5 Repairs You Should Stop Putting Off Until Tomorrow

There are certain jobs that are just no fun. Some repairs are difficult to reach in a confined space or need special tools. Others will take a solid day of wrenching while trying your patience. But the truth is that these repairs affect the overall long-term health of your vehicle. They are also easy to put off as simply annoying until a dramatic breakage occurs. Here are five repairs you should stop putting off until tomorrow.

Worn Engine Mounts

That annoying “clunk” when you put your car in gear will only get worse. Engine mounts are designed to allow for a certain amount of movement, but there is a limit. Once that limit is reached, you start risking damage to other components. For example, a hose connecting the power steering pump on the engine to the power steering reservoir on the fender may get stretched or rub on nearby components. Wires may get pulled loose from the excessive engine movement. It’s best to just knuckle down and get it done.

Exhaust Leaks

While the noise may be annoying, an exhaust leak can also lead to nasty fumes entering the passenger compartment. In extreme cases a leak can burn or melt nearby components. Unfortunately they can also be hard to track down, especially when buried in the engine compartment. Cast iron manifolds can crack, bolts can break, gaskets can fail, and exhaust pipes can rust through. The straight forward repair is to replace the offending part. For some vehicles though, there are creative workarounds from NAPA Solutions like exhaust manifold repair clamps.

Fluid Leaks

If you have been topping off your oil for a long time rather than finding the leak, it is time to stop putting off the inevitable. While a small fluid drip may be annoying on your driveway, it may also coat your engine and damage other components. Delaying that power steering pump leak repair will sure seem silly when it ruins the alternator as well. So do yourself and your driveway a favor and finally chase down that leak.

Worn Shocks / Struts

Worn out shocks and struts have a way of sneaking up on you. They rarely go bad overnight, but when they are at the end of their service life they may as well not be there at all. Shocks and struts take the abuse that would normally be transmitted to other chassis components. Without that protection, those chassis parts wear out faster. Shocks are usually straightforward to replace, and strut replacement has become easier thanks to the availability of modular strut assemblies. Once the job is done, the difference will be immediately apparent on your next drive.

Failing CV Axles

You may already know your CV boots are torn, but there’s no way to know just how long you have until the joint inside starts to fail. If you are hearing a tell-tale clicking when turning your front wheels left or right, then you are due for new axles. Waiting too long could lead to dangerous driveline vibrations and possibly even failure of the axle assembly itself. Make the time and get it fixed.

None of these repairs are fun and some can take up a chunk of time. But if you have the DIY knowledge to tackle them at home or the spare time to visit your local NAPA AutoCare, now is a perfect time to get things done.

Check out all the maintenance parts available on NAPA Online or trust one of our 17,000 NAPA AutoCare locations for routine maintenance and repairs. For more information on repairs you should stop putting off, chat with a knowledgeable expert at your local NAPA AUTO PARTS store.

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