Category: Wrench-A-Part Info

Looking for Used Vehicles for Sale? Visit a Junkyard

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Most drivers have heard about the drawbacks of buying used vehicles from auto dealerships. Yet, a car dealership is often where they go to purchase pre-owned vehicles. If you are thinking about heading to an auto dealership to look for a used automobile, searching for one at a junkyard that has used vehicles for sale could be a better option for the following reasons.

Lower Price

According to Edmunds.com, used vehicle sales account for roughly 25 percent of the average auto dealership’s gross revenue. One of the main reasons why the percentage is so high is that most dealerships markup the sale price of a used vehicle well above its fair market value.

Junkyards, on the other hand, tend not to engage in such egregious price gouging. Whereas a dealership is likely to set the price of a used vehicle in the neighborhood of 30 percent more than the car is actually worth, a junkyard’s markup tends to be just slightly above fair market value.

No Salvage Titles

Unscrupulous car dealerships are known to list used vehicles for sale when they have salvage titles. Because a salvage title indicates that a car has been seriously damaged in some way or declared a “total loss” by an auto insurance company, it is best to steer clear of cars that are saddled with salvage titles, especially if you plan to use them regularly for transportation.

Professionally operated junkyards that care about their customers don’t sell pre-owned vehicles that have salvage titles. They may buy cars that have salvage titles and place them in the junkyard, so people can remove the auto parts from that are still useful, but they will only sell you a used automobile that is fully functional and has no serious operational problems.

No Mechanical Problems

Some pre-owned vehicles are so unreliable that they break down shortly after the buyer drives them away from the lot, but these aren’t the types of cars you find at a professionally operated junkyard that places a heavy emphasis on providing excellent customer service.

If a vehicle has a mechanical problem that is easily fixable, a reputable junkyard may choose to buy the automobile and perform the repair before listing the car for sale, but it will not sell you a set of wheels that has mechanical problems — or suspected problems — at the time of the sale.

No Price Haggling

Some people seem to enjoy haggling with auto dealers over automobile prices. If you aren’t one of them, purchasing a pre-owned vehicle from a reputable junkyard may be the best option. Junkyards tend not to price haggle, because their pre-owned cars are priced near what they would fetch if they were sold at fair market value and included no price markup.

Auto dealers don’t like to price haggle for two reasons: it wastes time that could be spent selling other vehicles, and it often ends up reducing the sale price of a vehicle by a considerable margin. Even so, most dealerships have grown accustomed to haggling with customers over car prices, because they know that consumers are aware of the steep price markup.

If its cars were truly “priced to sell”, as they would be if a reputable junkyard was to sell them, most auto dealers wouldn’t have to price haggle over practically every vehicle they sell. If you want a vehicle that is really priced to sell, check out the used car inventory at a junkyard.

Contact Wrench-A-Part

Wrench-A-Part is a professionally operated junkyard in Texas that has three locations: one in Austin, another in Belton, and another in Lubbock. We have a growing inventory of vehicles for sale that only contains automobiles that have no salvage titles or mechanical problems. We are also typically able to beat the used car prices that you find at most auto dealerships.

For more information about our used vehicle inventory, call or visit one of our locations today!

What is Junkyard Etiquette?

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In the minds of some people, the words “junkyard” and “etiquette” are contrary terms. In many cases, this is surely due to how junkyards are often portrayed in movies and TV shows. Screenwriters commonly use a junkyard as the scene for a wild fight, blazing car chase, and all sorts of other unscrupulous activities, but this is not how professional junkyards operate.

Instead of being disorganized and dangerous, professionally managed junkyards are easy to move through and have strictly enforced rules that are sometimes referred to as “junkyard etiquette”. Before you take a trip to a junkyard to pick your own auto parts, take some time to browse through the following list of rules that commonly comprise this unique form of etiquette.

No Drinking or Smoking

Drinking alcohol while you remove parts could cause an injury by making you uncoordinated. Smoking tobacco doesn’t cause inebriation, but it does pose a fire hazard, especially when someone leans over an engine that contains flammable residues with a cigarette in his mouth.

