Car care mistakes that do the most damage

January 23, 2013 3:28 PM

There’s nothing quite like the nagging feeling that creeps up on car owners when they first notice an issue with their vehicle.

Be it a squeaky belt, a slightly slippery brake, a just off-centered alignment or, of course, the dreaded check engine light, the reaction is nearly universal: “The car is driving just fine, maybe it’s just a temporary thing.” But even when the problem doesn’t subside in a few days, drivers keep a stubborn grip. Most continue to use the vehicle despite being well aware that the longer they ignore the problem the more likely they’ll eventually be faced with a costly repair.

With that in mind, the makers of CarMD – a device that plugs into your car then transfers a detailed report of any lingering problems to a personal computer – surveyed their staff of ASE-certified technicians for a list of 10 issues that result in the costliest repairs.