Category: Used car parts

Rust is an oxide of iron that forms when iron and oxygen undergo a “redox reaction” when water or air moisture is present. The result of the chemical reaction is a car’s worst enemy: unsightly brown splotches that can cause more than aesthetic damage. In addition to making a car look like a junker, rust can also make it run like a junker by causing parts to crack and break.

This brings us to an important question for consumers shopping for used auto parts in Lubbock: Is it safe to buy rusty parts?

The Reality of Rust

Rust forms on the surface of metal. However, if it’s left in place, it eventually devours the entire piece, changing the microstructure and turning it into a grainy, dark pile of what was once healthy metal.

Because most vehicles contain iron alloys that are susceptible to rust, it’s quite common to see cars on the road that have rusty parts. Are those parts ticking time bombs that are about to break? Not necessarily.

As long as rust is confined to the surface, a rusty part can be just as strong as a non-rusted one. The component doesn’t look so great, but it can function fine. The point at which you need to start worrying is when the part shows pitting on the surface, and rust falls away in bits or flakes when the surface is agitated with, say, a wire utility brush.

If a rusty part looks like it still has good dimensional stability, chances are it does. If you want to be absolutely certain, you can scratch the surface with a wire. If the wire pierces through a light layer of rust and reveals healthy metal underneath, the part is most likely dimensionally sound.

No Rust is Preferable

You may be able to get buy with using rusted auto parts, but non-rusted parts are obviously better. They look nicer, and you don’t have to worry about rust degrading their strength. However, if you’re in the position where you need to buy used auto parts in Lubbock that show rust, there’s always the option of applying a rust removal solvent that chemically destroys the unsightly substance.

The key is to use the solvent while rust is only on the surface. If you use it after rust progresses to the point of pitting the metal, the solution won’t do much good. Neither will anything else, except replacing the part.

About Wrench-A-Part

Wrench-A-Part sells reliable used auto parts in Lubbock. We also have Texas locations in Austin, Belton, and Holland. We buy used cars that still drive and junkers that have good parts. After selling the parts, we send the leftover scrap metal to auto recyclers

If you’re interested in selling a vehicle or buying pre-owned parts, call our location closest to you today. We take pride in making competitive offers for vehicles and selling parts at bargain prices.

 

 

Most customers at Killeen salvage yards buy vehicle parts that they can easily carry by hand. Sometimes, though, a customer needs something that a professional strongman would have a hard time holding: an entire car engine.

If you’re headed to Killeen salvage yards in search of a whole engine, you’ll need more help than a trusty tool box and a plain truck bed can offer. If you plan to buy an engine, using the three tips below can help make the operation a success.

1. Choose a Junkyard With Engine Pulling A-Frames

Hand lifting an engine out of a car is nearly impossible, even with strong hands on all sides. Engines are dropped into cars using a hoist mechanism, and that’s what should be used to remove them. An engine pulling A-frame is the perfect tool for the job. That’s why we supply an engine pulling A-frame to anyone who needs to pull an engine from one of our vehicles. Just ask and we’ll supply the hardware.

2. Create a Secure a Hauling Position for the Engine

Whether you use a trailer, a truck bed, or something else to transport the engine,

Be sure to secure it in position before you take the drive back home. The various metals in an engine make it quite heavy. If the weight took a major shift as you rounded a corner, it could hurt the engine and your vehicle, possibly causing you to wreck due to uneven weight placement, especially if roads are slick.

3. Remember to Plan for Help With Unloading

You may go to the junkyard alone to get the engine you need, but you can’t take the engine pulling A-Frame home with you. That means you’ll probably need some assistance unloading the engine when you get to your destination. Having the engine shift the wrong way and fall could seriously harm both you and your new purchase.

Contact Us Today

If you plan to shop for a whole car engine in Killeen salvage yards, put Wrench-A-Part high on the list. We commonly sell whole engines and provide engine pulling A-frames to hoist them out of the engine compartment. We also provide wagons and wheelbarrows to transport heavy parts through the salvage yard.

To see if we have the car you need an engine from, search our online vehicle inventory, or call one of our locations. We look forward to helping you find a great engine that you can rely on!

We often say an unreliable vehicle is a “lemon”. But there’s a difference between a car that’s unsound and one that’s considered a lemon in a legal sense. Legally, a lemon vehicle is one that has a significant safety problem or mechanical defect the auto dealer can’t fix within a certain number of tries.

State and Federal Lemon Law

Lemon cars are such a problem for consumers that a branch of law was developed to deal with the phenomenon. Known as “lemon law”, it exists at both the state and federal levels. Each state has different lemon laws. Federal lemon law is established by the Magnusson-Moss Warranty Act.

