Car repair - what needs to be replaced regularly. Guide
Most cars on Polish roads are cars that are at least a few years old. Regularly check what needs to be replaced.
Buying a used car is always the beginning of the costs associated with it.
Which parts usually need to be replaced after purchase and which wear out the fastest?
Car parts can be divided into two groups: those that must be replaced, and those that can wait, provided that the technical inspection shows the opposite.
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The first group includes:
– oil and oil filter,
– air and fuel filters,
– the timing belt with tensioners and the water pump, if it is driven by the timing belt,
– spark plugs or glow plugs,
- liquid in the cooling system.
– If we bought a used car, these elements must be replaced regardless of what the car seller claims, unless there is evidence of replacement of these parts in the form of an entry in the car book with service marks, advises Bohumil Papernik, ProfiAuto.pl expert, an automotive network that unites spare parts dealers and independent car workshops in 200 Polish cities.
You should not refuse to replace these elements, because the failure of any of them exposes us to expensive engine repairs. Moreover, it is impossible to check the technical condition of these parts by a simple visual inspection.
The second group includes those parts, the condition of which can be diagnosed during the technical inspection of the car. Inspection in a car repair shop, of course, should be carried out before buying a car. This group includes:
– elements of the brake system – pads, discs, drums, pads, cylinders plus possible replacement of brake fluid,
- suspension - fingers, tie rods, rocker bushings, stabilizer rubber bands,
– inspection of the air conditioner with cabin filter,
- Alternator belt with tensioner
– shock absorbers when the vehicle has been driven more than 100 km or if the check shows they are worn out.
How much do parts for popular cars cost?
The average cost of spare parts from the first group for VW Golf IV 1.9 TDI, 2000-2005, 101 km, using good, branded goods that meet the standards of the original part according to the GVO, is about 1 PLN. For the second group: PLN 300.
The most expensive repair
The most expensive repairs await us in the event of a diesel engine failure, especially with Common Rail technology. – So if in a car with a diesel engine we observe excessive smoke during start-up and acceleration, difficulties with starting, it should be assumed that expensive elements of the injection system have worn out. The cost of regeneration or replacement can reach several thousand zł, says Witold Rogowski, ProfiAuto.pl expert.
An equally expensive repair will be the replacement of a turbocharger, both in cars with gasoline and diesel engines. A turbocharger failure is also more difficult to diagnose during a test drive or a simple inspection.
- Here you need to use a diagnostic tester, which I recommend doing in every car before buying. A symptom of problems with the compressor may be the lack of noticeable acceleration, high engine power after exceeding two to two and a half thousand revolutions per minute, Witold Rogovsky advises.
What negligence in repairs can have the most serious consequences?
Malfunctions of many vehicle components directly affect safety. Operating a vehicle with faulty shock absorbers, steering play, or a faulty brake system (for example, brake fluid not replaced on time) can cause an accident.
On the other hand, the sheer savings of replacing timing components such as the belt, tensioner, or often overlooked water pump will result in the destruction of expensive mechanical engine components, i.e. pistons, valves, and camshaft.
Which used cars are considered less accident-prone?
As auto mechanics mockingly say, indestructible cars ended with the departure of the VW Golf II and Mercedes W124. “Unfortunately, the rule is that the more modern a car with more on-board electronics, the more unreliable it is,” emphasizes Bohumil Paperniok.
He adds that fleet experience shows that Ford Focus II 1.8 TDCI and Mondeo 2.0 TDCI were some of the best models, while independent studies, for example in the German market, consistently show Toyota vehicles as the least accident-prone.
– Polish drivers are constantly attentive to products with the Volkswagen badge, such as Golf or Passat, and this is probably not an unreasonable procedure, says the ProfiAuto.pl expert.
What cars have cheap parts?
The cheapest in terms of repair costs are the most popular brands in our country. These are certainly such models as Opel Astra II and III, VW Golf from I to IV generation, Ford Focus I and II, older versions of Ford Mondeo and Fiat. Parts for French Peugeot, Renault and Citroen cars can be a bit more expensive.
Do not be afraid of Japanese and Korean cars, because we have a wide range of suppliers, both manufacturers of original spare parts and substitutes.
What parts and fluids must be replaced in a car, regardless of the car's mileage:
- brake fluid - every 2 years;
- coolant - every 5 years and earlier, if after checking the frost resistance is below -20 degrees C;
- engine oil with filter - every year or earlier, if the mileage and recommendations of the car manufacturer indicate it;
- wipers or their brushes - every 2 years, in practice it is better every year;
- Timing and alternator belts - every 5 years, regardless of mileage;
- tires after 10 years are definitely to be thrown away due to the aging of rubber (of course, they usually wear out faster);
- brake cylinders - after 5 years, they will probably have to be replaced due to the aging of the seals.
Pavel Puzio based on materials from ProfiAuto.pl
