According to recent numbers from CarMD.com, a leading provider of
auto repair data, the average American spends between three and four
hundred dollars a year to keep their car roadworthy. Although costs
differ slightly from place to place, the types of repairs that are
needed remain remarkably consistent. Here are the five most common jobs
that mechanics undertake.
1. Replacing the Oxygen Sensor
The
modern vehicle is an extremely efficient machine that relies on
computer chips, rather than mechanical parts, to keep things running
smoothly. The oxygen sensor is an important component that monitors the
amount of unburned O2 in the exhaust system. When it stops working, for
whatever reason, the check engine light will almost certainly come on. A
relatively inexpensive job, it often sets drivers back a couple hundred
dollars.
2. Brake Work
As strong as they may be, all brakes
eventually wear out. When they start to squeal, squeak, or make other
strange noises, there's a good chance a brake part must be replaced.
From brake pads to rotors to calipers and brake lines, these jobs are
often quite simple and relatively inexpensive.
3. Putting in New Spark Plugs
Responsible
for igniting the fuel in the cylinders, spark plugs are small,
inexpensive parts that can cause big problems when they go bad. While it
is true that drivers can easily replace spark plugs on their own,
putting them in the wrong way may reduce gas mileage or damage the
pricey catalytic converter. As such, it's often a good idea to have a
professional mechanic handle this common auto repair job.
4. Tire Replacement/Repair
Although
their longevity varies greatly based on the vehicle type and daily
driving conditions, most drivers replace their tires several times. More
often than not, this ends up costing several hundred dollars for a full
set of tires. It is not surprising, then, that most folks choose to
have their tires fixed, rather than replaced, when possible. The good
news is that holes in tires can often be patched for a fraction of the
cost of a new tire.
5. Replacing the Catalytic Converter
Even
though it is made to last for the life of the vehicle, problems with
the catalytic converter are surprisingly common. This important
automotive part is responsible for converting dangerous engine gases
into less harmful exhaust fumes. According to most studies, the
catalytic converter can reduce harmful gases by up to 90 percent.
Unfortunately, when the pricey component goes bad, it must be replaced
before the vehicle can legally operate on U.S. roads. For drivers who
already have a bad converter, expect to pay upwards of a thousand
dollars for this auto repair job. But for everyone else, it is important
to know the warning signs of this preventable problem. In most
instances, the catalytic converter only fails after another related
part, such as a fuel injector or spark plug, is ignored for quite some
time. In other words, it is always a good idea to handle small repairs
before they cause expensive problems.
These auto repair issues are
the most common reasons Americans visit their local mechanic. By
keeping an eye out for them and talking to your local shop about
preventative maintenance, you can keep your vehicle running for years to
come!
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Anders_Abadie/1022510
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9311000