First Come, First Served

Many junkyards have a first come, first served policy that helps them sell auto parts as efficiently as possible. When you find a part that you need, remove it and buy it while you have the chance, because the junkyard probably won’t set the part on a shelf until you return.

No Cutting Torches

When it comes to fire hazards, using a cutting torch to remove parts can be more dangerous than removing them while smoking tobacco. This is because the torch propels sparks as it cuts. If one of the sparks hits the wrong area, it could ignite engine residues and incinerate the car.

Bring Your Own Tools

You-pick junkyards require you to pick your own auto parts using your own tools. The exception is when you need remove an entire engine. Because almost no one keeps an engine pulling A-frame in his tool shop, junkyards often provide customers with this tool free of charge.

No Open-Toed Shoes

Some of the parts you remove may be heavy enough to injure your foot if you drop them. This is why junkyards generally prohibit people from wearing open-toed shoes in the vehicle lot. If you have a pair of steel-toed boots, go ahead and wear them; they offer excellent protection.

Don’t Bring Children

Children are often in a playful mood wherever they go, but a junkyard is not a place where you would want your child to play. By running around the salvage lot and distracting you as you pick your own auto parts, a child can jeopardize your physical safety, as well as his own.

Visit Wrench-A-Part

If you need reliable, used auto parts for a great price, Wrench-A-Part is the place to visit. Unlike junkyards that you may have seen in movies and TV shows, our junkyard is organized, well-maintained, and has rules that we strictly enforce for the benefit of our customers and our business. To find the parts you need, visit our location in Austin, Belton, or Lubbock today.

 

Self-Service Auto Parts: How to Get Car Parts From a Junkyard

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With all the gift giving and celebrations that occur between November and January, the end of the year and the beginning of a new one can be an expensive time for consumers. If you need auto parts for your vehicle but would have a difficult time buying them at full price in the wake of holiday spending, getting self-service auto parts from a junkyard is a great option. If this is your first time buying auto parts from a junkyard, below is a basic list of the steps you should take.

Gather Your Tools

The parts you get from a junkyard are called self-service auto parts because you search for the parts and remove them on your own. This means that you will need to bring tools to remove the components you need. In most cases, a ratchet wrench set for removing nuts and bolts, a screw driver set for removing screws, a hammer or a mallet for tapping parts loose, and clamps for holding long parts in place while you remove them is all you will need to remove parts.

Check Online Inventories

Many professionally operated junkyards list their vehicle inventories online to make it easier for prospective customers to find the vehicle from which they need parts. After you find the right vehicle, you will need to travel to the location of the junkyard to see if the car has the components you need. Wrench-A-Part makes the vehicle inventories for our three locations in Texas — Austin, Belton, and Lubbock — accessible from our main business website.

Bring Help if Necessary

If you need to remove a part that is too large to handle on your own, plan on bringing some extra manpower to the junkyard to help remove and transport the part. Some junkyards, including Wrench-A-Part, provide engine pulling A-frames, wagons, and wheelbarrows free of charge. However, you will still need to use these provisions on your own. So, be sure to bring all the help you need. Otherwise, you may not be able to remove the part you need.

Adhere to Safety Rules

Most professionally operated junkyards have a strict list of safety rules that govern activity in the salvage lot. After you find a junkyard that has the parts you need, visit its website and read the safety rules for the salvage lot. Most of the rules are common sense, such as no smoking, no using flame cutters, and no bringing children along for the ride. Even so, it’s still a good idea to take a look at the rules to ensure that you can comply with them.

Contact Wrench-A-Part

Wrench-A-Part understands that there are times when new auto parts are simply too expensive to purchase. That is one reason why we’re committed to offering a wide range of self-service auto parts at great prices. We also give you the option of purchasing a parts warranty for $1 per part per day. For more information about our inventory and services, call one of our three locations today, or simply visit our website. We look forward to hearing from you!

