Three serious car breakdowns we can avoid

Nobody likes having to go to the garage, and even less when it involves a breakdown that leaves us stranded on the road. When we have to call a tow truck, it means the fault is serious and the car needs some parts replaced. This naturally translates into a fairly hefty bill, which puts us in an even worse mood. But did you know that there are serious breakdowns that can be avoided with a little foresight, which will save you money and a lot of time at the garage? Let’s look at five of these breakdowns that can easily be avoided.

Timing belt failure

The timing belt is essential for the car to run. Other parts can break and still let us drive to the garage and have them repaired. But in the case of the timing belt, the engine stops working. What is more, if the timing belt breaks while driving, the engine keeps running, although it no longer transmits drive to the axles and, being out of sync, internal contact damages the valves and cylinders.

This is a serious breakdown, which can cost several thousand euros depending on the damage to the engine. The garage will have to strip it down, recalibrate it and replace the broken parts, which is a major expense. Not to mention the timing belt kit itself, which is not cheap either. To avoid this breakdown, follow the manufacturer’s instructions and change the timing belt when it is due. This is usually between 85,000 and 150,000 kilometres.

And this is a mandatory replacement, even if the timing belt looks fine, because wear, although not visible, is there and can cause it to break at any moment. A cost of around 700 to 2,000 euros makes it advisable to check this important component of the car.

Tyre blowout

We will never tire of repeating it. You must keep a close eye on the condition of the tyres. They are the point of contact between the car and the road, so they need to be in good condition to ensure safety while driving. Check the tyre pressure frequently and inflate them if necessary, following the manufacturer’s recommendations. You should also keep track of the tread depth.

Do not wait until it reaches 1.5 millimetres, the legal minimum, before changing them. The consequences of driving on worn tyres can be disastrous, not only because of the cost of a crash at high speed, but because of the safety of the car’s occupants and of other road users.

Clutch failure

The clutch is one of the components that lasts longest in a car. Its service life is normally the same as the car’s own. But sometimes it wears out faster than normal and can break. Normally, though, it gives warning signs before it fails completely. One way it warns you is by malfunctioning, causing the engine to rev when the clutch is pressed to change gear. Another sign is that the gears do not engage properly, so it will warn you before it breaks altogether.

Go to the garage as soon as you notice the clutch is not working properly. In this case, it needs replacing, and it is better to do it in a controlled way than to wait until it fails. If it does, it can cause an accident, since it may break while driving, and besides the clutch failure you could end up with a serious problem.

These are just some of the breakdowns that can be avoided. In general, take the car to the garage as soon as any problem is detected or you notice that a component is not working as it should. The service is essential to know the car’s condition, and a timely visit to the garage can save you a lot of money on unexpected breakdowns that can turn out to be far more expensive than the repair.