overheated engine. Sometimes a garage will replace the hoses at the some time as it replaces antifreeze.

Keep your car breakdown free. Photo by Elena

Change the antifreeze mixture every two years. The cooling system includes the radiator, heater core, hoses that attach the engine, and the antifreeze mixture. In a place where there are extreme conditions, the antifreeze mixture should be changed once a year. To flush and refill the antifreeze mixture takes about an hour. Some specials must cost around $60, otherwise, it can cost up to $150.

Leave the air-conditioner alone unless it’s not cooling. There are three major parts of an air-conditioner that can go bad. The problem with the condenser or evaporator will cost a few hundred dollars; a problem with the compressor also. If you need more freon, the likely bill will be about $100.

Check the exhaust system regularly. The rubber mounts that hold the exhaust system sometimes need to be replaced if they are worn. Wear is more likely if you take a lot of short trips, but in some cases, mounts will never need replacing. The exhaust system should also be checked for leaks at least once a year on late-model cars, and twice a year on older cars. In the height of summer or winter, the windows are closed; if there’s a leak in the exhaust system, you could be breathing the fumes. A garage will normally check your system free of charge. A new exhaust system will cost you up to $1,000 or more.

Check tires at least once a month for proper pressure and other problems. Low tire pressure cuts gas mileage and affects the car’s stability and safety. Tires also should be inspected for bulges or cuts on the side wall. Sometimes a tire is wearing unevenly, and there are rough edges. If you use a full-service gas station, they usually check the tire for free. You don’t have to take the tires off.

Rotate your tires every 10,000 miles or once a year. It costs dozens of dollars, but if you don’t do it, your tires will wear out a lot faster.

Replace wiper blades once a year. Do it before rainy season. If you get new blades, you can insert them into the arm yourself. You can replace the whole unit for a few dollars. It’s about 15 minutes of labor. A repair shop may install them for free.

Check vehicle lights regularly, especially during winter. To get the brake lights replaced, it costs less then $10 for a bulb. It’s a about a half-hour’s work. Changing the brake light in some cars can be done in 2 or 3 minutes. In the winter, it’s especially important to make sure the headlights are working properly. Depending on the type of headlights, it will take 15 minutes to a half-hour to change them. Normally, a new bulb doesn’t cost much.

Replace the clutch on a manual transmission every 60,000 to 100,000 miles. If you ride the clutch excessively, replacement will be needed sooner. Expect to pay from $400 or more for a new clutch.

The Fix-It Factor

Engine overhaul: If the engine is worn out, making a lot of noise, blowing smoke, or has no power, it might need an overhaul. That’s when an engine gets rebuilt to the manufacturer’s specification. For a 4-cylinder engine, it might cost thousands, it can get up even more for an 8-cylinder. That’s when you have to evaluate if it’s worth putting that much money into the vehicle.

Automatic transmission: The automatic transmission should be serviced every 25,000 miles. Symptoms of automatic transmission failure are that the vehicle feels as if it lacks power, is going nowhere, or is making grinding noises. The majority just won’t drive. If you have a transmission failure, it could cost thousands