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Knowing the in's and out's of owning and repairing a Chevy is something you learn through experience. As a long-time Chevy owner, I hope to share my knowledge with you. Generally speaking, Chevy vehicles are built to take a fair amount of abuse. But even with their excellent build quality, it's not uncommon for certain Chevy parts to fail and kick the mechanical bucket. Here's parts that are known to need replacement after a certain number of miles are put on the vehicle.
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Up to 30,000 Miles
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Reason for Breakage
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Spark Plugs
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Inspect and clean your spark plugs if they're dirty. Replacement is usually required between 60-100 thousand miles.
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Wheel Bearings
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Wheel bearings can often last up to 150,000 miles or more, but the constant shifting of load weight combined with wear and tear from harsh winter conditions can often cause wheel bearingsto fail much earlier. When your 60K mile maintenance is due, it's a good idea to have a mechanic drive your vehicle and listen/feel for irregularities in handling.
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Wiper Blades
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Depending on your local weather, wiper blades can last anywhere from 30-60 thousand miles. Mine started to crap out around 50K, so I invested in a new set. Wiper blades are critical to your visibility in inclimate weather, so do yourself a favor and replace them when needed.
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Up to 60,000 Miles
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Reason for Breakage
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Alternator Belt
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Most automotive belts need to be replaced at the 60K mark. This is due to the heat of the engine bay and the sheer amount of load thats been placed on the belts. The easiest way to see if your alternator belt needs replacing is to check it for cracks on the inner ridges of the belt. Sometimes you can even feel the small cracks and tears if you rub your fingers along the belt.
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Radiator Coolant
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Coolant, sometimes referred to as antifreeze, keeps your engine from locking up in the winter. It does this by lowering the freezing point of the water-mixture that your engine uses to cool itself. It's vital to have clean coolant, and should be drained and refilled at least every 60K, if not 30K. Consult your cars manual for the recommended coolant change intervals.
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Timing Belts
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Timing belts, like most other automotive belts, begin to fail at around 60,000 miles. The timing belt is often tucked away in your engine bay, so it can be hard to look at and evaluate it's condition. Consult your cars manual to see when the manufacturer recommendeds changing the timing belt.
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Up to 90,000 Miles
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Reason for Breakage
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AC Compressors
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AC compressors are the heart of your AC. When the compressor goes out, your stuck in the swampy heat around you. If your AC compressorsfails, its usually due to a bearing. Have a mechanic check it out and do a rebuild if possible, otherwise get a replacement kit.
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Alternator
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It's not too common for an alternator to fail under 100K, but it can happen, especially if you are placing additional load on it by using aftermarket car audio equipment or other electronics/lighting that draws a lot of power. You can rebuild an alternator, but it is usually faster to get a replacement assembly.
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Head Gaskets
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Transmission Parts
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It's anybodies guess as to when your transmission is going to fail, but more often than not, it's right around the 100K mark. From hyraulics to clutch plates to flywheels and gears, there are more transmission parts than you could shake a stick at. The worst part? Transmission work is super expensive. That's why you need to go easy on it and make sure to change the transmission fluid at it's specified intervals.
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Brake Pads
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These pads will save your life, so take care of them like they take care of you. Factory brake pads will often last 100,000 miles or more, but some cars just eat brake pads for breakfast. So pay attention to your brake pedal and if your brake pads start squeaking, it's time to change them!
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Brake Rotors
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Just like brake pads, brake rotors are an integral part of your cars safety system. If they are warping or worn past their limits, change'em out with a new set of shiny brake rotors.
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Note: The Huntington Chevy owners group is not affiliated with or in any way associated with the Huntington Chevy dealership, which formerly owned this domain.