Category: Used car parts

Self-service auto parts are vehicle components that drivers “pick and pull” from automobiles in a junkyard using their own tools. Because the components are as accessible to consumers as new components, drivers sometimes find it hard to choose one option over the other. If you are in this position, you may want some information that compares and contrasts the two types of parts. That’s what we provide below using four important criteria for evaluating auto components.

1. Price

You’ll obviously pay a lower price for pre-owned parts than you would for new parts, but what is the price differential? In most cases, you can count on paying at least 50 percent less for used parts, and the price discount can rise even higher. Many of our customers find that they can acquire two or more used components for what they would pay for a single, new component.

2. Warranty

Whereas new parts are covered by the manufacturer’s warranty, some used parts are old enough to not be covered by the warranty. However, depending on where you get self-service auto parts, you may have an opportunity to purchase part warranties from the seller. Wrench-A-Part offers this option. You can apply a warranty to parts for $1 per part per day.

3. Reliability

While new parts are the obvious choice when it comes to lifespan, it’s important to remember that many used auto parts in a junkyard are nearly new. That’s because they are installed in vehicles that were taken out of commission prematurely due to wrecks or persistent mechanical problems that don’t affect other parts. Your parts may be used, but they don’t have to be old.

4. Compatibility

Unlike the generic auto parts that mechanics often install to help minimize cost for the customer, a high percentage of the parts you find in a junkyard come from the original equipment manufacturer (OEM). Many drivers prefer installing OEM parts instead of generic ones because more information is available about the latter. OEM parts are available in our inventory.

Looking for Quality Used Auto Parts?

If you need to save money by purchasing self-service auto parts, Wrench-A-Part is the place to shop. In addition to offering competitive prices on all parts and only selling pre-owned components of the highest quality, we also give you the option of placing a warranty on the parts you buy to protect your investment. If you need OEM parts that were made for your make and model vehicle, there’s a good chances that you can find them at one of our business locations.

To see if we have your vehicle in our inventory, visit us online and check the inventories of our locations in Austin, Belton, Holland, and Lubbock from the convenience of your personal computer. We look forward to supplying you with parts that keep your vehicle running smoothly!

 

By the looks of them, most wrecked vehicles appear to be worthless to any business but an auto recycler. However, professionally operated junkyards are known to find plenty of useful auto components on a car that has been “totalled” due to a major collision that crushes at least part of the vehicle. In this entry, we take a look at salable parts that wrecked cars often contain, components that are valuable to a junkyard, and will allow you to sell your wrecked car to one.

Vehicle Lights

If your car suffered a major rear end cash or a major front end collision, chances are that the tail lights and front lights were busted beyond repair and considered a total loss. However, if your car was side swipped or t-boned, chances are that the lights remain intact and can be sold to consumers who need the light fixtures to replace recalcitrant lights on their own automobiles.

Wheel Tires

Because the impact of most accidents focuses squarely on the body of an automobile, its tires can remain virtually unscathed, with the only exception being the hard application of brakes that made the tires squeal as the vehicle tried to avoid being hit. Even when this happens, relatively new tires still contain a nice amount of thread and can be purchased as replacement tires.

Cabin Components

Because auto collisions primarily impact the body of the car, they often leave components in the cabin unscathed, especially small, centrally located parts such as auto gauges, gear shifts, rearview mirrors and steering wheels. Your car may look like it was hit by a bomb on the exterior, but if it has a selection of unscathed cabin components, a junkyard is likely to buy it.

Engine Parts

Some front end wrecks are so severe that they destroy the entire front of a car, essentially turning the engine compartment into a mass of reconstituted metal that has no usable parts. In most cases, however, at least some pre-owned, salable parts can be pulled from the engine. When you go to sell your wrecked car, the junkyard that buys it will make a note of this fact.

Need to Sell Your Wrecked Car?

If so, contact Wrench-A-Part. We are a professionally operated junkyard that buy parts from practically all types of end-of-life vehicles. If you need to sell your wrecked car, contact one of our Texas locations in Austin, Belton, Holland or Lubbock today. In addition to making you a competitive offer for your vehicle, we will tow it away free of change. Contact us today!     

 

If you’ve ever watched a professional mechanic at work, his or her hands are routinely soiled with a variety of engine fluids and accumulations of dirt from the road that collect on the underside of vehicles. This is similar to what it’s like to get self-service auto parts from a junkyard. You need to bring your own tools to pull the parts. And while your hands may get dirty in the process, there are several benefits of removing your own parts that make it worthwhile.

Cheaper Than New Parts

Acquiring self-service auto parts results in paying less for the components than you would pay to purchase them from an auto dealership or a mechanic. For the price of getting your hands dirty from removing self-service auto parts, you can save hundreds of dollars, and possibly more, depending on how many parts you buy. The money saved can be applied to a new car.

