Martynn Randall is technical editor at Haynes and has been with us for approaching 30 years. He's written more than 60 Haynes publications and has owned more than 85 cars and 60 motorbikes... so far!
Blimey, isnât the world expensive? Everything is going up, seemingly faster than a jet fighter on full afterburners. Food is more expensive than ever (I donât want an enforced diet at my time of life!), fuel appears to be on the way back up, and as for keeping a vehicle on the road â hourly garage labour rates of up to £150 mean that even a quick service can end up costing you the thick end of £400. Replacing a major component is at the stage where it requires you to sell a limb or take up busking.
But thatâs where Haynes remains your friend. Please forgive the plug, but we really can save you hundreds of pounds on most repairs, because you donât have to worry about costly garage labour costs. At this point, many people say: âI havenât a clue how it works, or what to doâ, but that really neednât be a barrier to saving yourself a vast sum of money on any fix.
Haynes has always been, and remains, dedicated to helping people repair their own vehicles, saving them money and gaining them knowledge along the way.
How much money? Well, here are a few examples.
Front brake pad replacement
Front brake pads £40- £150
Pad clips/springs £5- £20
Copper grease £3- £10
Labour £150
A garage is likely to charge you a minimum of £200, and quite likely a fair bit more, to replace your carâs front brake pads.
But if you invest in a Haynes manual, buy the same parts, and a couple of required tools, youâll still be on the happy side of £100.
Alternator replacement
Alternator cost £50- £600
Labour £150- £300
Obviously, and as with most jobs, the length of time you take is dependent on the actual layout of the engine and engine bay, but most DIY mechanics will be able to replace an alternator in less than two hours, and there are usually no special tools required.
Every Haynes manual can guide you through the alternator replacement procedure, so there really is no need to worry â just enjoy the money youâve saved.
Thermostat replacement
Coolant £2 per litre
Thermostat £5- £80
Labour £150
The thermostat is what keeps your carâs engine running at the correct temperature, and also helps to ensure that the heater in your cabin emits a ready supply of warm air on a chilly day. So, all kinds of discomfort and breakdowns can ensue if it fails. However, itâs usually pretty easy to replace, and this is another procedure thatâs covered in every Haynes manual. All you need to do is drain the old coolant, swap the thermostat, and refill the system. No specialist tools are needed, and youâll save yourself about £150.
These are just three simple examples, but they show that you can save a vast sum just by carrying out even simple fixes on your own vehicle. Yes, youâll have to buy tools every so often (which is good fun in itself), but youâll only ever have to pay for them once, whereas youâre paying for a mechanicâs tools every time you visit a professional workshop.
So, why not visit the Haynes Home Mechanics Guides page, which shows a vast range of maintenance and repair tasks you can carry out yourself, from a simple oil and filter change to fitting a new audio system, as well as showing you how many hundreds of pounds each will save you.
Thatâs what Haynes is all about â helping people like you service and repair their vehicle for less. And weâd love to hear what youâve been up to and how much weâve saved you. Just get in touch on yourrepairs@haynes.co.uk.
