Frequent usage and lack of proper maintenance can expose your car to damage and wear. The cost of repair usually depends on the extent of damage, however, there are car parts that are really expensive to repair or replace. This article lists 14 of the most expensive car parts to repair, including their corresponding estimated price.
1. Air Conditioning Compressor
The air conditioning compressor is the one responsible for pressurising the refrigerant and pumping it through your vehicle’s A/C system. Depending on your car model, an air compressor replacement can cost around $300 to $600, including labor costs. If you need refrigerant charging, it will have an additional cost of between $100 to $150.
2. Camshaft
A camshaft will generally last long provided that you are religious with your regular maintenance and oil changes. When grime and dirt start to build up in the valves, this can cause damage to your camshaft. Repairs or replacement of camshafts range between $1,500 to $3,000 depending on the car model.
3. Car Keys
Nowadays, our cars have computerised and more secure features. This means losing your car keys is not a good idea, because you can’t just easily get a copy of your key from a locksmith. A replacement for your spare electronic car key can cost between $250 to $750. However, if you have lost all your keys, you need to reset your car’s computerised system, then create and code an entirely new set of keys. This can cost around $2,000 to $5,000.
4. Cylinders
Damaged cylinders are typically caused by several neglected random misfires and failure to have regular maintenance check. Repair or replacement of a broken cylinder can be very expensive, which is around $8,000 and up.
5. Diesel Particulate Filter
A diesel particulate filter (DPF) is incorporated in today’s engines. DPF acts as a pollution control system that burns soot particles generated during combustion, thereby reducing the level of contaminants expelled through the exhaust. When the DPF cannot reach the correct temperature to ignite the particles, problems can occur especially when the filter continues to accumulate particles. Replacement or repair of filter can range from $1,000 and $4,000, depending on your car’s model.
6. Engine
One of the most commonly encountered engine problems is a no-start condition, and an experienced mechanics can easily fix this depending on the cause of the problem. However, if your car engine motor is “blown”, it may be suffering from several internal damage that needs intensive repair or total replacement. The engine repair or replacement cost varies depending on the type of engine, which typically ranges between $1,000 to $4,000.
7. Flywheel & Clutch
Due to frequent use, the friction material on the clutch will eventually wear out, prompting the clutch to slip. This may lead to the failure of power to transfer from the engine to the wheels. A worn or damaged clutch rotating against the flywheel may also cause the flywheel to get damaged and break off its teeth. Flywheel repairs typically cost between $400 and $1,000, while the clutch kit price is around $100 to $400.
8. Fuel Injectors
The fuel injectors are responsible for providing the right amount of fuel to the internal combustion engines, and they will eventually wear out. Injectors usually fail individually, but if there is a huge extent of damage and circuit failure, they can get broken simultaneously. However, it’s recommended to have all of them replaced at once even if only one is damaged – this is to keep the engine in good working condition. The cost of repair or replacement for each injector can range between $50 and $300 depending on your vehicle’s make and model.
9. Fuel Pump
The fuel pump supplies fuel to the injectors. It’s an expensive piece of equipment that can get damaged due to metal shavings in the fuel, water mixed in the fuel lines, and using fuel that’s of poor quality. The cost of repair for fuel pump varies depending on the extent of damage, type of engine, and make or model of the vehicle. It typically ranges between $700 and $2,000.
10. Head Gasket
The head gasket is the one that creates a seal between the engine block and the cylinder head, stopping the coolant and oil from leaking. Lack of coolant can cause an engine overheat, which can result to a head gasket failure and further damage to the engine. Repairs for this are usually tedious. And although the head gasket is not that costly, the cost of labor can be very expensive, ranging between $1,000 to $2,000.
11. Hybrid Car Parts
Hybrid car parts are usually not readily available in local shops, so additional cost may be incurred for shipping. Damage like inverter failure seldom happens, but its repair or replacement can cost around $4,000 to $7,000 depending on the vehicle’s model.
12. Mass Air Flow Sensor
The mass air flow sensor decides how much fuel to send to the engine after it measures the amount of air sent. If you fail to clean and replace your air filters regularly, it can cause damage to the air flow sensor, which is more expensive to replace. Air filters usually cost around $25, and they need to be replaced at least every 3 years. When your mass air flow sensor gets damaged, its replacement can cost around $400.
13. Timing Belt
The timing belt should be replaced regularly based on your owner’s handbook because it can easily wear out. Continuous usage of a worn timing belt may lead to the belt splitting, and this can cause serious damage to the connecting rods, camshaft, valves, pistons, and even the crankshaft. When these components get damaged, it can be very expensive to replace them. The cost typically range from $300 and $3,000 depending on what needs to be replaced.
14. Transmission
Your vehicle’s transmission is responsible in transmitting power from the engine to the wheels. Frequent and unnecessary changing of gears can wear the transmission out more quickly. Damage in transmission is usually caused by overheating, and this is typically caused by lack of transmission fluid and poor maintenance. Cost of transmission repairs typically range between $1,000 and $2,000, and a replacement for the whole assembly can cost around $2,000 to $4,000.
Prevent Expensive Damages
Early detection and diagnosis of vehicle problems can help prevent further damage that are expensive to repair. It’s important to have your vehicle serviced regularly and to follow the maintenance schedule as recommended by your manufacturer. Wear and tear is normal for most vehicle parts – but they need to be replaced as soon as possible before they start to affect other components and create more serious issues.
If you need further advice, or for a certified technician to assess your vehicle’s repair, call us on (07) 3269 3158 or book a job using the button below. We are located 113 Connaught Street Sandgate QLD 4017. Feel free to visit us at any time.