Here's what to fix before you renew your car's COE

COE prices rose to unprecedented levels in recent times and they also directly result in the high Prevailing Quota Premium (PQP). As such, some might even find the notion of COE renewal to be just as unattractive as purchasing a brand new car in the current climate.

But if you already have an existing car and want to continue to enjoy the convenience of one, the most affordable way will still be to renew its current COE - by doing so, you'll avoid the added costs of buying a new car (you can check out Sgcarmart Connect to assist you and offer you a competitive COE renewal loan). That said, even if your goal is simply to have a car to drive, you'll still need it to be usable and reliable. And this is the article to help you to achieve that - the mechanical refresh you need to make your COE-renewed car reliable.

A worn timing belt might skip or snap, causing catastrophic damage to your engine

Make sure the heart of your car's working well

With an estimated annual mileage of 20,000km, your car would have clocked up almost 200,000km by the time it's due for a COE renewal. And at 200,000km, there are plenty of components that are due to be replaced.

For the engine, you'll want to look into vital parts such as the timing belt (or timing chain) and cam gears. The former is typically recommended to be replaced every 100,000km (hence it should be replaced again when you reach 200,000km), while the latter is often mistaken to be a lifetime component.

While timing chains are made out of metal, they will still stretch and wear over time

In actual use, however, the timing chain will still stretch despite being made out of metal, while the teeth on the cam gears will also be worn over time. These worn components will easily cause the timing chain to skip and can potentially result in catastrophic engine damage. 

Visible leaks and oil stains on your engine is yet another pressing matter that need to be resolved. Oil leaks are typically due to worn seals, and in some cases could also require entire parts such as the valve cover or oil sump to be replaced. An engine covered in oil is not just unsightly - it could even become a fire hazard should the oil get combusted by hot components such as the exhaust manifold.

If your engine is consuming large amounts of engine oil, or has smoke coming out of the exhaust, it could be the result of worn vital components (valve seals, piston rings, engine bearings) within the engine. In such a situation, your car's engine might need a complete overhaul, which would definitely be costly.

The transmission is just as important as the engine - it is responsible for transferring power to the wheels

Having a working powerplant is just part of the equation

Now that the engine's all sorted, you still need to make sure the power gets sent to the wheels. This is where other components within the drivetrain comes into play.

If your car is a manual, and is still on its original set of clutch, you might want to replace them. Clutches are known to last really long under the right circumstances, but you wouldn't want to completely wear them out - not only would you be stranded, but you'll potentially damage the flywheel as well, resulting in more costly repairs.

Likewise, if it is an automatic car, you should get the transmission checked out and have the fluids changed if necessary. Gearbox problems will leave you stranded, and are usually costly to repair - you'll want to avoid it at all costs.

Suspension and steering components should be kept in tip-top condition to ensure safe and predictable handling

Safety should always be the priority

As important as a moving, working car, is one that is also able to do so safely and of course, stop when you need it to.

Suspension components such as the arms, bushings and dampers, and steering components such as the steering rack and the tie rod arms, should all be checked and ensured to be in good working condition to allow predictable and safe handling characteristics.

There's no way to overstate the importance of the braking system

Tyres should never be neglected as they affect your safety on the roads

Ensuring that the braking system is working perfectly is something of utmost importance. There is a good chance that components such as the brake hoses have never been replaced throughout the entire lifetime of your car. You'll want to replace the brake hoses as a rupture due to wear and tear over time can suddenly result in a complete loss of braking power - just imagine how dangerous it'll be.

Even if everything is working well, it wouldn't hurt to ensure that wear and tear components such as the tyres, brake pads and rotors are all in good, serviceable condition to ensure your safety.

Before you take the plunge and renew the COE on your old car, take a step back and reconsider - is it truly the best course of action?

Are you sure you want to renew your car's COE?

By now, you'll notice that ensuring your car's in the pink of health would likely cost quite a fair bit of money, time and is quite a hassle. Of course, there's always the option to leave it be, renew the COE, and only tackle any issues when they arise. But if you were to opt for that, you need to be aware of the potential disruption and downtime, as well as the fact that parts might become tougher to source as the car ages.

Aside from the potential costs, you'll find yourself frequenting scrapyards trying to find replacement parts that are no longer available new

So, here's a suggestion, instead of holding on to your car till its last legs and renewing its COE then, you can consider selling your car.

If you sell your car with Sgcarmart Quotz, you can get the best price for it. With cash in hand, you can then make the choice to purchase a younger used car to keep costs down, or the option to buy or lease a new car depending on your budget and usage. This way, you can avoid much of the potential headache while still limiting your expenditure.

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