If you have a set of wheels, you know that common car repairs don’t come cheap but with the right maintenance, you can save a lot of money. What may seem like a simple car repair can quickly skyrocket into hundreds of dollars. Learning the most common car repairs and how to prevent them, at least for a while, will keep your money in your pocket for longer and your car on the road.

Replacing a catalytic converter

Problems with the catalytic converter mean your fuel efficiency has dropped, your engine has lost power, your vehicle may fail to start, and in some cases, the service engine light on the dash display is on. Before you get a replacement, try cleaning the catalytic first. It will cost you a few bucks and if it works, you can use your car a while longer without worrying. If this does not fix the problem, a replacement is inevitable.

A catalytic converter failure is caused by oil entering the exhaust, deteriorating spark plugs, oxygen sensor not functioning properly, excess fuel entering the exhaust, and road-related damage.

How to prevent: Flash your cooling system, breaks, and power steering often. Have working spark plugs, fuel injectors, and use factory-approved parts. Ensure your exhaust system is working properly and use a silicone slam dunk.

Oxygen sensory replacement

Is your fuel efficiency failing? Jacky acceleration, rotten eggs smell, and engine sounding rough when idling all mean your oxygen sensor needs a replacement. An oxygen sensor monitors the oxygen that enters and leaves the catalytic converter. A sensor is placed at either end of the catalytic converter. Oxygen sensors get gummed up with carbon and other deposits so clean yours first before you get a replacement. If it doesn’t work, Dalton Collision Knoxville advises that a replacement must be done.

A failing oxygen system may be a result of the vehicle burning too much oil internal contaminants, a coated sensor, contaminated gas, and the unit exceeding its design-life expectancy.

How to prevent: Have it inspected during routine maintenance. The mechanic will measure its response time and provide a definitive diagnosis.

Loose fuel cap

Do you smell fuel when driving? Your fuel cap could be loose. Everyone dreads seeing the engine light coming on, but this is one of the tell-tale signs of a loose fuel cap. This fix is typically one of the easiest to fix. To tell if it’s working properly, just check whether the fuel cap is sealing as it should next time you get gas. A fuel cap that comes off too easily without the usual hiss of pressured air, is a sign of a cap in need of a replacement. Simply throw away the old one and buy a new one.

Prevention: Inspect the gas cap every 30,000 miles. Check for damage and cross-threading and make sure the cap meets OEM specifications.

Your vehicle may experience problems from time to time, but having proper routine checks will reduce the number of repairs you need. Some of the repairs, such as the ones mentioned here, could also be prevented if motorists knew what to do.