▷ Small car failures that turn into very expensive problems

Some people are simply too careless, while others don’t have the money or fear that going to the service for a regular checkup is too much of a luxury. It goes without saying that replacing some components will still be expensive, but if you don’t have the funds for repairs, why not park the car instead of risking your life and the lives of those around you.

The editors at Autoevolution.com have compiled a list of jobs that will not be expensive to complete on time and sometimes require only a few tools. If you are not a mechanic, entrust more complex repairs to masters – in many services it will not cost much. And the most important thing is that small, timely repairs will avoid very expensive repairs later. 100 euros saved can then become ten times the cost.

The most important minor repairs: Replacing the air, fuel and cabin filter

The simplest filters for mass consumption rarely cost more than 20 euros per unit. You probably don’t need the highest quality products for extreme conditions, but we still recommend choosing products from reputable manufacturers. If you don’t know much about the details, but still plan to buy it yourself, don’t be lazy to search for a specific product online.

In case you will entrust all this to service specialists, find out which filters have the best value for money. Changing coolant, gearbox oil and brake fluid Automatic gearboxes require special maintenance: their oil must be changed regularly. Which one to use depends on the specific show, but the most important thing is to stick to the schedule. If you find the gears shifting with interference, you can also change the oil earlier than expected. For manual gearboxes, the oil is changed much less often, but after lifting the car to inspect other components, it is also worth paying attention to see if there are leaks somewhere.

It is also worth checking the level at least once a year. Everyone knows that it is necessary to monitor the coolant level, but few motorists understand that it should be replaced with a new one every two years. The same goes for brake fluid. If you participate in amateur races or transport heavy loads, it is recommended to do this even more often.

Combustion and preheating glow plugs

The good functioning of the engine depends on these details, but very often they are forgotten. In a gasoline engine, the condition of the spark plugs has a huge impact on traction and fuel consumption, so if you forget about this, you are automatically wasting money. Ignoring the spark plugs for a long time will cause the engine to run rough and eventually stop altogether.

Glow plugs help start a diesel engine and combustion occurs due to the heat generated during compression. Without working spark plugs the engine won’t start at all and when not all of them work properly serious problems occur in winter.

A faulty spark plug in a gasoline engine can lead to premature misfire, which risks damaging the piston rings and contaminating the oil.

It is recommended to replace spark plugs according to the manufacturer’s instructions, even after purchasing a used car without maintenance documents.

Replacing the generator belt

One of the most obvious things that often cause serious problems for drivers is seat belts. For an average used car, the alternator belt costs around 20 euros, but for some models this part will be much more expensive.

If two belts are used in the engine, one of them rotates not only the generator, but also the water, power steering pump and other components. If the generator belt breaks, all the units listed above will stop working.

Its condition and tensioning mechanisms should be checked at least once a year. If you have not taken care to do this, the annoying squeak of the belt slipping will indicate a bad situation. Changing the belt will not be a problem for nailed men, but if you doubt your abilities, it is better to entrust this work to professionals.

Replacement of suspension bushes and brake hoses

A car can turn into a wreck in an instant. For this, the failure of a small detail is enough. Most rubber bushings for various suspension arms and rods can be replaced for a relatively small amount of money.

At that moment, the stability of the car on the road changes significantly due to the messy suspension, which poses a serious danger to all road users. Even a driver who does not exceed the speed limit can find himself in a very difficult situation.

The same can be said of the braking system. Alloy hoses can last up to five years without any problems, but rubber hoses are not as durable. Even a small leak means all the brake fluid will leak out. Replacing rubber hoses is not expensive, but one should not forget that the system must be perfectly drained when filling.