Whether you’re trying to replace a broken part on your own or want to fix a common car performance issue, you need to be aware that not all car components are made equally. Some fixes are as simple as removing the old part and putting the new one in the same spot, while others are much more complicated. Here’s a list of some automotive parts that are the hardest to replace. This should help you gauge whether the piece that you want to change is worth your time or not.
Crankshaft
If your engine’s pistons aren’t moving correctly, there’s a good chance that you need to replace your crankshaft. This is so difficult because they’re almost exclusively found under the engine, which means you’ll probably have to pull the engine out of the car to get to it. Depending on the tools at your disposal, this might be an impossible task. To make matters worse, an issue with the crankshaft usually means that you’ll need to replace the set of bearings that go with it.
Timing Belt
Timing belts usually aren’t too difficult to change out. The challenge comes from the fact that they’re usually buried deep inside the engine. While that doesn’t mean you have to remove the engine block, you’ll definitely have to remove parts of it in order to get to the timing belt. After replacement comes the painstaking task of correctly putting everything back where it came from.
Transmission
A car’s transmission certainly isn’t the most difficult item to swap out. The challenges associated with it come from where it is on the vehicle and its sheer weight. You can find most transmissions right behind or underneath your vehicle’s engine, which means you’ll need a way to get under your car in order to access it. Even once you manage that, you need to pull out the old transmission and put in the new one.
Depending on the type you have, this might be nearly impossible to do on your own. Some transmissions can weigh up to 400 pounds. This is why some people opt to fix their transmission instead of replacing it. It’s much easier for those who want to repair their car on their own.
Headlights
No, this isn’t a joke. While it’s not universally difficult to make this fix, headlights might be one automotive part that is the hardest to replace, depending on the vehicle you own. Some car companies make it nearly impossible to open up the plastic coverings. Some car models require you to take off a wheel or some other unrelated car part to access the broken bulb’s location. It’s kind of ridiculous, but automotive companies claim that they do this to improve aerodynamics.
While this is by no means a comprehensive list, it shows that the difficulty of changing certain components depends entirely on the brand of vehicle you have. You’ll need to take the time to find guides online that will be able to walk you through the process of replacing various components of your vehicle.
