Handling Car Maintenance On Tight Budget: Get Parts You Need For Repairs From Salvage Yards
ShareIf you rely heavily on your car for transportation, it is vital that you keep the vehicle in good working condition. However, car repairs are inevitable and can be expensive. If your car is in dire need of repairs but you are on a tight budget and fear you cannot afford the parts and labor to fix your vehicle, you should consider buying used parts from a salvage yard.
If you have a trustworthy mechanic, they should have no issue with you providing a used part that is in excellent condition to help you cut down on your repair bill. The following guide can help you determine what kinds of car parts can be purchased used and offers some essential buying tips.
Body Parts and Accessories
If you get into a fender bender that dents a body panel on your car or breaks a light, you can replace the damaged parts with used original equipment manufacturer parts from a salvage yard. Common body parts and accessories that you can find at scrap yards include:
- Bumpers
- Side panels
- Exhaust pipes and heat shields
- Gas caps
- Hub caps
- Tail lights
- Windows and window glass
- Wiper arms
Major Engine Parts
Major car parts that are you can generally find at scrap yards include:
- ABS controllers
- Alternators
- Carburetors
- Coolant reservoirs
- Cylinder blocks
- Transmissions
- Fuel tanks
- Starters
- Steering columns
- Sunroof motors
- Suspension Parts
Wheels
The wheels of your car connect directly to the vehicle's hub. Made of steel or heavy duty metal alloys, wheels can become damaged if you are in an accident.
Instead of spending a lot of money ordering new wheels from your car's manufacturer, see if you can find OEM wheels from a salvage yard. A well-stocked used part dealer will have a large selection of reconditioned wheels that are as good as new.
Interior Parts
If the inside of your vehicle has suffered damage, do not waste your money ordering brand new parts from your car dealer. You can find all types of interior car parts for much cheaper at a salvage yard including:
- Cigarette lighters
- Interior door panels
- Rear view mirrors
- Seats
If you do not have a stereo system in your car, you might get lucky and find a really nice system in a junk car at a scrap yard.
Salvage Yard Tips
If your idea of a salvage yard is from television sitcoms like "Sanford and Son" you will be in for a surprise when you visit a scrap yard. Modern-day salvage yards are meticulously organized and parts are catalogued in computerized databases. When you are looking for a part, simply provide the salvage yard with the make, model and OEM part number to get a complete list of available parts that fit your car's specifications.
If the salvage yard does not have the part you need in stock, make sure to ask them if they are a part of a used auto parts exchange with other salvage yards. An exchange enables the salvage yard to order the parts you need from other businesses around the country so you do not have to put off getting your car fixed because you need to save money for a brand new part.
Furthermore, driving around in a car that needs maintenance can lead to more problems that will be even more expensive to fix and will reduce your car's life span.
Keep in mind that salvage yards also purchase nonworking vehicles. So if your car is beyond repair or you do not want to put any more money into it, you may be able to get some cash from your clunker by selling it to salvage yard. Just make sure you have the title to your car when you want to sell it, to prove to the salvage yard that you are the rightful owner of the vehicle. For more information, contact a salvage yard like City Auto Wreckers.