How to Prepare for a Salvage Yard Visit

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If you have never been to a salvage yard to buy auto parts, rest assured: you don’t have to be a mechanic to have success finding and removing the parts you need. However, you will need to make some preparations to ensure that your trip to the salvage yard is a success. Salvage lots are professionally operated businesses that work like well-oiled machines, pun intended. To make your visit a success, be sure to prepare for the occasion in the following four ways.

Bring Your Own Tools

The most important step for how to prepare for a salvage yard visit is to bring your own tools. One reason that parts from salvage yards are inexpensive is that you remove them yourself. To do the work, you will need your own tools. The tools you need depend on the part(s) you need, but a ratchet wrench set, a screwdriver set, a small pry bar, and penetrating oil are quite helpful.

Dress as Safely as Possible

Most salvage lots require you to wear closed toe shoes to help prevent foot injuries, but your feet aren’t the only body parts that could be hurt while working on a car. If you have them available, wear steel toe boots and a full-body mechanic’s suit to help prevent cuts and bruises. These last two recommendations are just suggestions, but they will help keep you safe.

Leave the Party at Home

Lots of people choose to visit salvage yards on the weekend, a time when they also like to relax and have a few cold ones, along with a cigarette if they’ve picked up the habit. Salvage lots aren’t interested in moral policing, but they do require you not to drink or smoke in the lot. Drinking at a salvage lot is dangerous for obvious reasons, and smoking could start a car fire.

Bring Extra Hands if Necessary

Another important step for how to prepare for a salvage yard visit is to bring extra manpower if you need it. Most small and medium size parts can be removed without extra help. However, if you plan to remove something as heavy as an engine or the bed from a commercial flatbed truck, you will almost certainly need additional help. Otherwise, you won’t get the part you need.

Contact Wrench-A-Part

If you are looking for quality pre-owned auto parts for great prices, Wrench-A-Part is the place to find them. If you need to know how to prepare for a salvage yard visit to our locations, check out the policies page on our website. There you will find a list of rules and regulations that will help you prepare for your visit. For more information about our vehicle inventory and services, call one of our locations in Austin, Belton, or Lubbock today. We look forward to speaking with you!

What Tools Are Needed to Remove Junk Yard Car Parts?

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What tools are needed to remove junk yard car parts? Ultimately, the answer depends on the type of parts you need to remove. However, to arrive at a junk yard fully prepared, it helps to bring the things listed below with you. An engine pulling A-frame is an exception. Many junk yards keep a few of these pieces of equipment on hand to help customers remove whole engines. A wagon may also be provided to transport the engine to the payment counter.

Ratchet Wrench Set

If you ask what tools are needed to remove junk yard car parts, a wrench set will likely be one of the first answers. Yet, why mess around with a big set of wrenches when you can use a set of ratchet wrenches instead? Ratchet wrenches work the same as traditional wrenches. However, they can provide more leverage to unscrew bolts and help you remove bolts that are located in tight spaces. Bring a set of ratchet wrenches and you likely won’t need to bring a single wrench.

Screwdriver Set

You should also bring a screw driver set that contains various sizes of Phillips screwdrivers and flat head screwdrivers. While it is commoner to find engine parts bolted in place instead of screwed in place, there are still plenty of engine components that feature support screws in addition to sturdy bolts. With a screwdriver set, you will be set to remove these screws.

C-Clamps / Sturdy Wire

C-clamps and sturdy wire are useful for holding long parts in position while the bolts and screws that secure them under the hood are removed. In some cases, not supporting the portion of a long component that has had bolts and screws removed can cause the component to warp under its own weight, as it hangs loose while the remaining bolts and screws are removed.

Medium Size Hammer or Mallet

Even after the hardware that holds a part in place has been removed, it may still be bonded to other parts due to the heated compression of grime and engine fluids between the pieces. The bonds are often relatively weak and can be broken by hand. For bonds that are tough to break, you may need to give the part a few gentle taps from a medium size hammer or rubber mallet.

