Contrary to the popular expression about a car as a means of transportation, and not a luxury, sometimes the cost of maintaining and repairing an "iron horse" results in significant expenses for the owner. Sometimes they can be very tangible for the wallet.
The status of a car owner provides a person with convenience, mobility and comfort, and the costs of owning a car are usually justified by them. However, you always need to be mentally prepared for financial spending. Knowing the weak points (or rather, the most expensive parts) of the car, you can prevent or at least minimize the potential costs of the car. Yes, yes, the slogan "forewarned is forearmed", despite its hackneyedness, is relevant in this case.
Which parts of the car are expensive
Engine
This is one of the most expensive units in terms of repair and maintenance. Its cost can reach half (and sometimes more) the cost of a car. A routine but necessary procedure for a timely oil change can save the engine from damage and save money.
But only oil, the cost of the cost of maintaining the motor is not limited. And if replacing a blown fuse is usually not difficult and relatively inexpensive, then overhaul or complete replacement of the engine entails significant financial costs. And that's not to mention the time and nerves spent on fixing.
What can break:
- The cylinder head gasket fails. In this case, the engine cylinder will depressurize, and oil and coolant can enter the crankcase. The cylinder head gasket itself is inexpensive, but repairing engine damage if it malfunctions can cost a pretty penny.
- The camshaft fails. This is usually due to contamination of the camshaft with slag waste and dirt. Replacing it is a laborious and therefore expensive process. Therefore, its purity must be monitored and periodically cleaned without waiting for failure. This should be done regularly - for example, simultaneously with an oil change. Also, timely cleaning and adjustment of the engine valves will not hurt.
- Defective motor cylinders. A terrible dream of any car owner. Replacing cylinders is troublesome and expensive. To replace the cylinders in a faulty engine, you need to pull it out entirely from its place. And sometimes it happens that it is easier and cheaper to buy a new engine than to bother with repairing an old one. It should be borne in mind that the more powerful the motor, the more expensive it is to repair or replace it. Therefore, you should not be frivolous about the engine check indicator lit up on the dashboard, it is better to immediately find out the nature of the malfunction and fix it as soon as possible, getting off with minimal financial costs, or even just a slight fright.
Body
The cost of the body is a significant part of the price of the car, therefore, when operating the car, it should be carefully looked after. Prevention of corrosion of the body of a new car, as a rule, does not require large expenses. It is enough to keep it clean and use special means - to apply anti-corrosion compounds to the places most susceptible to corrosion: the bottom, wheel arches, hidden cavities and joints of body parts.
If we are talking about a used car, then body costs can be significantly higher. That is why when buying a used car, you should carefully inspect the car for the presence of foci of corrosion. If the body is rusted very badly, then this, in addition to a not very aesthetically pleasing appearance, can have more dire consequences, including for the financial condition of the owner of such a car.
So, for example, through corrosion can lead to a violation of the strength of the body struts, the attachment of shock absorbers, to the destruction of side members and frames and other similar troubles, which will require significant financial investments to fix.
A separate issue is spending on a car body after an accident. Elimination of even minor damage to the body that requires only local repair - elimination of scratches, chips, cracks, painting parts - is not cheap. What can we say about cases when tin work is required - extraction, repair or replacement of body parts, welding of parts, restoration of geometry ...
In addition, a check for hidden damage is often required. And in such cases, the cost of repairs can reach the purchase price of a new body.
Brake system
Under some conditions, brakes can also become a very expensive part of the car. So, if replacing brake pads when they are worn out does not hit the budget hard, then some other malfunctions of the brake system can lead to high expenses for their elimination. For example, repairing or replacing a brake line in the event of a leak or depressurization is a very costly procedure.
By the way, if you suspect a malfunction of the brakes, you need to check, in addition to the pads, also the caliper. And replace it if necessary. But this can already entail significant costs: the cost of a caliper, especially an original one, is from several thousand to several tens of thousands of rubles. Plus, you'll have to fork out for the replacement work.
