No matter your vehicle’s age, make or model, it is bound to require some kind of engine repair at some point. Unfortunately, no matter how well you maintain your vehicle, this is just an inevitable part of vehicle ownership and use. Thankfully, we’ve done a little research to narrow down the most common vehicle repairs nearly everyone encounters.

Here are the top 4  vehicle repairs and part replacements you may have to make, and what they might cost you.

1. Spark Plugs

Spark plugs are an integral part of your engines ignition system. They need to be changed during tune-ups to keep your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently. If your vehicle begins to jerk, stutter or hesitate, particularly while accelerating under a load, it may be time to replace your spark plugs. Spark plugs use electrical current from your engine’s ignition coils to ignite the air/fuel mixture within the combustion chamber. A damaged or old plug results in fuel being burned inconsistently. This leads to poor fuel efficiency, a rough idle, and a rough driving experience overall. It is recommended to change your spark plugs approximately every 30,000 miles.

Average Cost: $300 – $350

2. Catalytic Converter

Catalytic converters are a highly important part of your vehicle’s emissions control system. While it is a simple device, it has a big job: it converts harmful pollutants into less-harmful emissions within the exhaust system. While replacing a catalytic converter may be one of the most common vehicle repairs, it is avoidable. Don’t ignore a spark plug, fuel injector, or other related small part issue for too long. If you do, it can lead to this larger, much more expensive repair.

Average Cost: $1000 – $1100

3. Oxygen Sensors

Oxygen sensors are also part of your vehicle’s emissions control center. Their job is to detect the air/fuel ratio (AFR) within the fuel. It then reports this information back to the engine’s management computer. Within each sensor takes place a chemical reaction generating voltage to determine if the AFR is rich or lean. Based on this voltage, the engine’s computer adjusts the amount of fuel entering the engine. As I’m sure you can guess, when the oxygen sensor fails, the computer is forced to ‘guess’ the AFR, and thus, your vehicle performs poorly and inefficiently.

Average Cost: $200-$300 

4. Exhaust Gas Recirculation Valve

Another vital part of your vehicle’s emissions system, the Exhaust Gas Recirculation valve (EGR valve) is responsible for circulating a portion of a car’s exhaust through the engine for a second time. Doing this provides a cooler, more complete burn of the fuel, greatly decreasing the overall emissions. If the EGR valve stops working, it must be replaced as soon as possible. If not, it will negatively effect engine performance, or potentially cause it to completely stop running. Symptoms of a bad EGR valve include rough idling, engine stall while idling or a pinging or tapping noise at a low RPM.

            Average Cost: $250-$300

While these common vehicle repairs may eventually be inevitable, proper vehicle maintenance goes a long way toward preventing these types of problems and prolonging the life of your engine. Luckily, Berryman Products offers a huge selection of products to help keep your vehicle running healthier for longer!