What You Need to Know about Parts Shopping in Junkyards?

by Kevin Smith Author

An auto junkyard for most of us is a place old, used up vehicles go for disposal or where totaled vehicles are carted off to after an accident. Most of us do not think of a vehicle junkyard as an open-air, discount, auto parts market. Yet, with careful shopping, a Florida car parts junkyard is exactly that; here is how to maximize your experience there.

Pick Your Buying Method

You have two options for purchasing: Search, locate and remove your own vehicle parts or have the junkyard staff do it for you. Usually, finding a part yourself is a little less expensive, but you need to have a basic knowledge of what you are looking for and how to remove it.

For the purposes of the rest of this article, we will cover the type of junkyard where you do the heavy lifting.

Learn the Part You Need

If you are not familiar with vehicle parts, finding and removing the right one with all its components can be a daunting process. You should research your vehicle and the specific part you need. Find out if other models of your vehicle or from the same manufacturer use the same part. Also, print out any data or photos associated with the part you need so that you can refer to it while you are in the junkyard.

Be Ready to Search

Most vehicle junkyards will sort types of vehicles, but only very loosely. It is not uncommon for junkyards to not sort the vehicles they receive at all. Either way, unless you get lucky, you will probably need to spend a lot of time inspecting the vehicles in the yard and then locating the part. In some cases, you may want to look beyond locating the first part you need and look at several more vehicles to see if you can find a part in better shape.

Bring Your Tools

At the minimum, you will need a basic tool set, including wrenches, pliers, screwdrivers, wire cutter and hammer. Check with the junkyard beforehand to see if you can use power tools.

Inspect the Part

Look for rust, corrosion and any damage. If you find a part that looks like it might be damaged, remember it and move on. Come back to it if you do not find any other compatible part.

Photo and Verify with Your Mechanic

Use your smartphone to photo the part while it is in the vehicle and send it to your mechanic for verification it is the part you need.

Remove and Finish

Once you locate and verify the part you need, remove it carefully; if you can locate directions, follow them. Be ready to haggle as you can usually get a reduction in price if you negotiate effectively. With perseverance and research, you can ensure you find the Florida car parts junkyard you need.