All mechanical components have a service life. Some manufacturers, such as Toyota, have a reputation for long-lived original and reasonably priced replacement parts. Other car constructors are known for frequently failing parts priced as if they are made of platinum. (Many European cars come to mind) If you drive a high-mileage vehicle, which, depending on the maker, could be 100,000-150,000 miles, you are waiting for a day-ruining experience. We will discuss specific components; when they fail, the engine will stop running, leaving you stranded.
Modern cars are rolling computers. The computer that controls the engine, the ECU, must work for the car to run. That’s the bad news. The good news is that by using information from an array of sensors, the ECU controls your engine, making it more fuel efficient, more powerful, and pollute less than previous generations.
A failure of the sensors the ECU depends on will also bring your engine to an abrupt halt. The sensors you may want to replace to ensure you don’t end up on the back of a tow truck are the crankshaft position sensor and the camshaft position sensor.
The crankshaft position sensor, CKP, ascertains engine speed and crankshaft position. Since 1996, cars have followed federal emission on-board diagnostic ll (OBD ll) standards that require misfire detection capability. The CKP sensor provides this capability by detecting small changes in crankshaft velocity.
Many vehicles also have a camshaft position sensor (CMP) that tells the computer when the number 1 cylinder is on its compression stroke. The information The CMP sends to the ECU controls fuel injection sequencing and ignition firing.
A failed fuel pump will stop the engine dead if you are driving and refuse to start. The fuel injection system requires high-pressure fuel to operate; there is no cure but to be towed to a repair facility. If you are lucky, your technician will find a clogged fuel filter. (From now on, change it every two years)
The battery powers the starter to start your car, but after that, the alternator is the source of electrical current to run your electric-intensive vehicle. If the alternator fails, the car will run on battery power for a time, but when the battery voltage goes below a set point, the ECU will be unpowered, and the engine will stop.
The ignition switch, as you know, causes the engine to stop running when you turn it to the stop position. If this part fails, your engine may stop while driving or refuse to start.
If your engine quits while driving, your power steering will cease working and require lots of effort to steer the car to a safe place to stop. When your power brake booster runs out of vacuum (quickly), you will need to push the pedal very hard to stop the car. This scenario is not one in which you want to find yourself.
We understand that if you drive an aging, high-mile vehicle, you are not anxious to replace large numbers of parts that have not yet failed. Specific components on some brands are more likely to fail; we offer an inexpensive cost-benefit analysis on which parts would be in your interest to replace proactively.
We have dedicated auto repair experts who can advise you on which parts are likely to fail and leave you stranded. Call or visit our website to get a quote and book an appointment for a consultation or any service you require.