Under state lemon law, a car is a lemon if the defect can’t be repaired within a certain number of tries (usually about three), within a certain mileage range (usually below 20,000). Under federal lemon law, a car gets lemon status if its defect can’t be repaired within a  “reasonable” number of tries while the car is still under the manufacturer’s warranty.

According to most state laws, lemon car owners get a free replacement vehicle and surrender their lemon vehicle. Under federal law, you get a cash award and can keep the lemon vehicle. This is how most lemon vehicles end up in junkyards. Someone gets the cash award, and then  liquidates the car to a junkyard that sells used auto parts near Belton, or another city.

Parts From a Lemon are Safe?

Parts from lemon cars are usually quite safe and reliable when you get them from a professionally operated junkyard. The business removes the car’s defective parts and leaves non-defective parts. Because lemon cars undergo numerous repair attempts, it’s very clear which parts should be removed and which ones are fine to leave in place.

Furthermore, not only are parts from lemon cars safe to buy, but they’re often some of the newest parts you find in the salvage lot. Most lemon vehicles exhibit defectiveness early on. When they reach a seller of used auto parts near Belton, they’re often less than two years old. If only it weren’t for those nagging defects, the cars would be years away from being junked.

Need Used Auto Parts Near Belton?

If you’re looking for quality used auto parts in the Belton area, come to Wrench-A-Part. We offer parts from a wide range of foreign and domestic vehicles, with plenty of late models in stock. To see if we have the vehicle you need parts from, check our Belton inventory online. You can also call us at (254) 831-4905, ext. 2. We look forward to helping you get good parts for a great price!

When you buy a new auto part, it usually comes with a manufacturer’s warranty that lasts at least a few months. But a warranty usually isn’t on the table when you buy a used part. Unless the component is new enough to be under the manufacturer’s warranty, it’s sold as-is. There are, however, some exceptions, such as the warranty program Wrench-A-Part offers for used parts: $1 per part, per day.

When to Buy Our Warranty

We inspect every vehicle we purchase, and remove any parts that are damaged or badly worn. However, even among parts considered salable, some have heavier wear than others by virtue of their function alone. Below are some common examples of these parts.

• Brake calipers
• Fuel pump
• Water pump
• Gaskets
• Engine belts
• Clutch

These six parts receive steady wear, regardless of how you drive. Consequently, they often need to be replaced sooner than other components, which makes it advisable to protect them with a warranty. But how much should you invest? We cover this below.

How to Use Our Warranty

First, consider the cost of the part. If it’s a high-dollar component like a clutch, putting it under warranty for a couple of months wouldn’t be a bad investment. On the other hand, it wouldn’t be prudent to drop $60 on a timing belt warranty, when you could buy the belt new for under $100.

Second, consider what you want to achieve with a warranty. When they buy our used auto parts in Lubbock, most who add warranties do so to avoid getting stuck with parts that quickly malfunction (although we seldom see this). For example, say you spend $20 to warranty a water pump. If the part has leaky seals, you should learn about it quickly by performing an inspection after a drive. If the part is bad, you’re compensated.

Moreover, the warranty option is valuable as a financial safety net while a used part reveals whether it’s reliable. Using our warranty this way keeps you from both investing too much in a warranty and investing in a recalcitrant part that puts you back at square one.

Looking for Used Auto Parts in Lubbock?

If so, Wrench-A-Part is a great destination. We sell reliable, used auto parts in Lubbock, and give you the option of placing what you buy under an affordable warranty. For more information about our warranty program, call us today at (806) 748-7278. We look forward to hearing from you!

Unless they have value as vintage pieces or antiques, the older most things are, the less money they’re worth. You can see this principle in action when you browse through the inventory of a salvage yard, searching for a replacement part for that component on your vehicle that needs to be swapped out.

Ironically, though, it’s that technical lack of monetary value that makes used auto parts in Lubbock junkyards monetarily valuable to you, the consumer. Even so, you don’t want to pay pennies on the dollar for a used part that soon fails. That brings us to the question asked in the title of this entry: When it comes to used auto parts in Lubbock, how used is too used?

The Decision is Yours

Professional junkyards that sell used auto parts in Lubbock don’t knowingly sell defective parts. Before they buy a vehicle, they inspect it — and many of them inspect it again before it’s placed in the salvage lot. Any parts that show obvious damage or appear ready to malfunction are removed.

This significantly lowers the chance that you’ll end up with a bad part, but it doesn’t eliminate the possibility altogether. These are used parts, after all, and some of them come from badly

wrecked cars. That’s why it’s a good idea to do your due diligence, and look for the following six indications of significant wear that a busy parts specialist may have overlooked or judged to be acceptable based on the advanced age of the vehicle.