As Reliable as New Parts

Many pre-owned parts you find at junkyards aren’t old at all. In addition to buying old cars that are retired due to mechanical issues, we also purchase relatively new cars that have been totalled in a wreck. In some cases, parts from these automobiles are only a few months old and have the majority of their expected lifespan remaining. Pre-owned parts can be almost like new.

Option for Part Warranties

Most junkyards won’t let you return auto parts that you have already purchased, but some junkyards allow you to purchase a warranty for each part you buy. Wrench-A-Part is one of these junkyards. We give you to option to apply a parts warranty of $1 per part per day. If the warrantied parts malfunction while under warranty, you are entitled to replace them for free.

Contact Wrench-A-Part Today

Getting self-service auto parts may require you to get your hands a bit dirty while removing them, but choosing this option offers at least three benefits: you can get parts for less than you would pay for them from an auto dealer or a mechanic, you can acquire parts that are practically new, and you can apply a warranty to each part you buy in order to protect your investment.

To find out if we have the vehicle in stock from which you need parts, just check the online vehicle inventory for any of our Texas locations in Austin, Belton, Holland, or Lubbock. When you find the automobile that you require parts from, travel to the vehicle’s location with your  toolbox in tow, and remove the pre-owned auto parts that you need to improve your vehicle.               

Professionally operated junkyards can be broadly separated into two categories: junkyards that sell self-service auto parts and junkyards that sell parts that have already been removed for the customer’s convenience. While buying parts from the latter types of junkyards may immediately seem to be the best option, there are some good reasons to buy self-service auto parts instead.

Before you buy used auto parts, consider the advantages of opting for self-service auto parts.

Easier to Control Quality

Picking your own parts helps you choose components that are in the best condition, as opposed to ones that, because they are in mediocre condition, the junkyard would like to sell as quickly possible. Most junkyards value customers enough not to ply them with low-quality components that aren’t dependable enough to support a vehicle that’s used for daily transportation, but there are always a few bad apples in the bunch. To control quality, choose your own auto parts.

Parts Typically Cost Less

A junkyard that pays its employees to remove auto parts and transport them to the payment counter will price the components to account for the cost of the manpower that was used to remove and transport them. When you pull your own auto components, all you pay for is the parts and the warranties that you apply to them, if indeed you choose to protect the parts with warranties. When it comes to saving money, removing your own parts is the best way to go.

Use Your Mechanical Skills

You don’t have to be a professional mechanic to remove parts at a junkyard. All you need is a basic understanding of the area of the vehicle for which you need parts and the tools required to remove them. In the end, taking advantage of your mechanical knowledge in this manner helps you save money by removing your own auto parts instead of having the junkyard do it for you.

Contact Wrench-A-Part

Wrench-A-Part is a professionally operated junkyard that provides self-service auto parts for various types of vehicles. In doing so, we make it easy to control the quality of the parts you receive, give you the opportunity to save money, and let you put your mechanical skills to use to generate savings. For information about acquiring our self-service auto parts, contact one of our Texas locations in Austin, Belton, or Lubbock today, or refer to the contact page on our website.

Junkyards are often separated into two categories: “U-pick” junkyards and “counter-jockey” junkyards. At U-pick junkyards, customers bring their own tools to remove parts. At counter-jockey junkyards, parts are removed by employees and transported to the payment counter, where the customer pays for them and is quickly on his way. If you are trying to decide between using a U-pick yard and using a counter-jockey yard, consider the factors below.

Cost of Parts

Because employees of the business perform parts removal on behalf of customers, a counter-jockey yard often charges more for parts than a U-pick yard. If your goal is to acquire quality auto parts as economically as possible, buying self-service auto parts is the best option. Customers often pay less than half of the original price to acquire self-service auto parts.

Time Spent Removing Parts

Because the business requires you to remove parts on your own, a U-pick yard generally requires you to invest more time in acquiring parts than a counter-jockey yard. If you are pressed for time, and you need to perform a vehicle repair as quickly as possible, getting parts from a junkyard that uses the counter-jockey business model may be the best option.

Mechanical Knowledge

If you have a proficient understanding of vehicle mechanics, using a U-pick yard is a great option, as it essentially allows you to use your knowledge to buy parts for the lowest price. If you lack a proficient understanding of vehicle mechanics, acquiring parts from a counter-jockey yard may be the best option, as it ensures that the right parts are removed in the correct manner.

Familiarity With Vehicle

Most non-mechanics learn about vehicle operation based on experience. The more repairs they make to their vehicle, the better they understand how it works, which translates into making more educated decisions when searching for quality pre-owned auto parts. Acquiring self-service auto parts gives you the opportunity to become a more educated vehicle owner.