Penetrating Oil

Penetrating oil isn’t a tool, which means it isn’t listed in response to the question: What tools are needed to remove junk yard car parts? However, the oil can be just as valuable as a tool for removing used components. Over time, nuts, bolts, and other fixtures can become stuck in place. Penetrating oil frees up the bonds by sending lubrication into the smallest crevices.

Engine Pulling A-Frame

If you need to remove a whole engine, you will need the help of an engine pulling A-frame to accomplish the task in a safe, hassle-free manner. Thankfully, many salvage lots provide engine pull A-frames for free to customers that need to remove engines. Remember, though, that you would still have to use the equipment on your own. So, you may want to bring extra manpower.

Contact Wrench-A-Part

Wrench-A-Part is a professionally operated junk yard that has a large inventory of salvage vehicles and used vehicles that still drive. If you want to pull parts from our salvage vehicles, bringing the tools listed above will only help. However, if you need to pull a whole engine, an engine pulling A-frame will be provided free of charge to help you remove it. To find out if we have the car from which you need parts, browse through our online vehicle inventory today.

 

How to Find a Reputable Pick and Pull Junkyard in Lubbock, TX

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Junkyards are like other types of businesses; some offer excellent products and services, while others seem not to care about the quality of these factors. If you need to parts from a pick and pull junkyard in Lubbock, TX, to repair your vehicle, it is important to choose a junkyard that wants you to be a repeat customer, and offers the type of products and services that will keep you coming back for additional parts. Below are four easy ways to identify such a junkyard.

Check the Business’s BBB Record

One of the easiest ways to evaluate a business’s customer service is to check its record at the Better Business Bureau (BBB). As you investigate the record, be sure to look for any notes that pertain to unresolved customer complaints. If a junkyard has a rash of unresolved customer complaints on its BBB record, you can rightly assume that it doesn’t always put customers first.

Ask About Part Warranties

Don’t assume that parts you buy from a pick and pull junkyard in Lubbock, TX, cannot come with a warranty, as some customer oriented salvage lots do offer warranties for used parts. For example, Wrench-A-Part has a warranty option of $1 per part per day. Buying warranties for such an affordable price doesn’t cost much, but it still offers excellent investment protection.

Inquire About Equipment for Transporting Parts

If you need to pull lots of parts, or you need to pull an unusually large part, having an easy way to transport what you pull to the payment destination can save lots of time. This is why customer oriented junkyards provide equipment for transporting parts. For example, Wrench-A-Part gives customers the option of using a wheelbarrow or a wagon to transport parts out of the yard.

Visit the Business’s Website

As with other types of businesses, you can tell a lot about a junkyard by visiting its business website. Sites that are dated, hard to navigate, or don’t offer much in the way of consumer resources don’t create the impression of a business that values its resources and prospective customers. At the very least, a junkyard’s website should list its complete inventory of vehicles.

Contact Wrench-A-Part Today

Finding a reputable pick and pull junkyard in Lubbock, TX, can be challenging for those who are not familiar with the salvage lot industry. However, there are easy ways for prospective customers to form an accurate impression of a junkyard’s products and services. If you are looking for a reputable junkyard in the Lubbock area, look no further than Wrench-A-Part. For more information about our inventory and services, give us a call today at (806) 748-7282.

How to Pick and Pull Car Parts in Austin, TX: Tips From Junkyards

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A professionally owned and operated junkyard is a great place to get auto parts for less than they would cost at a mechanic’s shop or an auto dealership. However, if this is your first time getting car components from a junkyard that lets you pick and pull car parts in Austin, TX, it is important to understand how the part removal process works. To aid you in removing parts, below are some helpful tips from junkyards about how to pick and pull car parts in Austin, TX.

Consult the Online Inventory First

Limiting your search for a junkyard to businesses that list their vehicle inventories online can save lots of time. Instead of traveling from junkyard to junkyard to find the parts you need, you can search for the vehicle from which you need parts by performing a simple web search.

