5 Annoyingly Expensive Automotive Repairs

Car repairs are one of the most unfortunate expenses, because they're absolutely necessary, and usually not budgeted for. While the price of most repairs falls within a reasonable range, there are some particular jobs that push the limit of affordable pricing. There are many reasons for this, typically it's a combination of the cost of parts and the complexity of the labor, making it a long and complicated job. For the sake of accuracy, we won't list the prices for these repairs, as they will vary so widely depending on what type of vehicle it is, and who is performing the work. Here are ten automotive repairs that are incredibly expensive:

1) Transmission repair and replacement - We've covered the reasons why transmissions are expensive to repair before. It's recommended that you see a transmission specialist if you need this type of work done, as it's a highly specialized repair. Even a trained mechanic who would otherwise love to have your business will likely send you to a specialist if you have major transmission issues. It's important to find a competent specialist, since this type of repair will have a huge effect on your vehicle and wallet if done incorrectly. If you do have plans to work on the transmission yourself, without any training or consultation, you should film a video and put it on YouTube, for the amusement of everyone else.

2) Blown Head Gasket - While this repair can cost an unpleasant amount, depending on how much damage it's caused, it's actually quite rare, and your vehicle will have to suffer through a lot of neglect to get to the point where it needs to be done. The head gasket is at the top of the engine block, under the head, and is there to contain the engine compression and keep separate the three liquids in the engine from each other. The reasons you could blow your head gasket are usually due to vehicle operation, installation, design, or a combination of any of the three. But if you do, watch out, because your wallet will feel it. Depending on the extent of the damage, a blown head gasket could do anything from damage engine components, to requiring the replacement of the engine, so it's certainly a serious repair. A blown head gasket will also cause tears to flow after you've seen the estimate for the repairs.

3) Turbocharger/Supercharger Replacement - There's an old Billy Joel song that goes "Because you had to be a big shot, didn't ya?" Well you will very much regret trying to be a big-shot when the turbocharger breaks in your car. Turbochargers and superchargers are forced induction systems. Basically what they do is compress the air that's flowing into the engine, which allows more air to get into the cylinder, coupled with more fuel, so you get more power from each cylinder explosion, and BOOM, everyone likes you and your car is fast and life is good, UNTIL it breaks, then life is bad. Turbos issues can range from stress fractures, to oil leakage, to overheating, and can be the result of over-boosting, tuning problems, or fuel system failure. The burden of having a turbo can actually be a detriment to certain car owners, and it's not uncommon to hear people say that they avoid vehicles that are turbocharged or supercharged because of the potential for issues down the line. Of course, if you ever say that in a group of tuners, you may need to run and hide.

4) Hybrid Battery Replacement - Sometimes trying to do something could can backfire (into your wallet). If you drive a hybrid vehicle, which have been growing in popularity over the last decade, the last thing you want is to have to replace the hybrid battery, which will set you back most of the money you've saved on gas. A hybrid battery is often bundled along with another battery, called an integrated motor-assist battery, whose job it is to charge it. You will likely have to replace both if one goes. Complicating things even further, it's difficult to find someone who is versed in the technology and is able to perform the work, as it's fairly new. The parts may also be more difficult to find than they would be for a non-hybrid vehicle. While there isn't much you can do to preserve these batteries, it has been noted that a hot, dry climate will take its toll on these batteries.

5) Body Work - Oh, your neighbor backed into your car and left a little ding in the bumper? That should only take a few bucks to fix up, right? WRONG! Auto body work is expensive, especially if you want it done right. Anyone can go behind Uncle Rob's woodshed and spray paint the fender blue, but an advanced auto body facility is equipped to make accidents look like they never even happened. The reason why body work is so expensive is because it's not as simple as painting the dresser you and your girlfriend bought to restore last spring, there's a lot more to it. Car paint is expensive, and the shop will pay liability fees, pollution costs, etc., on top of labor, rent and equipment. The work itself is also a lot more complicated, with stripping, sanding, removal of trim, primer, multiple coats of paint, wet sanding, clear coats, not to mention any damage behind the panels that you're painting. The lesson to be learned from all of this is: your neighbor is an idiot for backing into you.

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