Contact Wrench-A-Part

Wrench-A-Part is a professionally operated junkyard that uses the U-pick business model to help customers save money, and empower them to become more knowledgeable vehicle owners. We have found that this method of operation is preferred by most of our customers, as it allows them to more easily buy parts within budget and put their mechanical skills to good use.

For more information about how U-pick junkyards compare to counter-jockey junkyards in terms of the factors above, call one of our Texas junkyard locations in Austin, Belton, or Lubbock today. We look forward to helping you choose the right type of junkyard for your needs!

If you are thinking about buying self-service auto parts from a junkyard, you probably know that a junkyard is one of the best places to acquire inexpensive auto parts, but buying self-service auto parts from a junkyard can have other benefits as well. As you decide whether to acquire parts from a junkyard, keep in mind the following benefits that you may be unaware of.

Many Components are “Like New”

Not every vehicle that enters a junkyard contains old components that have minimal value as repair parts. In fact, many new model vehicles enter a junkyard after a wreck or after receiving “lemon” status. While such vehicles are not useful as modes of transportation, they commonly contain parts that are dependable, undamaged, and appear “like new” in terms of wear.

You Can Apply a Parts Warranty

Some junkyards let you cover the parts you buy with a warranty. For example, Wrench-A-Part lets customers purchase a warranty for each part they buy. For just $1 per part per day, we give you the opportunity to protect your investment in auto parts. If the parts malfunction while under they are warranty, we will replace them with other identical parts from our inventory at no charge.

Engine Removal Tools are Available

Getting “self-service” parts from a junkyard requires you to bring your own tools to remove the parts. However, some junkyards will provide you with an engine pulling A-frame if you need to remove an entire engine. Remember, though, that you can only use this equipment while at the junkyard. You will have to handle the engine on your own after you purchase it and depart.

Transportation Equipment is Available

Some junkyards also provide wheelbarrows and wagons to customers to help them transport parts to the payment destination. In addition to helping you transport heavy parts, this equipment is also helpful for transporting collections of small parts. Providing wheelbarrows and wagons is only to the advantage of a junkyard, as it helps the business sell auto parts faster.

Contact Wrench-A-Part

If you are searching for a great deal on used auto parts, Wrench-A-Part has you covered. In addition to selling reliable, inexpensive self-service auto parts, we also give you the option of applying warranties to the parts you buy, provide you with an engine pulling A-frame to remove an engine, and supply you with equipment for transporting parts to the payment destination.

To see if we stock the vehicle from which you need parts, simply visit our website, and browse through the vehicle inventories for our locations in Austin, Belton, and Lubbock. For additional information, feel free to call us at any of our three locations at your convenience.

If you need to save money on replacement vehicle components, opting to pick your own parts from a junkyard is an excellent option. However, before you hop in your car and travel to the nearest vehicle salvage lot, there are some helpful tips that you should be aware of. By following the tips below, you will help make your trip to the junkyard a profitable and enjoyable one.

Buy From Professionals

Buying components from a professionally operated junkyard has several advantages over purchasing them from a junkyard that mainly serves as a repository for vehicles that no longer drive, and have already had many parts removed before they end up in the car lot. Not only are you more likely to find the components you need at a professionally operated junkyard; you may also have the option of purchasing a warranty for each part that you purchase.

Check Online Inventories

A professionally operated junkyard often lists its current vehicle inventory on its business website. This allows you to see if the junkyard has the automobile from which you need parts without traveling to the business location and inspecting the inventory firsthand. After you locate the vehicle you need, go to the junkyard as quickly as possible to secure the part you need.

Bring Your Own Tools

There are two types of junkyards: those that sell parts that have already been removed, and ones that require you to remove the parts you need. Shopping at the second type of junkyard typically results in paying less for parts, as the junkyard has not dedicated time and effort to removing the components. However, you will need to bring your own tools to remove parts.

Bring Help if You Need It

If you decide to shop at a junkyard that lets you pick your own parts, you may need to bring an extra set of hands to help you remove components that are heavy and/or cumbersome to remove. The junkyard may supply you with an engine pulling A-frame if you need to remove the entire engine, but beyond this, you will be responsible for removing parts on your own.

Know the Safety Rules

Most professionally operated junkyards have a strict set of safety rules that customers must follow. In many cases, you can read the list of rules by visiting a junkyard’s website, and the rules are almost always posted at the entrance to the car lot. If you aren’t familiar with a junkyard’s safety rules, you may accidentally violate one and be asked to leave the car lot.

Summary

When you pick your own parts from a junkyard, you pay significantly less than you would if you bought the components new. However, before you go to take advantage of a junkyard’s low prices, remember to only buy parts from a professional junkyard, check the business’ vehicle inventory online, bring tools to remove components, bring help if you need it, and read the business’ safety rules that govern the car lot.

For more information about how to pick your own parts from a junkyard, contact a professionally operated junkyard in your area today.