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Guide To Automotive Parts That Will Eventually Fail

The cost of owning a car extends beyond its original purchase price, and expenses related to gas and insurance. Most people realize this, yet still neglect to plan for replacement parts. Components fail with time and use. Sometimes, they deteriorate from the conditions to which they are exposed. Other times, they short out or fail prematurely due to lack of preventative maintenance.

Below, we’ll provide a quick guide to components that will eventually need to be replaced. Some parts are inexpensive while others can put a dent into even the strongest budgets. All can potentially leave you stranded by the side of the road.

Battery And Hoses

Car batteries can be expected to last for five years. They slowly lose their ability to hold a charge, and produce enough voltage to start your car. At the 5-year point, they begin to fail (sooner in locations that receive a lot of hot weather). A new battery will cost between $50 and $80.

You’ll find several rubber hoses under the hood. They transfer fuel, coolant, and other fluids and gases between different components. Some of these hoses are exposed to high temperatures, which causes the rubber material to harden, crack, and deteriorate. They need to be changed before this happens in order to prevent leaks. Fortunately, they’re inexpensive and easy to replace.

Head Gasket

This particular gasket (there are many throughout your car) is located between the cylinder head and engine block. The head and block are designed with different metals, both of which have different heat expansion rates. This places stress on the head gasket, and can eventually cause it to fail.

The gasket itself is inexpensive (often less than $100). However, due to its location, the time involved in replacing it is substantial. Thus, the job may cost several hundreds of dollars.

Tires

The treads on your tires gradually wear to the point they become unsafe. Under normal circumstances, they will usually need to be replaced at 60,000 miles. If your car’s front-end is misaligned, suspension is worn, or you’re using “bargain” tires, they’ll need to be replaced much sooner.

Water And Fuel Pumps

Your water pump is responsible for making sure coolant passes from your radiator to your engine. If it fails, your engine will be at risk of overheating. An OEM-certified water pump can be expected to last nearly 80,000 miles before it needs to be replaced.

Your fuel pump ensures gasoline is transferred from your gas tank to your engine’s cylinders. If it fails, your engine will stall. Most fuel pumps (again, OEM-certified units) will typically last for 70,000 miles.

Brake Pads And Rotors

Similar to your tires, your brake pads wear due to constant contact with another surface – in this case, your rotors. The rate at which they wear depends largely on your vehicle, as well as your driving and braking habits. For some, the pads will last for 50,000 miles. For others, they’ll need to be replaced after 30,000 miles.

If you wait too long before having them replaced, the wearable material will erode to the point at which metal rubs against the rotors. This can damage the rotors, making it necessary to replace them. While brake pads usually cost less than $60 to replace, a single rotor can cost hundreds of dollars.

Engine And Transmission

Both assemblies are expensive to replace (or even repair). The cost of the component is higher than what you’ll pay for other parts, such as batteries, gaskets, tires, and brake pads. But the time and labor involved in removing the failed engine or transmission, and installing the replacement, is substantial.

An engine should last for 100,000 miles, and can even last twice as long. Much depends on the quality of the assembly and your driving habits. An automatic transmission, on the other hand, may fail after 70,000 miles.

Replacing parts and systems is one of the expected costs of automotive ownership. Plan for them to fail. That way, when the inevitable occurs, you’ll be ready to have the problem fixed.

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