All vehicles need repairs from time to time. The longer you own a vehicle and the more miles you add to the clock, the more likely it is that you will need a part repaired or replaced.
Not only does your vehicle have a life span but each intricate part does too. Here are some of the parts that we find need changing more frequently than others, as well as details on how long they last and the cost of a repair.
Small parts
Things like windscreen wipers, bulbs and brake pads need repairing more often than larger parts of a vehicle. This is due to several factors, one being that they’re typically more exposed to the elements.
It won’t break the bank when these parts need to be replaced which is good news. We’ve outlined below roughly how frequently these smaller parts go and how much they cost.
Windscreen wipers
Your wiper blades need changing when you notice that they are not clearing your screen effectively, meaning your visibility isn’t as good. How often you have them replaced can be dependent on how regularly you use them and the quality of the part itself. The rear wiper is likely to be changed a lot less than the front ones due to usage. This can be between 6 months to 3 years (roughly)
Cost can depend on a few different factors. Some vehicles have vehicle-specific wipers fitted, and some have standard. We hold standard wipers in stock, and they can range from £7.00 to £20.00 each depending on the size of the blade. The vehicle-specific wipers however are usually more expensive. They can often come as a set which can occasionally provide a slight discount per blade, but this can range anywhere from £30 to £100 depending on the make and model of the vehicle.
Bulbs – Headlights, taillights, brake lights & indicators
Your lights get used most days, especially in winter. Depending on the type of bulb, age and usage, these will need to be changed between 12-24 months usually.
The cost can differ depending on the type of bulb and ease of access to replace. We hold stock of many types of bulbs, ranging from £2 to £20 (A labour charge may also be added to this to carry out the replacement). On occasion, the bulbs might be specific to the vehicle/LED type bulbs, and we may not hold them in stock. We can usually purchase these from our supplier often costing £30 to £150.
Brake pads
It’s important for your safety that your brake pads function as they should. They often need checking every 6 months or every 15,000 miles. These are checked through the wheel as part of the MOT test and are more thoroughly checked on the annual service.
Costs are very different for each vehicle, and can also depend on the brand used, and whether they are front or rear etc, but they range anywhere from £100 to £600, including the labour costs to fit. Brake pads take roughly an hour to renew (on a standard vehicle) and roughly an hour and a half if they require discs as well. You should have roughly 2 sets of pads for every 1 set of discs.
Medium parts
Tyres
Your tyres should be replaced when the tread gets to 2mm. The legal minimum tread depth of your tyre is 1.6mm (1.5mm for a public service vehicle). Tyres can last for around 20,000 miles however this depends on how you drive (fast, slow, heavy braking etc) and where you drive (due to terrain & weather). It can also depend on how heavy a load you may be carrying. If you drive a van or a towing vehicle, then it may be prudent to have ‘extra load’ tyres fitted.
Read advice from the AA about how to check the tread of your tyres.
Cost: Depending on the make and model of your vehicle and brand of tyre, replacing your car tyres can cost between £50 to £500.
Belts
There are a few different belts in vehicles, from a cambelt/timing belt to an auxiliary belt to seatbelts. Each lasts a different amount of time, but you’ll tend to know if they are on their way out by listening for noises or if your vehicle is experiencing issues. The timing belt/cambelt has a replacement interval which can vary depending on make and model. It is very important to know when yours is due and stick to the intervals as this is a very important part of your vehicle. Some vehicles are chain-driven and so do not require replacement to be carried out unless there is an issue with it.
Cambelt replacement Cost: Between £200 to £1500.
Larger parts
These vehicle parts will typically last longer but will also be more costly to replace.
Alternator
An alternator can last around 50,000 miles or 150,000 miles depending on how often you drive, how good the part is etc…
Cost: Between £100 to £500
Clutch
A clutch’s life span depends on usage mostly. Stop/Start driving would wear a clutch down more than motorway driving. If you want to lengthen the life span of your clutch, avoid resting your foot on the clutch pedal.
Cost can vary from £300 to £2000.
Book your car for a vehicle health check at Cadnam Garage by calling 02380 812159.