Nobody likes to have repair work done on their car, but answer this question. Would you rather spend $200 now to fix a small problem, or $1,000 three months from now to fix a major issue? Obviously, you’d rather address the minor issue before it becomes a major headache.
The thing is, most people ignore or simply don’t think there’s anything wrong with their vehicle until it’s too late. So the next time you take your car into the shop and the mechanics suggest a few additional fixes, think twice before saying no, especially if the issue is one of the following problems that can snowball into a costly fix down the road.
1. Tire Rotation and Inflation – Keeping your tires properly rotated and inflated can keep you from having a major issue down the road. As you drive, your tires wear down unevenly based on weight distribution. If you don’t rotate your tires, eventually one of your tires is going to be preforming at a less than optimal level, and it can leave you susceptible to a blowout. Rotating your tires can extend the life of your vehicle, and nobody likes to pony up the $200-$400 for a new set of tires. Under inflated tires also affect your fuel efficiency, so keeping them properly inflated can lengthen the time between fill-ups.
2. Mind Your Spark Plugs – Spark plugs aid in fuel combustion in your engine. If they are worn or broken, they may not fire properly. This can cause your engine to rev, hesitate or have poor efficiency. If left unaddressed, a spark plug can blow and damage your catalytic converter, which is a costly fix.
3. Windshield Chips – A tiny chip in your windshield may not seem like a big deal, but they can be especially problematic in areas where the weather fluctuates so dramatically, and we Minnesotans don’t need any reminders about the summer heat or the cold winters. Moisture can seep into the crack, and as we all learned in 6th grade science, water expands when frozen. The resulting pressure can cause the glass to spiderweb, which is a much more costly repair, not to mention extremely dangerous if it cracks while you’re driving. You can seal the crack on your own, but for best results, have the crack professionally sealed.
Related source: The Fiscal Times