The 9 most expensive breakdowns a car can have

Proper maintenance and keeping up with scheduled servicing can help you avoid the 9 most expensive breakdowns a car can have.

Since summer has arrived early to stay, we have put together a selection of the 9 most expensive breakdowns a car can have. Before heading off for a weekend, a long weekend or even those well-deserved early holidays, it is important to carry out a service to avoid a possible unpleasant surprise on the road.

According to a study carried out by the company Endado, March, April, May, June, July and August are the months when the most spare parts are bought and sold. There are many spare parts websites on the market today, but it is always advisable to have servicing carried out at a specialist workshop and supervised by competent staff.

Among the 9 most expensive breakdowns a car can have are the turbo, the injectors, the brakes, the tyres and even the dreaded ‘cylinder head’.

Most expensive breakdowns a car can have: the turbo

One of the most expensive breakdowns a car can have, and therefore one that drivers fear most, is a failure of the turbo. Nine out of ten vehicles sold today have a turbocharger.

This component, loved by some and hated by others, is designed to increase engine performance. However, if it breaks, the repair can exceed 1,000 euros.

Why can a turbo fail? Many factors come into play with this mechanical part. Lack of lubrication of the shaft, carbonisation of the lubricant due to high temperatures, impurities, a broken filter or a failure of the turbine mechanism are just some of the reasons why the turbo can end up failing.

Most expensive breakdowns a car can have: the timing system

Another breakdown that causes many headaches for owners is the timing system. Until a few years ago, some models such as the BMW 3 Series were fitted with a timing chain instead of a belt. This means that, unless it breaks, which is unlikely, no maintenance should be needed.

Newer cars are fitted with a timing belt, and if it breaks it can mean the end of your vehicle, because when the belt snaps, the pistons strike the valves due to loss of synchronisation. As a result, the valves bend.

It is important to understand how it works, since it is responsible for synchronising the movement of the pistons and the valves. It is also connected to the engine’s water pump, so its maintenance is vital to extend the life of the engine.

Driving constantly in town, travelling at very high speeds or taking dusty tracks are some of the reasons why this part can break over time. In addition, it is recommended to replace the timing belt every 100,000 kilometres or after five years.

Most expensive breakdowns a car can have: the injectors

Just reading the word injectors brings a sense of unease to anyone, because, like the turbo, it is one of the breakdowns most feared by drivers. It can be caused by wear, by dirt in the circuit, but it also has to do with the type of fuel that has been put in the tank.

The engine will have the same number of injectors as cylinders, so if the engine is a six-cylinder inline, it will have six injectors. Their function is to deliver the necessary amount of fuel in each situation.

They tend to fail individually, but it is important to remember the saying “when you see your neighbour’s beard being cut…” In addition, it is one of the breakdowns with the highest cost.

How can a possible injector fault be detected? This fault can be identified when the driver notices a drop in engine power, higher fuel consumption and a very limited top speed.

Most expensive breakdowns a car can have: the diesel fuel pump

The diesel fuel pump is also one of the most expensive breakdowns and one that scares drivers the most, since on some models it became a widespread fault. Its function is to supply the correct pressure to the injectors, but only in a diesel engine.

If the car does not start or only starts sometimes, if jerking is felt during acceleration or if intermittent noises are heard, it may mean the diesel fuel pump is beginning to fail.

Diesel fuel pumps can be mechanical or electronic, and if they break, they can cost between 800 and 2,200 euros for the part alone. You would have to add the labour cost of the specialist workshop carrying out the repair.

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Most expensive breakdowns a car can have: the control unit

The control unit is responsible for managing all the information generated by the sensors, actuators, etc., regardless of whether the car is diesel, petrol, hybrid or electric. It is an electronic component, and when it fails, the ideal solution is to replace it with a new or refurbished unit.

They tend to be quite expensive, from 700 euros for the most basic ones up to 3,000 euros if it is a very powerful or premium-range car. It is important to know that if the control unit is not replaced, the car may start to suffer various serious faults.

Most expensive breakdowns a car can have: the electrical system wiring

Hybrid and electric cars are not exempt from expensive breakdowns, and one of the most important is a failure of the electrical system wiring. It is important to keep an eye on it from 60,000 kilometres onwards, as it can burn out and thus shorten the life of the engine.

It is worth noting that if the battery has not been damaged, this part could cost around 200 euros.

Most expensive breakdowns a car can have: service connector on plug-in hybrids

The service connectors on plug-in hybrid vehicles are exposed to overheating every time the vehicle is charged. This can end in them burning out. Preventive replacements are recommended to avoid bigger problems.

In addition, it is important to know that they can sometimes become disconnected accidentally due to a knock. This usually happens on the Toyota Auris and it is located on the rear parcel shelf.

Most expensive breakdowns a car can have: the cylinder head gasket

The cylinder head gasket is a breakdown that can affect combustion cars, whether petrol or diesel, and hybrids. It usually appears when the engine is close to reaching 300,000 kilometres.

This component is essential for the engine’s operation, since its function is to ensure the seal of the compression. It is made of a layer of asbestos covered by two sheets of copper.

Deterioration is one of the reasons it must be replaced. It is also necessary to consider whether the engine has been subjected to an excessively high temperature or whether coolant loss has been noticed.

If the engine overheats, coolant is being lost, the oil filler cap shows a brown mixture, water droplets are seen on the oil dipstick or there is excessive pressure in the cooling system hoses, these are clear signs that the engine has a cylinder head gasket failure.

Most expensive breakdowns a car can have: the gearbox

The failure of this part also causes headaches for drivers, whether they have combustion or hybrid vehicles. Especially in the case of hybrid cars, the repair cost increases, as the gearbox is linked to an inverter that performs three functions: gearbox, alternator and starter motor.

For this reason it is one of the key components in a hybrid car. Although it is a very expensive breakdown, its probability of failure is very low.