Auto Savings: 6 Expensive Car Repairs With Cheaper Alternatives
Thursday, March 20, 2014, 1:00 PM | Leave Comment
It doesn’t take much for seemingly basic car repairs to drain a bank account. While safety should always come first, there are a few basic repairs and replacements that have cheap alternatives that most drivers can carry out at a fraction of the average cost.
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Squealing Belts
This is one of the most common problems and is typically heard when the car is first turned on. Taking a vehicle to a mechanic for this obnoxious noise could mean everything from replacing every belt in the engine to a complete overhaul of the pulleys. A majority of the time, this noise comes from either the serpentine belt or the fan belt, each of which can be replaced at home.
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Tuning
Tuning can be carried out in various stages and is typically done within a garage, but they can now be accomplished with mobile apps. For just a fraction of the price, an apps can be purchased for newer cars in order to carry out stage 1 tuning which will lead to better gas mileage, a more responsive drive, and reduced chance of a catastrophic misfire.
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Tires
Unfortunately, many of the leading tire companies now only offer sets of 4 tires instead of simply replacing one. This is due to safety issues that could pop up due to an imbalance, but patching tires is now more effective than ever. As long as flat is the result of a small tear or hole and not on the sidewall, the tire can almost always be patched instead of replaced.
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Loud Brakes
When brakes begin to squeal, most mechanics will suggest a full flush of the brake system, adjusting the calipers, and finally replacing the brake pads. In some cases, these lengthy fixes only need to be carried out every few years and nothing more than the brake pads need to be changed which can typically be done with a home tool set.
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Antifreeze Leak
If small puddles of green fluid are found under a vehicle it means that there is an antifreeze leak. If the radiator or water pump is cracked, the repairs are going to be expensive, but most of the time it is nothing more than a worn and cracked hose. Almost all hoses can be accessed directly in the hood and require nothing more than a Philips screwdriver to replace.
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Cracked Windshield
Just because your windshield has a small chip or crack in it, it may not need to be completely replaced. A substantial crack or fracture might require a whole new windshield, but smaller repairs can be done for a lot less. If you aren’t sure, take your car in to a shop like All-West Glass Ltd., that does windshield crack repair in Edmonton, and they can better assess it for you.
Vehicle repairs are going to happen at some point, but they do not need to break the bank. Understanding the basics of vehicle maintenance could go a long ways when it comes to saving time and money.
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