The internet being what it is these days you can sometimes find the part you want by searching your junkyard’s website! A junkyard search like this couldn’t be easier! You’ll also be able to find the location of the junkyard and their hours. If you do query the search engines or yellow pages you might be surprised to find that there is more than one place you can look for auto parts near you. Just remember that looking for used auto parts isn’t much different than looking for a used car. Check the classifieds too. All of these ways of looking will save you time and money.
There are often many junk yards in any town that will offer “you pull it” service. This means you can get a better price on 2nd hand car parts if you bring your own tools and remove the part yourself. You will also have a better chance to inspect and decide whether or not the part is in good enough condition for your use.
Remember you get what you pay for. There are many online sellers listing car parts that appear to be a bargain, however it is important to note that these may not last very long, or worse still, they may put you and your family in danger.
Cheaper car parts manufactured in countries such as China are the ones where greater care needs to be taken. While some of these car parts are built well, others are not. Ask your seller about the reliability of these as well as the warranty.
Believe it or not there are a lot of motor home head sail in the United States and they make great places to get parts. Some recreational vehicle junkyards have motor homes that are over 30 years old and that means you can find nearly any part you need. The junkyards are well known to those RV repair shops, which will use them to get parts when they cannot find a part in the catalog they need to repair someone’s motor home or recreational vehicle.
Contact local salvage yards — Plan to call as many as three local salvage yards or car recycling businesses to gauge interest in your car. Honestly describe what is wrong with it including damages and why it does not run. Even if the car isn’t drivable, but still runs it is worth more than a vehicle that does not. Prices among junkyard operators can vary, so obtain multiple quotes.
You will have to order from a few of these sites to see whether or not you like the customer service. Keep in mind that it is good to deal with a solid customer service center that uses real people instead of automated calling robot answering machines and touch tone phone options. This is a growing concern of mine and I suggest that you pay close attention. I had to deal with companies that had horrible customer service.
There can be a few hitches in purchasing anything online, particularly the many heavy Chrysler spares you might need for a rebuild or a repair job. The weight of these parts runs the shipping and handling up to an exorbitant rate. Sometimes this charge can actually eat up any savings you may have gotten from buying online.
Speak to an auto mechanic and ask for advice. The chances are that they will use a salvage yard. Ask them where they go. You have to take the time and effort to do the research. If you simply drive around you will not find what you want and at the end of the day you are probably going to come back empty handed.