Driving a car is almost necessary for the everyday individual. You rely on your vehicle to get you back and forth to work, you rely on it to get your kids to and from and school, and you depend on it to get you around town. Well, it is true that owning a vehicle comes with a lot of associated costs. Insurance is probably one of the biggest costs, but you also have gas and regular maintenance costs that can add up as well. And, this is not to even mention when the vehicle breaks down. There are a lot of moving parts in a vehicle and once you reach a certain mileage it is just a matter of time before something goes wrong. So, what are the most expensive repairs that you might have to make to your vehicle?
Transmission
A transmission is the component of the vehicle that is responsible for switching gears and it is without a doubt one of the most expensive parts in the vehicle. A replacement transmission could run you anywhere from $1000 to $4000, depending on the type of vehicle that you are driving. If your vehicle is only worth $8,000 or less, you might just want to consider scrapping it if the transmission goes out. Due to the complexity of this component it is extremely hard and time consuming for the average individual to make the replacement himself. Not to mention that it is extremely heavy.
The Alternator
Unfortunately, the alternator is a part that commonly goes out on vehicles and it is something that the car cannot operate without. The alternator is responsible for supplying power to the battery and keeping the battery charged. If you find yourself constantly boosting or charging your battery there is a good chance that your alternator could be going out. You will probably pay right around $500 plus labor just to have the alternator changed out. The total cost will probably be well over $1000 in the end.
Fuel Pump
If you speak to any collision center they will tell you that the fuel pump is another common part that often goes out on vehicles. In fact, once your vehicle reaches anywhere from 100,000 to 200,000 miles you can probably expect to change the fuel pump. The fuel pump is responsible for supplying the correct amount of pressure to the fuel injectors. If you turn your key on without starting the vehicle and listen, you will hear the fuel pump kick on. It is the first major component that fires up and often times when it goes bad the vehicle won’t start. However, it could also cause the vehicle to sputter or drive abnormally. A repair of this magnitude will cost anywhere from $800 to $1,000.
Damaged Camshafts
Fortunately, if you keep up with routine oil changes and constantly check the oil, you might actually be able to avoid a damaged of broken camshaft. However, this is not always the case. Sometimes the component can get damaged in the event that the valve spring pressure is thrown off. This component controls the air intake of the engine and it will probably be over a $2,000 repair.