One of the advantages of keeping your older vehicle is that you’ll avoid the high cost and monthly payments associated with a newer car (not to mention the depreciation). Having said that, components wear out after tens of thousands of miles and several years of use. Finding replacement parts that will put your vehicle back on the road at a price that doesn’t blow your budget can be a challenge. A lot of motorists look toward junkyards as a reliable source of used car parts. But, is it a good idea to buy them there?
This article will explore some of the advantages and drawbacks of purchasing used components at salvage yards. I’ll explain how these vendors have changed over the years and offer a few tips for chasing down the auto parts you need. We’ll also take a realistic look at the potential cost savings.
It’s Not Your Father’s Salvage Yard
If the last time you visited a junkyard was more than a decade ago, you may be surprised by the changes. Long ago, the carcasses of automobiles were strewn lazily throughout a plot of dirt. If you needed to find a particular component, you would spend time looking through the wreckage hoping to stumble upon it. Asking an employee for help was a hit-or-miss proposition; they would often be unaware of the items within their inventory.
Today, everything is computerized with each item stored within a database. Every radiator, passenger seat, water pump, and stereo knob can be accounted for with a few clicks of a button. If you need to find a specific item, you won’t be forced to spend hours digging through a dirty lot. Just ask an attendant to check the database. What’s more, a lot of salvage yards are now connected through a network. If one location cannot find a component in their database, they can check the databases of other locations.
How Much Money Can You Expect To Save?
Every junk yard is a little different with regard to pricing. And the amount you can expect to save will vary based on the type of item you’re looking for. For example, car seats may carry higher savings than fuel pumps. As a general rule, you should expect to pay 40% to 50% less than you would for a comparable new unit. A brand new “straight-from-the-box” alternator might cost $200. At a junkyard, you should expect to pay $100 to $120 for the same brand and model.
An important point should be made here. Buying certain components from a salvage yard is risky because you won’t know whether there are defects. If you’re purchasing a replacement rear bumper for your car, there’s little need for concern. However, brake systems, water pumps, alternators, and catalytic converters are more difficult to judge. One small defect can lead to a failure. I always recommend buying auto parts that meet OEM standards. They’re far less likely to fail. Whether they’re new or remanufactured, the peace of mind they offer is well worth the higher price.
By: Lawrence Reaves
Posts Tagged ‘Water Pump’
Should You Buy Auto Parts From a Salvage Yard?
January 26th, 2010How to Save Money on Auto Repairs – Choose a Shop
January 5th, 2010
With increasing gas prices, we are all looking for ways to save money. Buy a Hybrid for around`$30,000 to save $10 a week in gas? I don’t think so. A lot of us realize that with the economic slow down our best bet is to reduce debt and drive what we already have a little longer. This article is for people that are looking to save money on their car repairs but don’t want to do the repairs themselves.
Find a repair shop before your car is in desperate need of repair. The easiest and less stressful way to try a shop’s services out is to schedule an oil change. By scheduling your car for this service, you can get to know the place, see if it seems trustworthy, organized and professional. Look for ASE certifications or dealer training certifications while there on your visit. Ask about their other services and what their warranty is on parts and labor.
Save money by having repairs done as soon as there is a problem. Delaying repairs can often result in more damage being done to related parts, requiring more labor and material. Have the car checked, just because your car overheated, don’t assume that it needs a water pump. If you ask for a water pump, that is what you’ll get and your car may still overheat. If you ask the service writer to have your car checked for overheating, then it will be their diagnosis and you have a leg to stand on if the repair didn’t remedy the problem.
You are much more likely to have a good experience if you communicate well with the shop. Don’t always elect go with the lowest price, you may end up with inferior parts and possibly a less experienced auto technician performing the repairs. Everyone is in a rush these days, but when you get your car worked on allow ample time for the repair so the work is not rushed. Anyone that works too fast is prone to make mistakes. Ask to see the old parts, you may not know what you are looking at, but this helps to insure the parts were replaced and that they did in fact fail. With a little common sense, you’ll save a ton of money on car repair and you won’t even get your hands dirty.
By: Dennis Bandy