TECHNOLOGY
automotive
Consumer Reports Say Don’t Let Small Car Problems
Turn Into Costly Headaches Down The Road
A
car will usually signal that something isn’t right long Reports Auto Test Center. “But taking
before it has a major failure, and according to Consumer immediate action when you hear a
Reports, that is the time to have it fixed. If early warn- noise or feel something wrong can
ing signs are ignored, small problems could lead to expensive save you thousands of dollars on
repairs in the future or even leave you stranded on the side of the avoidable repairs.”
road. Simply putting off a $30 oil
As people are keeping their cars longer, maintenance and change for 11,000 miles or
repairs are becoming a more pressing concern. Nearly half of the more can be devastating to
respondents to the 2009 Consumer Reports Car Brand Percep- your car and your wallet. In
tions Survey reported that they have delayed the purchase of a some cases sludge buildup can
new vehicle. lead to failure of the engine,
“Following the recommended maintenance schedule in your which can cost as much as
vehicle owner’s manual is the best way to avert many large $6,000 to replace. Similarly, an
problems,” says David Champion, senior director, Consumer oil leak caught early can be an
inexpensive fix, but ignoring it can
lead to a lack of proper engine lubrication
and ultimately engine failure. Timing belt
replacement is another routine service that can lead to engine
failure. Replacing your car’s timing belt on schedule, usually
between 60,000 and 100,000 miles, will cost around $600.
Additional information about early automotive fixes and how
to find a great mechanic is available in the September 2009 issue
of Consumer Reports and at www.ConsumerReportsenEs-
panol.org.
Monitoring and repairing other leaks, like transmission fluid,
can also save you money. Having your transmission rebuilt can
cost $3,000 - as much as ten times more than repairing the ini-
tial leak. Other common fixes that can save car owners cash
include:
square6 Replacing brake pads ($100 to $200). Ignoring squealing
brakes can require replacement of the brake rotors, which can
cost four times as much.
square6Regular tuneups ($300). An engine that is not running prop-
erly can overtax the catalytic converter, causing it to fail.
Replacement can cost $900.
square6 Tire rotation (about $20 per rotation - every 6,000 miles).
Replacing your tires costs between $250 and $400.
square6Repairing windshield cracks (about $60). Over time, chips in
the windshield turn into long cracks that require replacement.
By repairing a crack, you can save over $350. square6
Source: Consumer Reports & HispanicPRWire
48
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