When it comes to our beloved cars, many of us would have experienced that familiar sinking feeling when there’s either a strange noise emitting from under the bonnet, or our service mechanic has diagnosed an expensive (but necessary) car part that needs replacing as soon as possible.
But it doesn’t have to be that way. Here at Advanced Auto Wreckers in Perth, we know all about getting the most out of quality used auto parts, and have in fact been in the game for over twenty years.
We’ve put together a list of what we’ve found to be the most expensive car parts to replace, and how you can save big dollars.
Transmission
Whether it be automatic or manual, the transmission is the part of your car that changes gears as you drive. Essentially, it transmits power from the engine down to the wheels, and without it, you won’t be going anywhere.
The transmission in your car has got to be right up there as one of the most expensive parts to replace. In fact, if you have a used car that doesn’t have a particularly high market resale value, or a car with high kilometres, you might want to consider if it’s even worth replacing.
Auto transmissions generally cost thousands of dollars to replace, so if you’ve decided to get it repaired, look into buying a second-hand transmission from a trustworthy, experienced car wrecker that offers a parts warranty. It’s bound to save you a fortune.
Engine
Not surprisingly, a car’s engine is another big-ticket car part. Nobody wants to hear that their vehicle’s engine needs replacing because it’s blown and, again, the value of your vehicle needs to be considered when choosing whether it’s worth replacing.
Depending on the size of the engine required, a brand new one can sometimes cost up to $10,000, which is an enormous blow to anyone’s hip pocket.
If a damaged engine can’t be intensively repaired and needs to be replaced altogether, then this is where used auto parts can help. You’ll undoubtedly save a wad of cash, and it will get you back on the road in no time. Just ensure it’s from a reputable company that has tested the engine and offers a warranty on its parts.
Head gasket
A blown head gasket usually shows itself in spectacular style. Plumes of white smoke following you down the road from the exhaust or clouds of steam drifting up from underneath your bonnet due to an overheated engine may be sure signs your head gasket isn’t happy.
Head gaskets can be expensive to repair. But by choosing a used auto part that has been properly tested and is fully guaranteed, you can potentially save hundreds (if not thousands) of dollars.
To make sure your head gasket is well looked after and doesn’t get all hot and bothered, always ensure the cooling system is up to scratch, with no leaks, and is regularly topped-up with coolant.
Alternator
Your car’s alternator supplies power to your battery and, without it, you’ll be at a standstill. At the very least it can mess with your electrical system. A faulty alternator can reveal itself via a flat battery, strange noises from under the bonnet, or a ghost playing havoc with your electrical system (affecting electric windows, power mirrors and the like).
While the cost to replace an alternator doesn’t run into the thousands like the other more expensive car parts, it can still nevertheless cost you hundreds of dollars that you’d more than likely prefer spending elsewhere.
Camshaft
Hidden deep within your car’s engine is the camshaft, a hard-working part of your vehicle’s infrastructure that often fails due to it or other connected parts simply being worn down.
Signs to look for that your camshaft is on the fritz is an engine light displayed on your console, strange ticking sounds coming from your car or a reduction in engine performance.
As your camshaft is generally located towards the bottom of an engine, a lot of labour goes into replacing it. By choosing a quality used car part from a reputable car wrecker, you’ll be able to keep at least some of those costs down.
If you have an expensive car part that needs to be replaced, why not come in and have a chat with the team at Advanced Auto Wreckers? We’re the Perth experts in used auto parts and offer a three month warranty on all parts when installed by us.
Give us a call on 9459 8155 or contact us here.