6 Tips to Buying Used Auto Parts
People work on their own cars for many reasons. No matter what your reason for working on your car, one thing has to happen: you have to be able to get ahold of good parts. Installing used parts in your car will help you with that. You just need to make sure that the used parts you are getting are good quality parts. If you are careful, you are more likely to get the quality used parts you need.
1. Shop Locally
One way to get the good parts you need is to shop locally. You can shop at local junk or salvage yards. Shopping locally will let you look at the part before you buy it, as well as check into the company’s reputation. If they have a poor reputation, you may have a chance to hear about it before you buy anything from them.
2. Follow the History
Another way to make sure the used part you are getting is a good part is to get the history of the part. If the item came out of a salvage car, you need to know that and to know what happened to that car. Some parts cannot be used if the car had been in an accident, like parts of the frame, because they may have microfractures. So make sure you know what the history of the part is before you buy.
3. Check the Logo
The part you are looking to buy may be a fake. If the part is a fake, you may be able to spot several warning signs. For example, look to see if the logo is not printed correctly or if you see any misspelled words on the part. You can also take the old part with you to make sure that the one you are buying matches up. If the part is too big to bring with you, take pictures so that you can doublecheck.
4. Know the Compatibility
Some parts will work for several model years of a given car model. You need to know if the part that you need does that. When you know the compatibility, you will be able to check other year models for the part you need instead of being limited to only one year. You may also be able to use parts from different models by the same auto manufacturer.
5. Check on Refurbishment
Some salvage yards will refurbish a part before they sell it. That means that they will work on the part and make sure that it is in good working order to ensure that your car will work when you put that part in your car.
6. Know When to Buy New
While buying used parts makes a lot of sense and a good used part can save you money, some parts need to be bought new. Knowing when you should buy a new part instead of a used part helps you get the right part at the right time. The parts you want to buy new include parts for your brake system. Brakes are an important safety feature of your car, so you do not want to take any chances with them.
When you are looking for a used part for your car, come see us at Pick-a-Part Jalopy Jungle. We will help you find the part that you are looking for so that you can get your car back up and running. We understand your needs and we are here to help you get the quality used parts that you are looking for when you are trying to working on your car.