You know the exact places I am talking about. I am sure you have passed one or two and thought about how unsightly these places are. Most of them are covered by an outside fence but still you are perfectly aware of what lurks behind that fence. This vehicle graveyard is a precious source holding a plethora of car parts for your exact vehicle. If the insurance company can put these parts on your car when they repair it, why should it be any difference for you?
In addition there are many local junk or 1999 infiniti qx4 at your disposal. The great part is that the price is almost always lower, and it is delivered to you the same day. The downside is there are no guarantees on used parts. Although many reputable yards do provide a replacement or refund in case the part doesn’t perform satisfactory, the time replacing it again is lost.
It is time for reality check: unless you begin to do something about your junk car now, you’ll never get this job going. Instead, why not sell your car and make some money? That’s right, even junk cars can fetch some cash, money that can come in handy elsewhere.
One of the most important questions you need to ask when buying used motorcycle parts is “does it have a warranty”. Some items almost never have a warranty. Electrical Items almost always come on a “AS IS” basis as they are easily destroyed if improperly installed or the underlying problem is not repaired before the part is changed. That is why you almost never see any warranty on electrical items, even from a motorcycle dealer. You should always ask for a warranty and most places will give a standard 30 day warranty, but you should always ask. It is better to find out before you buy then after the part arrives and it doesn’t work and you find out then it is sold without a warranty. Make sure any warranty given is in writing on the receipt. If you have any questions always ask them.
As for the price of auto parts, aside from the age of the vehicle there is the make and model. In this case foreign car parts are much more expensive than domestically made cars. Most people who buy foreign cars don’t realize this or even think about it until it comes time to get their vehicle repaired. Then they get hit with the bill and their eyes pop out of their head. For example, an oil filer for a 2005 Buick Century is about $2.98. The same oil filter for a Honda CRV is $3.98. It’s basically the same filter for the Honda but it costs $1.00 more. That comes out to a 33% markup on a relatively cheap part. Imagine that same 33% markup on a part that costs $60 for the Buick. You’d be paying about $80 for the same part for the Honda.
The next method that I have used to acquire parts for less for my automobile is a bit more risky than shopping at a local junkyard, but I have never experienced any type of complication from making purchases in this fashion. This step involves using the internet. There are many different online resources that can be implemented when purchasing vehicle components online. For example, there are many online wholesalers that have massive amounts of parts that can be sold at much lower prices than automobile parts stores offer. In addition to this, there are online auction websites like eBay, as well as many classified advertisements that offer great deals on vehicle components.