Review a Junkyard’s Safety Policies

Most professional junkyards have safety precautions that customers must follow while they are in the salvage lot, such as no smoking, no drinking alcohol, and no using cutting torches. Before you visit a junkyard, review its safety policies so you don’t unwittingly violate one of them.

Remember to Bring Your Tools

To pick and pull car parts in Austin, TX, at a junkyard, you need to bring your own tools. In most cases, a wrench set or a ratchet wrench set, a set of screwdrivers, and a mallet for tapping parts loose is all you need. Bringing a can of lubricant to loosen tight bolts is also a good idea.

Ask for Assistance if You Need It

You can remove most parts on your own. However, if you need assistance removing a large part like an engine block, don’t hesitate to ask for help. At Wrench-A-Part, we’ll help you remove an engine block by providing an engine pulling A-frame, a tool you probably don’t have at home.

Contact Wrench-A-Part Today

Wrench-A-Part is a professionally owned and operated junkyard that lets you pick and pull car parts in Austin, TX. We also have locations in Belton, TX, and Lubbock, TX. If you need quality used car parts for a great price, just browse through our online inventory to see if we have the right automobile in stock. If we do, then call us at (512) 501-6946 to learn whether the vehicle contains the components you need for your car. We look forward to hearing from you!

 

The Best Process for Recycling a Vehicle

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The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that recycling metal is 74 percent more energy efficient than producing new metal. Because roughly 85 percent of a vehicle can be recycled, donating or selling it to an auto recycler can reduce carbon pollution by reducing the energy needed to produce new metal. But to which type of recycler should a junk car be sold or donated? The best process for recycling a vehicle starts with selling or donating it to a junkyard.

Benefits of Selling to a Junkyard

For the seller, there are several benefits of letting a junkyard that participates in auto recycling acquire his or her junk vehicle. If you are considering whether to sell your junker to a junkyard or a metal recycler, consider the benefits of selling it to the former: non-recyclable parts can be sold to consumers as used auto parts, you needn’t worry about removing non-recyclable materials from the vehicle, and you can sell the vehicle to earn some much needed cash.

Parts Are Sold to Consumers

According to the EPA, roughly 15 percent of vehicles are non-recyclable. Especially in new vehicles, some of the non-recyclable parts can be sold to consumers. Examples of car parts that many auto recyclers don’t recycle include: plastic engine fluid reservoirs, tires, and plastic dashboard components. When you sell a car to a junkyard, more of it is technically “recycled.”

No Removal of Non-Recyclables

Some auto recyclers require non-recyclable materials to be removed before they consider recycling a vehicle. If you sell directly to an auto recycler, you may be required to remove things from the vehicle such as upholstery, seating, and non-metal engine parts. When a junkyard acquires your car, you needn’t worry about removing these things. The junkyard performs the work.

Vehicle Can be Sold

Selling your vehicle to a junkyard typically nets you more money than selling it directly to an auto recycler. Many car recyclers only pay for metal, whereas a junkyard pays you based on the resellable components your automobile contains. A junkyard frequently pays hundreds of dollars for a salvage vehicle. If you need some extra cash, contact a junkyard about buying your car.

Contact Wrench-A-Part

Wrench-A-Part is a Texas-based, professionally operated junkyard that participates in auto recycling. Whether you sell us your vehicle or choose to donate it, we will ensure that the maximum amount of reusable, non-recyclable auto parts are sold to consumers before scrap metal from the vehicle is sent to an auto recycler. For more information about recycling a vehicle by selling it to a junkyard, give us a call us today at (877) 886-5739, or use our contact form.

Pick and Pull Car Parts in Austin, TX: Choosing a Good Junkyard

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Drivers who are savvy about keeping the cost of auto repairs low know they can save money by shopping for parts at junkyards. However, not all junkyards provide the same level of service, and some of them can be downright dangerous to visit due to a lack of rules for the salvage lot. If you are looking for a professional junkyard where you can pick and pull car parts in Austin, TX, choosing a junkyard that offers the following important characteristics is the best option.

