Truck Articles

We take most automotive amenities for granted. Anti-lock brakes, an automatic transmission, and fuel injection system are part of the driving experience. Most of us have grown accustomed to these (and many other) features, and would be loathe to give them up. But there is a hefty price to be paid for enjoying these features: repairs are more expensive.

There was once a time when a few tools and a little automotive knowledge were enough to repair most car problems, even those affecting the engine and transmission. Things have changed. Today, most issues require the expertise and specialized equipment of a trained mechanic. We’ll explore this issue below. You’ll learn some of the reasons repairs are so costly on late model automobiles.

Powertrain Control Module (PCM)

Engines once relied almost entirely on mechanical parts, such as a carburetor. Over time, these parts would slowly move out of sync with one another, and need to be recalibrated to maintain the engine’s performance and fuel efficiency. This was the purpose of a tune-up. One of the drawbacks was that the assembly produced excessive emissions due to a lack of precision.

By the mid-1990s, several automakers had begun installing computers into their vehicles. The computer was known as the powertrain control module (PCM); it was designed to control factors affecting the operation of the engine. For example, the PCM influences the amount of fuel delivered to the cylinders, ignition timing, and the level of emissions that are allowed to escape the exhaust system.

This was combined with the creation of onboard diagnostic (OBD) trouble codes. If a component that affects the engine fails or behaves strangely, a code is logged in the computer’s memory. Though you can purchase an OBD-II code reader for less than $100, mechanics have much better scanners that cost thousands of dollars. Many also subscribe to reference materials that help them interpret the codes. The result? It costs much more to accurately diagnose automotive problems.

Repairing Damage To The Exterior

Cars that were built a generation ago had exteriors designed with steel. If a driver collided with another vehicle, body damage could be hammered out and molded. Today, cars have exteriors that collapse upon impact. They cannot be hammered out. Instead, they must be replaced.

This is not a simple task. The replacement exterior parts must be fitted to the make and model of the vehicle. This usually requires several hours of work, which, in turn, increases repair costs.

Transition From Freon To R-134a

If your car was built before 1994, there’s a good chance the air conditioner uses Freon (R-12). Newer vehicles use a more environmentally-friendly refrigerant called R-134a. The transition from R-12 to R-134a was done because the former was discovered to be harmful to the ozone.

Unfortunately, the newer refrigerant is more expensive. Consequently, recharging the A/C in a late model car may cost several times that of recharging the A/C in a pre-1994 vehicle.

The Auto Repair Shop Owner’s Perspective

Greater complexity in the parts and systems under the hood reflects only one factor in the rise of repair costs. Another influence is the economics behind the operation of a repair shop. Any given shop, whether a dealership service bay or independent garage, must constantly invest in new tools and equipment. These allow the mechanics to perform higher-quality work.

Additionally, the shop owner must pay the technicians as well as other expenses related to operating the business (e.g. rent, utilities. insurance, etc.). While labor rates can climb to $70 an hour or more, the repair garage’s profit is only a fraction of that amount.

From the consumer’s standpoint, the most effective way to reduce the cost of owning a car, especially as it ages, is to maintain it properly. This means investing in maintenance and replacement parts according to the service intervals recommended in your owner’s manual. This alone can help minimize the money you spend to repair your vehicle over the long run.

Feb272011

Tags: automobiles, autos, car, cars, new cars, Trucks, used cars, vehicles

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