Steering
The cost of repairing a steering system if it fails can be very high. The main problems of the steering are the knocking of the rack and the leakage of the power steering fluid. Replacing the entire steering rack is expensive, and if the car owner has limited finances, then repair rather than replacement is usually chosen. But even simple repairs will also cost a lot of money.
Suspension
In the conditions of Russian highways, the suspension is often perceived as almost a consumable. And the cost of "fixing or replacing" in the suspension is to be expected. Repairs are generally inexpensive. Some parts and spare parts can make it not very budgetary - for example, the cost of controlled shock absorbers or pneumatics is usually quite high.
In case of intensive use of the car, the low cost of repairing the suspension is "compensated" by its frequency. Small, but frequent expenses for this part of the car do not add to the joy of the car owner.
The presence of holes, dirt and dust on our roads, along with the harsh driving style of many car owners and extreme overloads, as well as corrosion and constant temperature fluctuations (overheating of shock absorbers or increased fragility of parts in cold weather) contribute to an increase in spending on constant repairs to the suspension.
Transmission
Automakers strive to make the transmission as reliable as possible, as it is one of the most important parts of a car. Therefore, with careful use of the machine, transmission malfunctions do not occur very often. In some situations (sudden gear shifting, untimely oil change, gearbox braking, pusher start and other similar operating conditions), the probability of damage to the transmission increases.
Most often, problems such as problems with gear shifting, uncharacteristic noise during gearbox operation during normal operation, leakage of lubricant, overheating of gearbox assemblies are possible.
Transmission repairs are often expensive. In addition to the actual elimination of malfunctions and the possible purchase of spare parts necessary for repair, you will have to pay for dismantling, disassembly, troubleshooting of units, as well as assembly, installation and adjustment of the box.As a rule, the cost of repairing an automatic transmission is higher compared to repairing a "mechanics" due to the more complex design of the former.
Air conditioner (climate control)
Not the most necessary part of the car - you can drive the car without it. But with her, of course, it is much more comfortable. And additional comfort entails additional expenses. The main ones are the costs of system maintenance and diagnostics.
It is inexpensive and uncomplicated. But it is necessary to do it regularly (about once a year) in order to identify and neutralize possible malfunctions before they develop into a problem that will require significant expenses for repairs. More expenses will be required by periodic charging of the air conditioner with refrigerant.
What else determines the amount of spending on car parts
- From the car model. For example, some older models of Volvo and Audi cars, which have high-tech suspensions, in the event of a malfunction, can cause significant damage to the wallet - the cost of repairing such parts can reach a third of the price of the entire car.
- General condition of the vehicle, including driving style and maintenance intervals. So, a timely replaced timing belt will save you from repairing colliding pistons and engine valves, and avoiding excessive shock loads and overheating of shock absorbers will extend the life of the suspension and save finances for its repair or replacement.
- From the car brand. That is, the brand. As well as the rating of car manufacturers. Often, spending on cars of more "prestigious" brands is higher simply because the brand is "promoted", and spare parts, consumables and maintenance costs for such machines are higher than the market average.
Conclusion
Having bought a car (whether it's a novelty just off the assembly line of a factory or a used, well-worn car), its happy owner is just embarking on a path of spending and expenses. And from now on, his goal will be to try to make sure that these expenses, in addition to paying for gasoline, insurance and parking, are limited mainly to spending on the purchase of consumables and maintenance. It is better not to bring the car to a deplorable state.
But you must always be prepared for the fact that the "iron horse" can present an unpleasant surprise in the form of a breakdown or the need to replace any components, assemblies or parts. Well, here, as they say, you like to drive a car - love it and sometimes lie under the car. Or, in a more modern version: if you love the comfort of a car, you should also allocate money for repairs and maintenance.
|| list |
- Which parts of the car are expensive
- Engine
- Body
- Brake system
- Steering
- Suspension
- Transmission
- Air conditioner (climate control)
- What else determines the amount of spending on car parts