Safety Rules

Junkyards that lack rules for the salvage lot put customers at risk of injury. For example, permitting smoking in the lot could cause a car fire, and so could using a cutting torch to remove parts. Not wearing closed toe shoes could cause physical injury, and so could showing up to the salvage lot with alcohol in tow. Customer oriented junkyards are serious about keeping you safe.

Customer Assistance

A junkyard where you pick and pull car parts in Austin, TX, should assist you with removing large parts, and provide hardware for transporting parts to the payment counter. For example, Wrench-A-Part provides customers with engine pulling A-frames to help you remove engines, and supplies wagons and wheelbarrows for transporting parts through the salvage lot.

Part Warranties

Most junkyards sell used auto parts as is; if something goes wrong with the components a few days after you buy them, you can’t return them. This is why Wrench-A-Part offers a warranty for all parts at a rate of $1 per part per day. There is no use in buying parts that may not work. When you buy parts from us, you can get them with a warranty that protects your investment.

Online Inventory

Some junkyards list their inventory online, which allows you to search for the vehicle from which you need parts while sitting at your home computer. Driving from junkyard to junkyard in search of a particular part is the old way of doing things. Today, people expect junkyards to have websites that list an inventory of vehicles, so they can save time and streamline the shopping process.

Contact Us Today

If you are looking for a junkyard where you can pick and pull car parts in Austin, Texas, Wrench-A-Part is the junkyard to visit. We have iron clad safety rules that protect you in the salvage lot, provide prompt customer assistance, offer an optional warranty for all parts, and list our complete vehicle inventory online. For more information about our business and services, call our Austin location today at (512) 501-6946. We look forward to hearing from you!

 

How Does a Pick and Pull Salvage Yard in Belton, TX, Operate?

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If you live in Belton, TX, and need to buy discounted auto parts, a junkyard is great place to look for the components you need. However, before you go to a pick and pull salvage yard in Belton, TX, it is important to have a basic understanding of how the business operates. If this will be your first time using a pick and pull salvage yard in Belton, TX, below is a basic overview of how the business operates concerning the sale of auto components from salvage vehicles.

Inventory is Listed Online

You don’t have to travel to a junkyard to see if it has the vehicle from which you need parts. Instead, you can check the business’ inventory online. You needn’t to waste time and gas driving from junkyard to junkyard. Just check out the online inventory to find what you need.

Parts are Steeply Discounted

Junkyards routinely sell parts for 50 percent less than their original price. In many cases, the savings are even greater. Best of all, many salvage parts come from vehicles that are only a few years old, and were salvaged after being in a wreck or receiving legal status as a lemon vehicle.

Optional Warranties for Parts

For some drivers, the idea that an auto part is “used” causes worry. That is why many junkyards, including Wrench-A-Part, offer a warranty for used parts at a rate of $1 per part per day. With your used parts under warranty, you can feel more confident about their performance.

Bring Your Own Tools

One reason why junkyards offer good prices on parts is that customers are required to remove the components on their own. So, before you journey to a junkyard to get what you need, be sure to pack a toolbox that contains a wrench set, screwdrivers, and other necessary tools.

Customer Assistance is Provided

If a part is too large to remove on your own, some junkyards, including Wrench-A-Part, provide the equipment you need to remove it. We provide engine pulling A-frames to customers who need to remove an engine, and provide wheelbarrows and wagons for transporting parts.

Must Follow Safety Rules

Before you head to a junkyard, visit its website to see what safety rules you must follow when you enter the vehicle lot. Common junkyard safety rules include: wearing closed toed shoes to prevent foot injuries and not smoking in the vehicle lot to prevent fires from breaking out.

Call Us Today

Wrench-A-Part is a professionally operated pick and pull salvage lot in Belton, TX, that helps people buy auto parts that they would otherwise have difficulty affording. People also use our lot to look for salvage parts for rebuilding classic vehicles. Regardless of why you need salvage parts, Wrench-A-Part sells them at steeply discounted prices, and gives you the option of buying parts warranties. For more information about our services, call us today at (254) 831-4905.