Chapter One
Will car repairs of the future financially cripple you?
For a long time the do "it" yourself auto repair has been gone. As a result of this, costs associated with fixing cars have increased. Hybrid cars are not only more expensive when you buy them, they are currently more expensive to fix than cars that run with a conventional engine. Working on a Hybrid is a specialty; it’s not something you want to trust with your next door neighbor who works on his old 1975 Chevy Pickup. This high technology, along with more and more gadgets on your car, is going to cost you when something doesn’t work correctly, and trust me that will happen it’s just a matter of time. A CVT transmission for a 2001 to 2003 Toyota Prius can cost around $8,695 a far cry from my 1997 Ford F350 transmission that costs $2,500.
As we progress further into automotive technology, some fear we will find ourselves deeper in debt when these cars break down. Hybrid cars represent a large portion of our future in the country.
Turbochargers and superchargers help force air through the engine, allowing it to use more fuel, generate a bigger explosion in the cylinder and increase power. These devices typically operate at high rotational speeds, which make them vulnerable to damage and susceptible to heat. When they go bad, it can cost about $1,600 to replace them, with related repairs spiking the price by $700 to $3,000.
When a catalytic converter fails, it's pricey. Repairs can cost up to $2,692. It's the parts that are expensive, not the labor.
A hybrid battery is often bundled with an integrated motor"assist battery, which charges it. Change one and you have to change both " to the tune of about $2,700.
A clogged injection pump, the device that delivers fuel into the engine's cylinders, is a relatively common problem for drivers. A Honda fuel pump might run a couple of hundred dollars and be straightforward to change. But in trucks and SUVs, the repair can cost upward of $2,900.
Engine replacement can cost upward of $8,000, leading many car owners to scrap the vehicle altogether.
“Saving for tomorrow”