Ugh, the irking thought of car repairs. They’re always looming in the background of any driver’s consciousness. And generally accompanying those thoughts is a sense of dread around the scope of the car repairs, and what the cost is to fix parts.
Here at My Auto Shop, we think knowledge is power. And we’re here to make you powerful! Wear and tear is a reality of vehicle ownership, and while we recommend you regularly replace your engine oil and get regular services, we thought it’d be good to give you a heads up on what vehicle parts bear the most cost when it comes to repairs and replacement.
Hopefully these don’t come in handy, but in case they do, at least you’ll have an idea of what your mechanic is referring to without needing to go into the conversation trembling!
So, based on our experience, here are the most expensive car parts to replace or repair. Remember, some issues can be fixed by simply replacing your car battery (at the right time, obviously!) to get better performance out of your vehicle.
The fuel pump
We’ll start with low-cost replacement, your fuel pump. While external one are relatively inexpensive, an in-tank fuel pump can cost a bit more. That said, if fuel isn’t flowing to the engine, there’s not much to sing about!!
The cost? You might be looking at upwards of $500 to replace your fuel pump, depending on exactly where it is.
The PCM (Powertrain Control Module)
You’re going to find a few biological analogies through this article, because really our vehicles are very similar to our bodies in the way they’re built, and their function. Basically, interconnected. The Powertrain Control Module is quite literally the brain of your vehicle. This computer system runs the whole show, and if ain’t working, you’re in trouble. Diagnosis is difficult, and replacement can be costly.
The cost? You might be looking at anywhere from $400 to $3000 for a new one, depending on the make and model of your vehicle.
The air conditioning compressor
The air conditioning compressor, while not technically the heart of your vehicle (!) does perform the act of pumping coolant through the compressor unit. Certainly prone to being a bit iffy, a failing air compressor means you’re no longer in control of the car temperature, not great in summer, or winter!
The cost? For a new AC compressor, you’ll need to fork out anywhere from $450 to $1700 depending on your vehicle’s make and model.
The heater core
Getting your car’s cabin nice and warm is all to do with the heater core, and unfortunately it’s one of the components that’s more expensive to repair. It sits under the dash, and needs coolant to flow through it in order to work properly. If it springs a leak, game over. It’s also labour intensive, with the dash needing to be removed sometimes.
The cost? You might be in for a bill between $650-$1900 depending on the labour required for your vehicle.
The catalytic converter
It sounds like it belongs somewhere in Doc from Back To The Future’s lab, but the catalytic converter performs a fairly simple task similar to a liver, rather putting you into warp speed. Its sole purpose is to clean the exhaust, and it smells putrid.
The cost? It can cost a bit to replace one of these things, and prices range anywhere from $600-$3500 for a new one.
The suspension
Suspension repairs and replacements are actually pretty simple to perform, but they all require time and expertise and so you could be looking at a bit of time to get your suspension back to working order.
The cost? This could be anywhere from $300-$3500 so be sure to get your My Auto Shop quote before you do anything!
Cylinder head gasket
If your engine is overheating, it’s likely to be down to the the cylinder head gasket failing. It’s not super common, but the cost is worth taking note of. If it springs a leak, you’re best to get this looked at ASAP as problems can spread.
The cost? Around $1200 to $3500 to get this fixed up. Yikes! Just get this sorted quickly, you don’t want more expensive repair or replacement bills on the card.
The transmission
Second to your engine, your vehicle transmission is the key element when it comes to moving your car with effortless ease, or close to it. Your transmission puts you in control, rather than the other way around. Needless to say, it takes a fair brunt and it’s the core of your car (to use biological analogy), sending signals to the rest of it.
In terms of issues, you may encounter burnt clutches or broken gears on the inside of the transmission box. You can sometimes repair these, but often, by the time you’ve been through the motions, it makes just as much cost-sense to replace them altogether.
The cost? You might be looking at upwards of $3,500 to replace your transmission.
The engine
Makes sense, but getting your engine fully replaced is going to cost you a bit. At risk of sounding like an idiot, having a working engine is a non-negotiable. Generally engines last a lifetime, but in some cases where there’s been an epic failure or heavy wear-out, an engine replacement still makes good financial sense when faced with the alternative – a new vehicle.
The cost? You might be looking at around $7,500+ depending on your vehicle.
The My Auto Shop team is always here to help make sure you can compare quotes from multiple mechanics, easily and without hassle. Plus, we’re here to help if you need any guidance on the best steps.
If you’re looking at needing to undertake any of these repair or replacements, you can get started here with a quote and remember, you can use Afterpay to lighten the financial load!