"You have to learn to distinguish between nice-to-do repairs and need-to-do repairs," says Fleur Govaerts, an automotive-service instructor at Centennial College in Toronto. "It pays to get to know the big problems."
Most cars have timing belts that must be changed regularly, usually every 60,000 to 100,000 kilometres. Timing chains are more durable, but their replacement intervals vary depending on the vehicle's manufacturer. Belts and chains can fail without warning and cause major engine damage. Ignore the replacement intervals stated in your owner's manual and you may be shelling out thousands of dollars for an easily avoidable repair.
Spot the problem early and you'll only need to replace the boots and grease. Ignore it and the more expensive metal innards will fail, causing the repair cost to balloon. The telltale sign of CV joint trouble is a clicking sound when turning corners, but you'll want to catch the problem before you can hear it. The best defence is to have CV boots checked every 10,000 kilometres.
The most obvious sign of head-gasket doom? Huge cloudsânot just little puffsâof white exhaust smoke on acceleration. Other symptoms include a falling coolant-reservoir level and rising oil-dipstick level. Poor upkeep can hasten a head gasket's demise. Always change your coolant at the intervals stated in your owner's manual.
Preventing trouble · Turn off your sound system occasionally and listen for any strange noises from your vehicle. · Learn how to do simple fluid and tire checks to detect minor troubles before they get worse. · Don't wait for obvious problems to take your car in for service. Have it checked every spring and fall, and don't ignore regular maintenance. · Find a trusted mechanic to distringuish between minor glitches and dire problems. |
Maryanna Lewyckyj is the Toronto Sun's Consumer Alert columnist. She conducts car care seminars through her company, Autophobics Anonymous.
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