Most Common Repairs in Older Vehicles

With proper maintenance and care, you can keep your car in great shape for many years. At Wrench, we typically target cars that are between 3 and 12 years old, which means we have extensive experience on prolonging the life of a car. By following the maintenance schedule in your owner’s manual, and scheduling regular appointments with a Wrench mobile technician, you can keep your car running like clockwork even as it gets older.

However, there is no denying that your car is going to age in some ways. As you put more miles on the car, take it on more camping trips, or move across the country, there will be certain repairs that become more necessary. It is important to listen to your car if you notice something is working differently and be able to understand what may be wrong. Wrench has put together a list of the most common repairs in older vehicles so that you can be proactive and avoid more costly maintenance in the future. When making repairs to your car, we strongly recommend that you do not cut corners when replacing various parts, because this will most likely cost you more in the future. This is why we suggest that you schedule an appointment with a Wrench mobile technician today to keep your vehicle running in tip-top shape for years to come, because our ASE-certified mechanics use only the best parts and products when working on your car. Here are some things to keep an eye out for as your car gets older:

• Brake repair/replacement. This is one of the most common repairs in older vehicles and is extremely important to be mindful of. As brakes get older, you want to make sure you are paying attention to any signs of wear and tear, because faulty brakes could put you and others in extreme danger. Signs that your brakes are wearing down are a spongy or sticky brake pedal, troubling braking, or a strange metal-on-metal sound.
• Oil/filter change. As your car ages, it might use more oil than it did when it was new. However, if you notice that you are constantly having to refill the oil, this may be a sign of a leak, which can lead to internal damage within the engine. The health of the engine can affect things like gas mileage, stalling, and the ability to stop quickly. Sticking to the maintenance schedule in the owner’s manual and scheduling regular oil changes with Wrench will help avoid these issues and costs.
• Noisy exhaust system. This can be a sign of a leaky exhaust, which can be extremely dangerous. If exhaust fumes leak into the car they could potentially be harmful to the passengers, so if you sense a leaky exhaust, schedule an appointment with a Wrench mobile technician immediately.
• Tire replacement or rotation. Rotating your tires every 5,000 miles can extend their life significantly and help you avoid flat tires from wear. Most tires can last more than 60,000 miles, so properly taking care of them can save you both the time and money of having to replace them sooner.
• Faulty windshield wipers/fluid. This is a common occurrence in aging cars - either the wiper fluid drying up or the wiper motor acting up. This is a relatively inexpensive repair but is extremely necessary because keeping the windshield clean is critical for the safety of your vehicle.
• Failing radiator. If you find your engine overheating or notice that the coolant levels are low, these may be signs of a failing radiator. Key an eye out for the engine getting unnaturally hot because this could save you from having to get the whole thing replaced in the near future. To avoid this, or catch it early, regularly check and refill the coolant levels especially before long trips.
• Repairing rust on the exterior. Rust around the hood, wheels, or trunk may be a sign of serious damage on the interior of the car. It is a good idea to get this looked at in the early stages so you do not end up having to replace the entire exterior, as this can be very expensive especially on older cars.

Every car is unique and ages differently, so there may be other repairs besides the ones listed above that you find yourself having to make. Do research on the type of car you own and how to best prolong its life. When in doubt, give your car a little extra love, because it will reward you with years of memories. If you have further questions about our services or using Wrench at this time, feel free to talk to our customer service team through email, hello@wrench.com, or by phone, 844-997-3624.