Nobody is a stranger to a car repair even though we hope our vehicle will run smoothly up until the day we upgrade to a new one. From time to time something will go wrong, so it’s important to know what to look out for and how you can prevent similar issues in the future.
All repairs differ greatly in terms of price and solutions but all are essential to keep your car running smoothly and safely. Here are the most common car repairs you’re likely to encounter as a vehicle owner:
Brakes
Arguably one of the most important elements of your car, brakes experience wear and tear over their lifetime but are easy to forget about. You’re more than likely to going to need a brake pad or disc replacement at some point or another and though nobody likes surprise repair bills, you can’t put a price on your safety.
There are some tell-tale signs that you need to get your brakes checked as soon as possible, such as a warning light on your dashboard, strange noises, or pulling to one side while braking. If this sounds like your vehicle, don’t wait to get this checked out by a professional – it’s just not worth it.
Coil Springs
Thanks in part to the condition of UK roads and heavier cars, coil springs are often getting damaged and messing with the suspension in your car. Though there isn’t much you can do about dodgy roads, you try and preserve your coil springs by taking care when driving over speed bumps and having them replenished every so often.
The cost to replace a coil spring can vary upwards of a few hundred pounds and this can be a shock to your expenses when it comes as a surprise, so keep these in good condition by having a mechanic check them every so often.
Batteries
Car batteries have limited lifespans, with most being designed to last between five and seven years depending on the type and brand of the one in your car. You’re likely going to need to replace it at least once during the course of your ownership, even if you’ve recently purchased the vehicle from a previous owner.
To prevent any inconvenient scenario of a flat battery and a potentially costly repair, you can familiarise yourself with the five signs that your car battery needs charging or replacing. These range from obvious alerts such as a battery warning light on your dashboard to something as ominous as the car’s start-stop function has stopped working. Regardless of repairs, sometimes unfortunately there does come a time when you need to source a replacement if your current vehicle is no longer up to standard.
You may choose to do this by taking out a car loan and work out a replayment plan, or look into alternative funding options to get a new car which you’ll be able to rely on.