Pull Parts At Home First
Before you even go out to the auto wrecking yard, or try to find one in your area that you can trust, you should consider pulling the parts you will need from your car at home. It is much easier to do this at home than at the junkyard, and it saves you a huge amount of time as well. On top of all that, it also means that you will find out which tools you might need to bring to the junkyard, how to remove the part (which gives you clues on how to install the new one), and if you break a different part, you can get it at the junkyard in all probability too. For a list of our best tips on pulling parts, read this.
Research The Junkyard First
Before you go to a junkyard, you should research it thoroughly to ensure that it is actually going to be the right choice for you to go to. There are a few essential things that you are going to want to think about here, but one of the main ones is whether the junkyard in question is likely to have the right parts that you need. This is a simple case of calling them ahead of time to see if they have any of the right make and model of car, as that will show that they are likely to have the parts you need. This can save you a lot of time and hassle. You may even be able to order the part online and have them pull it for you.
It’s not just about the models they might or might not have, however. It’s also a case of seeing what kind of junkyard it is, so you know what to expect. There are two main types of junkyard business that you might want to look into, and these are full-service or those where you pull it yourself. There are benefits to each, but you do need to know which you are going in for before you go, as it will help to prepare you much more effectively. Also you can consider if you need a general auto junkyard or one that is specialized, you can see the various types of yard here.
Finding Your Part
The actual difficulty for most people is knowing how to find the right part, especially if you are at a self-service junkyard. If you are struggling to know where to begin, you are not alone – a lot of people tend to find a junkyard absolutely mysterious at first, and you might be wondering where items are likely to be stored. However, you will generally find that there is actually some kind of organization to the whole place, even if it takes a while to figure it out. It is always worth asking other people who look like they know the place – including the staff, of course.
When you do find a part, you should make sure that you are checking it for rust first – as there is nothing more annoying than grabbing your tools and getting ready only to find that the part you chose has rusted through completely. Any corrosion should be avoided as much as possible. The same way you would not salvage a piece of auto glass with a crack in it. For a list of parts you shouldn’t grab from a junkyard, read this.
Expect Some Wear & Tear
That being said, the parts you find at a junkyard are rarely going to be in the best possible condition. After all, the reason parts end up there is exactly because they have seen better days, and that is something that you should definitely be aware of as you look for your appropriate parts. Expect some wear and tear, and don’t throw something away simply because it is not perfect. You’ll find it is often sufficient for the time-being, before you can buy a completely new part – and sometimes it will be okay in the long-term too.
If you can bear these things in mind, you are going to find that you have much more chance and get the pieces you need.
