8 Most Common Repairs at Auto Repair Shops

We understand the feeling. You recognize that there’s an issue with your car, but you can’t pinpoint what that particular problem is. You’re embarrassed to reveal your lack of knowledge to a mechanic, and you’re vicariously humiliated by the fact that you can’t fix the simple issue yourself. Instead of overcoming the (unjustified) feeling of embarrassment, some car owners will opt to ignore the problem, allowing the issue to linger and get worse.

This is one of the worst things you can do. If you think there’s a problem with your car, don’t hesitate to get it checked. Believe it or not, car owners get their cars checked for the most trivial issues, and they’re often fixes that can take less than an hour.

If you’re driving down the road and a light illuminates on your dashboard, don’t drive by the auto body shop in Albany, New York. Pull in and get the problem handled. Chances are, that mechanic has had plenty of experience dealing with similar issues, regardless of whether it requires a lot of labor or barely any. We’ve compiled some of the most common car repairs, and after reading the post, hopefully your anxiety will be limited…

Oxygen Sensors

Replacing faulty oxygen sensors accounted for 7.55-percent of repairs in 2013, according to BankRate.com. This is a slight decline over the 9.43-percent mark from 2010, but the essential tool still tops the list among replacements.

The oxygen sensor is responsible for monitoring how much unburned oxygen is in the exhaust, and it subsequently relays to the car whether there’s too much or too little gas in the tank. The sensor’s demise is often a result of internal leaks, burning oil, or using a higher-ethanol concentrated gas.

While the fix should be relatively easy, a specially designed cover makes accessing the tool a lot more difficult. This cover requires a special tool to be removed, meaning a trip to the mechanic is necessary.

Loose Fuel Cap

A broken fuel cap can drastically reduce your car’s fuel efficiency, as just the tiniest crack can allow gas to evaporate and escape. This was a fairly common problem among drivers in 2013, as broken fuel caps represented 7.17-percent of repairs.

The fix is relatively cheap, especially if the cap just needs some additional tightening. Even if the entire cap needs to be replaced, it should only put you out a couple of dollars. While you may imagine yourself going to a store, purchasing a cap and replacing it yourself, that could lead to similar issues. It’s a better idea to leave the work to the mechanic, assuring that your gas tank will always be properly sealed.

Mass Air Flow Sensor

Another essential piece, the mass air flow sensor is responsible for measuring how much air is being sent to the engine, which subsequently determines how much fuel should also be sent. If this isn’t functioning, it can result in a 10-percent to 25-percent drop in fuel economy.

Getting the sensor replaced could actually be avoided with some previous planning. If a driver decides to not replace their car’s air filters, that could undermine the quality of the mass air flow sensor. Instead of originally dishing out the $25, you’ll instead be facing a $400 bill.

Catalytic Convertor

A lot of people seem to recognize the tool by name, but they could never identify it’s function or location in a car. Ultimately, the catalytic convertor controls the car’s emission system, which reduces the toxicity of gas’s pollutants.

The most expensive repair on this list (with an average cost of $1,154), repairing the convertor can be bypassed altogether! By being aware of the quality of your spark plug or fuel injector, you can avoid this costly repair. By ignoring those issues, you’ll find yourself with bigger (and more costlier) problems.

Spark Plugs

The spark plugs, which help ignite fuel in the cylinders, are such a small part of a car, but they can make a major negative impact if they’re not repaired. While replacements are typically cheap (around $10), it’s a better idea to leave the task to a professional.

What’s the worst the can happen? If spark plugs aren’t operating effectively (perhaps due to improper installation), they can reduce your gas mileage. Additionally, they could melt the catalytic convertor. As mentioned above, this can be a costly replacement, so dedicating a little attention and a little cash to your spark plugs may save you down the road.

Ignition Coils

Ignition coils are included in that vicious circle with spark plugs and catalytic convertors. The ignition coils basically take the car battery’s low voltage and transforms it into the thousands of volts necessary to make the spark plugs ignite the fuel.

Faulty ignition coils? That will lead to fault spark plugs. Fault spark plugs? That will lead to a faulty catalytic convertor, which, as we’ve already mentioned, is a pricey fix.

There’s no tangible, visual way to identify whether the ignition coils are properly working. A diagnostic test is likely required, but the inconvenience of a car check up is much better than the inconvenience you’d face from a busted ignition system.

Hands-Free Devices

Say you purchased a sweet aftermarket alarm for your car, or maybe you got that swanky car radio you wanted for your birthday. You want to see your toys in action, so you opt for the quick installation and tap into the car’s circuits.

These circuits are responsible for distributing power to other parts of the car. If they all of a sudden have to compensate for an aftermarket item, an other essential part of the car may receive less power. This could lead to a variety of system failures.

Believe it or not, this was one of the most common repairs in 2010, accounting for nearly two-percent of all fixes. The average cost to repair is about $75, so it may be a better idea to stick with your car’s included technology.

Intake Manifold Gasket

The intake manifold gasket helps prevent leaking air (or a mixture of air and fuel) from getting into forbidden metal engine parts. Much like the other parts on this list, if the gasket leaks, it can lead to more substantial issues, including reduced performance in emissions, the engine, and fuel economy.

The cost for replacing this part usually falls in the $350 to $500 range. The part is relatively cheap (only $40 to $90), so it’s ultimately the labor cost that accounts for the price tag. Similar to the other parts on this list, despite the price, it’s a better idea to leave this type of job to the professional.

As you can see, it’s the most basic repairs that keep mechanics so busy. Often times, these problems pop up because another part of the car had previously been struggling. So what’s the common theme? It’s better to be proactive than reactive.

If you do bump into any of these problems, don’t hesitate to head down to your local dealership or mechanic. The staff at DePaula Chevrolet in Albany won’t blink an eye, no matter how trivial the request, and you’ll soon be riding out of the lot in your new-and-improved car!