• Numerous, small cracks on the surface of rubber parts
• Cracks in metal, plastic, or glass
• Rubber hoses that crackle on the inside when pressed
• Metal parts that don’t fit flush with adjoining parts
• Wires dangling at the point of connection instead of being harnessed
• Metal parts with rust that penetrates below the surface

These aren’t the only possible signs that a part may not deliver the safety or longevity you need, but they’re common signs of wear that eventually appear on many types of used auto components. If you have concerns about the appearance of a used auto part, ask a parts specialist before you buy. Knowledge is power when it comes to used auto parts!

Who We Are

Wrench-A-Part is a professionally operated salvage yard with Texas locations in Austin, Belton, Holland, and Lubbock. We buy used cars that drive and end-of-life automobiles, and sell reliable parts from the latter. To inquire about our inventory and services, contact our nearest location, or reach us through our contact form.

 

Before tech savvy salvage yards started listing their vehicle inventories on their business websites, the only way to find out if a junkyard had the car you needed a part from was to call the business and ask. Looking on the internet is faster, but let’s face it, you’re not looking to buy an entire salvage car; you want to buy a particular part from the car. How do you know if the vehicle has the component you need?

Unfortunately, there’s not a simple answer, and the reason why has to do with time, money, and logistics. If large salvage yards sent an employee out to do a parts check for every parts request that came in, they’d need to hire quite a few more employees just to do the checking.

Hiring those extra hands would force salvage yards to raise the price of parts and offer less cash for junk vehicles, which would erode the value proposition of doing business with them. It wouldn’t be good for Killeen salvage yards, and it wouldn’t be good for your wallet. So, you’re in the position of having to assess whether the part you need is still attached to the vehicle. There are three ways to make an educated decision.

1. Ask when the online inventory was last updated

First, make sure the vehicle is still in the salvage yard. Because it directly impacts customer service, most Killeen salvage yards are vigilant about keeping their inventory updated by the day, but you don’t know until you ask. If the inventory was updated in the last 24 hours, there’s a slim chance that all of the vehicle’s parts have sold and it’s no longer in the yard.

2. Ask when the vehicle was placed in the salvage yard

Most Killeen salvage yards keep a record of when vehicles were placed in the yard. They can usually give you the information with a few clicks of a mouse. If the car you need a component from was recently inventoried (e.g. in the past week), there’s a strong chance that most of the parts are still there. But you’re interested in that one particular part. Proceed to step three.

3. Ask about the popularity of the part you need

Some replacement parts tend to be more popular than others. For example, most cars don’t need new axles or engine coolant reservoirs as often as they require new starters and batteries. But that’s a general assessment. You can get more specific by using the internet to research which parts on your make and model are replaced most often. If you need a part that’s low on the replacement list, there’s a good chance you’ll find it on the vehicle.

You can also quiz the person who answers the parts hotline about how quickly the part you need tends to sell. If the part sells like hotcakes or rarely sells, the parts specialist will probably know. Taking these three steps doesn’t guarantee success, but it can also help you make your first trip to the salvage yard your only trip.

About Wrench-A-Part

One of the leading Texas salvage yards for parts availability and cash offers made for used and end-of-life vehicles, Wrench-A-Part has locations in Austin, Belton, Holland, and Lubbock, and proudly serves surrounding areas. To inquire about our inventory or services, call our closest location, or send us an email through our contact form.                

There’s a competitive market for high-quality used auto parts near Belton, and we offer some of the best prices and service. If you have a hard time finding new vehicle parts for an affordable price, we recommend searching our inventory of affordable, used auto parts in Belton for the reasons below.

1. Online Inventory

We have four locations and maintain an online inventory of vehicles for each one. There’s no need to drive several miles to our Belton location to see if we have the vehicle you need parts from. Simply visit our website from the convenience of your smartphone or desktop, and click on the link to the Belton vehicle inventory.

2. Organized Inventory

Our organized inventory makes it easy to locate the car from which you need parts. Once you locate the vehicle, simply remove the components you require, and transport them to the payment destination for purchase. Our inventory is neat and organized, allowing you to access your car of choice within minutes, and then quickly go to the car’s location to pull parts.

3. Help With Removal

Junkyards usually tell you to bring your own tools to remove parts, but there are exceptions to the rule. For example, if you need to remove a whole engine, Wrench-A-Part will provide you with an engine pulling A-frame. In addition, we offer wagons and wheelbarrows to customers that help them transport numerous parts to the payment destination quickly.

4. Parts Warranty

Not every provider of used auto parts near Belton offers a warranty for every part of your equipment. But Wrench-A-Part does. We give you the option of applying a warranty to each part you purchase. Because used parts tend to have a higher failure rate than new parts, insuring a part with a warranty with at least a couple of weeks in advance is a good idea.

