Fewer people these days are choosing to repair their own cars, instead wisely opting to bring their vehicles to an automotive service technician. This is due partially to the complexity of automobiles in today’s world, whereas cars thirty years ago could be repaired by most any car owner handy with tools and a bit of car knowledge. After surveying a variety of testimonials from automotive mechanics, these were widely claimed to be the most difficult car repairs to perform. If you decide to undergo an auto mechanic apprenticeship you may want to keep these four challenging repairs in mind for the future.
4. Transmission
Transmission repairs are known to be expensive, so mechanics may find that some customers are reluctant to address these problems until they are at a crisis stage. Leaking transmission fluid is the easiest way to know that something’s not right. Problems with changing gears manually may arise from low transmission fluid or improperly adjusted shift cables or clutch linkage. Overheating fluid, gear slippage and the dreaded dragging clutch all require professional attention.
3. Spark Plugs
The spark plug is responsible for igniting the gas vapours and making the engine run. While a spark plug is not an expensive repair, it is a necessary one as spark plugs wear quite often with use. The difficulty lies in their small size, paired with the fact that they are known to be found nestled in those hard to reach areas of a car. Some engine compartments are more crammed than others, so depending on your car this could end up being a simple repair, or a two hour game of I Spy.
2. Clutch
As a “wear and tear” part in a vehicle, the clutch may need replacement as often as every 30,000km, depending on your handling. A less common reason for a clutch repair is improper fitting resulting in oil seepage. Repairing the clutch involves removing the transmission, which is mainly what makes this repair so difficult.
1. Replacing an Engine
People who have experienced the agony of replacing an engine, whether it’s your average Joe or a certified auto technician, will say this is the greatest challenge in any car. Cars are expensive, and it can be feasible to change your engine rather than buy a whole new vehicle. Powering your car with a company remanufactured engine is in many cases the most cost effective long-term option for your vehicle. While the cost may be from $2,000-4,000, this is only about 10-20% of the cost of buying a new vehicle. Repair however, is not as simple as dropping in a new engine (which in itself is a difficult procedure). Depending on the amount of mileage racked up on your old engine, you may need to replace some of the connecting parts which have also accumulated mileage, such as the transmission.
Do you have any stories (good or bad!) from performing a difficult car repair?
