Car repairs are important and often necessary, but some repairs are more urgent than others. Learn to recognize these 11 money-wasting car repairs—and save yourself hundreds of dollars.
1. Windshield Replacement
When a flying rock chips your windshield, the temptation is to get it professionally repaired or replaced right away. If the chip is small, there is no need to spend the $200 or $300 minimum you will need for a replacement.
Smarter option: Consider repairing small chips and cracks yourself using a windshield repair kit (typically $10–$20). These kits are effective for chips smaller than a quarter and cracks shorter than six inches.
| When to DIY | When to Call a Pro |
|---|---|
| Small chips (smaller than a quarter) | Large cracks |
| Cracks shorter than 6 inches | Chip or crack directly in driver’s line of sight |
| Surface damage only | Damage that has reached the inner layer of glass |
2. Cabin Air Filter Replacement
Cars are full of filters. Some are more important than others, but each represents an opportunity for you to save money by doing the replacement yourself. A great example is the cabin air filter.
| Detail | What You Need to Know |
|---|---|
| Location | Generally accessed through the glove compartment |
| Purpose | Improves air quality inside the car |
| Recommended replacement | Annually (or as specified in your owner’s manual) |
The savings: A car repair shop will charge you as much as $70**. A replacement filter costs **$10–$25 and takes about 10 minutes to install.
Pro tip: Just be sure to buy the right filter for your car’s make and model. Online parts retailers or auto parts stores can help you find the correct fit.
3. Regular Engine Tune-ups
If your car was built in the last ten or 20 years, it does not need regular tune-ups as cars did decades ago. Modern onboard computers make adjustments to ratios and settings that optimize your engine performance.
| Old Tune-Up (1970s-1990s) | Modern Tune-Up (2000s+) |
|---|---|
| Required every 10,000–15,000 miles | Generally not needed until 100,000+ miles |
| Involved adjusting carburetor, points, and timing | Computer-controlled systems self-adjust |
| Replaced spark plugs, wires, distributor cap, rotor | Individual components replaced as needed |
When a tune-up actually helps: If the engine seems to be running poorly, a tune-up could cure it, but it is likely a specific problem that you can fix yourself—like replacing the spark plugs.
4. The Lube Job (Chassis Lubrication)
The chassis of a modern car, including the ball joint, is almost always lubricated in a closed, sealed system that does not require periodic greasing.
Exception: Some heavy-duty vehicles, like full-size pickups, may still require occasional lubrication of the undercarriage.
What to do: Check your owner’s manual before you fork over money for an unneeded lube job. If your vehicle does not have grease fittings (zerks), it does not need chassis lubrication.
5. Coolant (Antifreeze) Flush
A coolant flush with a cleansing, flushing product can cause more problems than it prevents by removing any normal-level contaminants in the coolant system. Seals can be damaged, and leaks can spring.
| Flush | Drain and Refill |
|---|---|
| Uses chemical flushing agents | Simply drains old coolant and replaces it |
| Can damage seals and gaskets | Gentle on the system |
| Costs $100–$200 | Costs $30–$60 in materials (DIY) |
| Often unnecessary for normal driving | Sufficient for most vehicles |
Recommendation: Unless you drive in unusually dirty or dusty conditions, simply draining and replacing the coolant yourself should suffice. Even with newer coolant products that boast a 100,000-mile lifetime, most vehicles will need to have the coolant refreshed from time to time.
