Shopping At An Auto Salvage Yard: A Guide For Newbies
When a vehicle gets to the end of the figurative road, whether it is suddenly after a crash or after a long life, there is a good chance that it will end up in a salvage yard. Even though a car may have seen its better days and is no longer driveable, it is still filled to the hood with many valuable parts and components. As someone who owns a vehicle, it is always helpful if you have the option to shop at an auto salvage yard for replacement parts you may need for your own vehicle. If shopping at a scrap yard is going to be a new adventure for you, there is no doubt that there are a few things that you will want to know.
How do you know that the parts that you get at an auto salvage yard are good?
There are a lot of common vehicle parts that salvage yards pull and test for functionality from incoming vehicles, such as starters, batteries, and even stereos. Therefore, when you buy something at a salvage yard, the part may have already been tested. Salvage yards are also usually willing to work with customers to make sure they are satisfied with their purchase by allowing you exchanges or refunds if something is not working.
Do you actually have to go pull your own parts?
There are salvage yards that operate as pull-a-part locations and just let customers go in and pull what they need,bring it back to the service counter, and pay. However, most salvage yards employ what is often referred to as a runner, which is a person who pulls parts on behalf of customers. Keep in mind also that many scrap yards almost completely disassemble vehicles as they come in, so they may have the part you need stored away in the building.
Are there parts that are not good to buy at a salvage yard?
There are some vehicle components that really shouldn't be reused, especially if a vehicle has been sitting for some time. A few examples of motor parts that should be left at the salvage yard include:
- fuel system components, such as the fuel pump, lines, or filter
- air filters or transmission filters
- any fluid housing component that has not been drained, such as an oil pan or fuel tank
Besides these few items, most everything is reusable from a salvaged vehicle right down to the body parts. Therefore, you have the chance to get just about anything you could need for your own vehicle and save a lot of money in the process at a salvage yard like Teddy Bears Auto Parts & Salvage Inc.