8 car parts you shouldn’t neglect
Like all machines, cars are made of many parts that wear out over time. Our vehicles require regular oil and filter changes, and tyres and windscreen wipers will occasionally need to be replaced.
But there are plenty of other parts that also need attention. Here are eight vehicle components that must be inspected and/or replaced at the intervals shown in your car owner’s manual.
1. Air filter
For a vehicle to run, it relies on a mixture of fuel and air exploding inside the combustion chambers above the engine’s pistons.
The air is drawn in from outside the car, and if dirt, sand or other contaminants reach the engine it could be severely damaged.
The air filter’s job is to keep the air coming in clean. Eventually, this filter can become blocked, which can affect the smooth running of the engine and cause increased fuel consumption.
The filter should be changed more often if the car is regularly driven in dusty conditions.
2. Cabin filter
As its name suggests, a cabin filter helps prevent dust and pollen from entering the car’s cabin.
A blocked cabin filter can affect the air quality inside the car and reduce the efficiency of the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system.
Reduced airflow through the vents can also lessen the effectiveness of the windscreen demister.
2. Fuel filter
The fuel we buy is usually very clean but contaminants can still find their way into your tank. A fuel filter catches any muck before it ends up in the engine and causes major damage.
A blocked filter can starve the engine of fuel, leading to poor engine performance. A blockage could also overwork the fuel pump, resulting in expensive repairs.
4. Brake pads (and rotors)
Disc brake pads work by squeezing onto both sides of a disc-shaped rotor – which is steel on most cars – when the brake pedal is pressed.
Over time, the constant friction will gradually wear out the pads. The more they wear, the further the pedal must be pressed for the pads to engage with the rotor and the less effective the brakes become.
If pad material wears down to the steel backing plate it’s attached to, the bare metal will grind into the rotor. The rotor will then have to be machined back to a flat surface, or, if it’s too badly damaged, will need to be replaced. Plus, steel on steel makes for lousy braking power.
5. Spark plugs
Diesel owners can skip this section. Diesel fuel combusts through compression and doesn’t require a spark for ignition.
Spark plugs poke into the combustion chambers of the cylinders where the pistons live. When a piston rises up in a cylinder to compress the fuel, the spark plug ignites the petrol with an electronically created spark.
This pushes the piston down to rotate the crankshaft, which, via other components, turns the wheels so we can get to the local shops.
Spark plugs can become corroded, or grubby with carbon build-up and other gunk, until they have trouble firing an effective spark.
Symptoms include difficulty starting the engine, rough idling, poor acceleration, engine misfiring and reduced fuel economy.
6. Timing belt
The timing belt runs from the crankshaft to the camshaft and ensures the engine’s induction and exhaust valves open at precisely the right time. If the belt snaps or becomes too loose, the valves can collide with the pistons, which typically results in catastrophic engine damage and a big repair bill.
Some cars have non-interference engines, meaning the valves and pistons won’t strike each other if the belt breaks, but you’ll still need a tow.
The timing belt is behind other engine parts and a cover, and it’s a relatively big job to replace it. So, a mechanic will often recommend replacing other parts behind the cover at the same time, like the timing belt tensioner(s), water pump, and crankshaft and camshaft seals, which usually come as a kit.
Many cars don’t need the timing belt changed for 100,000km or five years – whichever comes first – but replacement schedules vary considerably so check your owner’s manual.
Some cars have timing chains, which are usually expected to last the life of the vehicle.
7. Other belts
A car has other belts that operate components like the air conditioner, power steering (unless its electrically controlled) and the alternator.
Modern cars have one belt that drives multiple components, while older vehicles may have individual belts for one or two parts.
If a belt breaks, the component(s) its driving will cease to function. For example, the steering may suddenly become very heavy, the air conditioner will stop working or the alternator will no longer charge the battery.
Your mechanic will likely check these belts when your car is serviced and replace them if they’re showing signs of wear.
8. Radiator hoses
A car’s engine runs very hot and needs liquid coolant to keep it running at an optimal temperature. The coolant is pumped into spaces in the engine block and head by a hose running from the radiator.
After passing through the engine, the coolant returns to the radiator via another hose.
Outside air passing through the radiator at the front of the vehicle, reduces the temperature of the coolant in preparation for its journey back to the engine.
All this action puts a lot of pressure on these rubber hoses and eventually they can perish or split, resulting in coolant leakage and an overheated engine which could seize up.
A good mechanic will check these hoses during a service, but you can also inspect them for obvious damage between services.
Time to have your car serviced?
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