With a constant increase in roadside assistance, especially due to the increase in the average age of vehicles, many cars and drivers are currently experiencing breakdowns that are somewhat higher than usual. This can also occur due to poor maintenance , since most motorists do not carry out a prior inspection of their car or often the periodic ones recommended by the manufacturer. But, what are the most expensive that we can play?
There are some particularly sensitive faults
As such, there are many factors that influence the performance of our vehicle. The way we drive, the use we make of the car and the quality of the parts have a great effect on the car. Although there are things that cannot be changed, correct maintenance can extend its useful life and also save you money.
But it is true that, if our time has come for our car, there is not much we can do, since sometimes the breakdown (which can be a simple momentary patch) is more expensive than a new vehicle.
Thus, as we are sure you know from experience, visits to the workshop are always feared by drivers, although, sooner or later, we have to go to them. But, of all the breakdowns that a car can suffer, there are some that are especially sensitive due to their high cost.
Which are
We point it out at a time when it is quite likely that you are thinking of going on vacation in your vehicle with your loved ones. For this reason, before leaving for the weekend, bridge or even those well-deserved early vacations, it is important to carry out a review to avoid a possible upset on the road.
In this way, and in a safe way, being preventive will avoid numerous problems , and increase our safety at the wheel. As you know, a car is a lot of expenses (taxes, breakdowns, maintenance, gasoline, ITV…), but a rule that generally works quite well in the long run, is to budget for breakdowns or maintenance of the vehicle according to the cost we make in fuel. in the same relationship. However, the following breakdowns can ruin any estimate or budget that we have in mind.
Turbo
One of the most expensive breakdowns that a car can have and therefore, one of the most feared by drivers is that the turbo breaks. Nine out of ten vehicles sold today are turbocharged.
This piece, loved by many and hated by others, aims to increase engine performance . Of course, if it breaks, the repair can exceed 1,000 euros . It is also possible to access spare parts and second-hand or rebuilt parts whose value ranges between 300 and 600 euros, finding some used turbos for up to 200 and 400 euros.
Gearbox
Another of the most feared parts, and for which it faces the most serious and expensive breakdowns that we can suffer. If it is a manual gearbox, like most in Spain, the repair can take nine hours of work and cost 4,580 euros .
On the other hand, if it is automatic, it will amount to ten hours of labor and a total cost of 7,650 euros . To avoid this, we recommend driving without sudden starts and with gradual acceleration.
Timing belt
The timing belt is a mechanical element that is very prone to wear. It is essential to proceed with its replacement in accordance with the specifications of each manufacturer. As a general rule, the replacement must take place within a range of between 60,000 and 160,000 kilometers or, if the vehicle is not in use, every 5 or 6 years at the most.
If it is not replaced within the safety margins, the chances of the timing belt breaking are very high. The problem is that if the timing belt breaks, it will throw a lot of engine parts out of sync. The result is that the connecting rods, pistons, valves, camshaft, water pump and even the crankshaft can end up affected. The repair of this type of breakdown can reach 3,000 euros and, in some cases, send the car to the scrapyard.
faulty injectors
We also have the injection system, which is what must provide the right amount of fuel , depending on the demand of the engine at all times. When an injector fails, it can cause damage to other parts.
The cost of replacement ranges between 250 and 500 euros , depending on whether it is a diesel engine or a gasoline engine. The best prevention is to frequently change the fuel filter and under no circumstances fill the gas tank.
Crankshaft
This is another fundamental piece in internal combustion engines. It is an axis, with elbows and counterweights, in charge of transforming the alternative rectilinear movement into a uniform circular one. If we compare it with, for example, the timing belt or the gearbox, its price is reduced, but it is still one of the most expensive breakdowns that our car can have.
And it is that what makes the price rise is that to reach it, several elements must be assembled and disassembled . Its change requires about 18 hours of work and the price is about 1,680 euros . One of the signs that can warn you that there are problems with the crankshaft is if you detect oil leaks.