Car troubles can be a real headache, particularly when they run up to a hundred- or thousand-dollar bills. Most of these repairs are indispensable and could even render your car unfit if not properly taken care of. Today, we’ll look at some of the most expensive car repairs and how much they’ll cost you.
Minor repairs like a wiper replacement, fixing the bumper, or changing the lights won’t cost you a lot or cause much harm to a car’s smooth operation. However, repairs like an Engine Control Unit replacement, fixing a broken clutch, alternator replacement, etc., can cost you a bomb.
These are some of the most expensive repairs your car can face over time.
ECU replacement
$950-$1500
The Engine Control Module on your car is one of the most integral components that aid the smooth operation of a car. This small, nondescript box controls various functions like the air-fuel ratio, valve control, variable valve timing, idle speed, etc. This, in turn, helps the engine achieve optimal performance.
The ECU system is a complex network of sensors and actuators, and damage can cause the car to not start up or can cause stalling while driving. This makes ECU replacements of the most expensive car repairs.
An ECU replacement can set you back by as much as a thousand dollars depending upon the make and model of the car. Now if you are planning a DIY, our humble advice is that you refrain from it, as ECU replacements are highly complex, and improper repairs will make you end up paying a lot more than you actually should. It’s always better to take your car to the mechanic should you have any concerns about your ECU’s performance.
Is it expensive to fix a hydrolocked car engine?
$3000-$10000
Water or coolant trapped inside your car’s engine cylinder, also known as hydrolocking, can cause if you drove your car through deep puddles or have partially or fully immersed your car in water for a long time. This can also happen due to coolant leaks caused due to a blown head gasket.
Hydrolocking can cause serious harm to its mechanicals, like its cylinders, pistons, and bearing, to bend, break, or crack. It eventually causes the engine to seize up, making it a problem requiring immediate attention.
However, engine repairs, in any form, are expensive, and fixing a hydrolocked engine is no exception. Expect to shell out around 3000 to 10000 dollars to repair a hydrolocked engine to bring it back to running shape. This makes it one of the most expensive car repairs.
Seized Engine
$3000 – $10000
The engine parts will start to grind against one another if you don’t keep the oil level healthy and change it regularly. Your engine will overheat due to the added friction, and its components will eventually grind down, leading the engine to seize up.
Fixing or rebuilding a seized engine can cost up to $10000. That said, strictly adhering to the service intervals and performing regular oil changes can avoid this highly expensive car repair. An oil change costs only under 100 dollars, so that shouldn’t stop you from getting one.
Clutch assembly replacement
$1200-$1500
Clutches are those car components that are constantly at work. Doing the job of engaging and disengaging the moving components in the drivetrain is one part of constant friction. And it is no surprise that they wear out rather quickly than any of the other car components, particularly if you don’t use them in the right manner. This calls for a replacement of the system, which turns out to be a really expensive car repair.
Is it expensive to fix the transmission on a car?
$2500-$5000
A car cannot run without a transmission. So, you know how difficult it can be to drive with a faulty one. Transmission failures can occur due to improper maintenance, overuse, and age. Though repairing it can be expensive and can cost you up to $5000, you can save some dollars by rebuilding it if that’s a possible option.
Fixing a blown head gasket: an expensive car repair?
$1800-$2500
A head gasket, which seals the engine cylinders, does an important job of preventing oil and coolant leaks that damages the engine. A blown head gasket can cause severe problems like hydrolocking, which can lead the engine to seize up. At an estimated cost of around 2500 dollars, fixing a broken head gasket fits very well into the list of the most expensive car repairs.
Broken timing belt
$600-$1000
Just like the clutch, the timing belt is another car component in constant use. It coordinates the function of the pistons and valves and ensures that all the engine components are working perfectly without damaging themselves. Though putting a new timing belt on your car isn’t as expensive as the repairs listed above, driving with a broken one, however, can end up causing severe damage to the engine components, which costs you an arm and a leg to repair.
Bottomline
Although some repairs are unavoidable and are simply part of owning a car, many are preventable through regular servicing, which is a matter of a few dollars. Therefore, it is crucial to always strictly adhere to the service intervals recommended by the manufacturer to avoid ending up with expensive car repairs.
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