Contact Us Today

Wrench-A-Part is a professionally operated junkyard that carries a variety of late model and earlier model auto parts. Whether you need to dress up a sports car or give your everyday car better performance, our salvage lot is a great place to look for what you need.

For more information about the parts you need, call our location in Belton at 254-831-4905, ext. 2, or use our website to browse through our vehicle inventory in Belton. We look forward to providing used auto parts near Belton that keep cars running reliably.

Most people visit salvage yards near Austin for one of four reasons: to remove parts from cars to replace malfunctioning parts, buy a used vehicle that’s still in good driving condition, sell a vehicle that’s reached the end of its life, or search for customized auto parts. If you’re trying to decide which salvage yard to use in the Austin area, below are four reasons to make Wrench-A-Part as your one-stop destination.

1. Remove Auto Parts

Most people go to salvage yards near Austin to remove auto parts that are crucial to the operation of a vehicle. The best junkyards to accommodate this need offer an engine pulling A-frame for customers who need to remove whole engines, and provide wagons and wheelbarrows to help transport parts to the payment destination. Wrench-A-Part offers this equipment.

2. Buying Used Vehicles

Salvage yards near Austin focus mainly on acquiring end-of-life vehicles to sell the reusable parts. But Wench-A-Part also offers competitive prices for used vehicles that are still useful as modes of transportation. If you need a used vehicle, purchasing it from us is likely to cost considerably less than buying it from a dealership. Dealerships tend to have high overhead, which can make a pre-owned car cost significantly more than it would if you purchased it from a junkyard.

3. Sell Junk Vehicles

You’re cruising along the highway when the electrical system in your old car loses power, until you dashboard goes dark. The problem may be the catalytic converter, but you aren’t sure. A mechanic determines the converter needs to be replaced, which would cost quite a bit.

If your insurance company “totals” the car, the most cost effective option may be to sell the car to us as-is instead of repairing the problem, and receive money to put toward a new vehicle.

4. Search for Custom Car Parts

Do you dream of building a car that corners like no other and has ultra sharp handling? Professionally operated junkyards often have components that can help make the dream real. If you’re building a “tuner car”, it’s worth seeing how much you would pay to customize it using parts you could find our salvage yard. You could potentially save hundreds of dollars if not more.

Contact Us in Austin Today

Wrench-A-Part is a professionally operated junkyard with four locations: Austin, Belton, Lubbock, and Holland. If our Austin location is closest, contact us at (512) 501-6946, ext. 2, with questions about selling a vehicle, acquiring parts, or buying a used vehicle. You can also email us through our contact form. We look forward to hearing from you!

Tuner cars are vehicles that are upgraded with aftermarket auto parts after they roll off of the assembly line. Because comprehensive tuner car projects can take tens of thousands of dollars to complete, drivers who perform the projects tend to keep the vehicles for a long time.

However, like other types of consumer vehicles, some tuner cars inevitably end up on the wrong side of an insurance claim after a wreck, are “totalled” by the insurance company, and sold to a junkyard. There are any number of used auto parts from tuner parts that you could find at a junkyard. Below are three examples.

1. Turbo Drive and Manifold

Investing in a top-notch, aftermarket turbo drive and manifold set could easily cost you five figures, but you won’t pay that much if you buy them as used auto parts. Unlike tuner parts that are designed to make an aesthetic splash, turbo drives and manifolds are primarily installed for performance. That’s why it’s a good idea to insure them with a parts warranty at the time of purchase.

2. Designer Wheels and Rims

Nothing screams “tuner car” like designer wheels and rims. Whether you like rims that have a matte finish that disappears in the night or a chromed finish that could show Medusa her reflection, you could save some serious money by pulling them from a wrecked tuner car.

Unless the wreck damaged the wheels and rims, they’re likely to look almost perfect. If there’s one thing that owners of tuner cars do, it’s take good care of their vehicles.

3. Mufflers and Accessories

If you like to drive a car that let’s people know you’re coming up the street, you may be able to find exactly the type of annoying muffler you need at a junkyard. Jokes aside, aftermarket mufflers are often customized for specific types of cars. If someone wrecks his tuner car, he’s likely to leave the muffler attached, unless he plans on replacing the car with a clone.

About Our Business

Wrench-A-Part is a professionally operated junkyard in Texas with four locations: Austin, Belton, Holland, and Lubbock. In addition to offering a wide variety of used auto parts, we give you the option of insuring the components you buy with an affordable warranty of $1 per part, per day.

If you’re looking for used, reliable, steeply discounted tuner car parts, come to one of our locations today, and see what you find. We look forward to meeting you!