Menu

Car Maintenance You Shouldn't Try at Home


About Me

Car Maintenance You Shouldn't Try at Home

In a troubled economy, many people look for ways to cut costs by doing household tasks themselves. Some automotive jobs can be done fairly easily at home, particularly if you know something about cars. However, taking on the wrong job on your own will only cost you more time, stress and money in the long run. My name is Jill, and I want to tell you about which car maintenance tasks you can safely tackle on your own and which really do require some help from a pro. I'll break down the needs of a typical car and tell you exactly why you might need to ask for help sometimes.

3 Important Points When Buying Used Auto Parts

Any time that you are looking to get your automobile repaired, you're going to receive price quotes for two different facets -- parts and labor. While labor costs are levied by the hour, you can save yourself plenty of money by acquiring your own parts. You can receive a gold mine of savings when you decide to purchase some high quality used parts. Buying used parts might take a little bit of experience on your behalf, so if this is what you're in need of, use the following guidelines to your advantage. 

#1: Find A Salvage Yard In Your Area And Select The Type That You Prefer

One of the best ways to get your hands on a quality used part is by reaching out to salvage yards in your area. There are two different types of salvage yards you can buy from -- those that allow you to pick your own parts as you please and those that require the assistance of an employee. "Pick it yourself" salvage yards provide tremendous opportunity to find some diamonds in the rough, but will also require you to have your own tools and the handy experience to remove the parts that you need. Conversely, an employee service salvage yard may not land you the same sorts of savings, but you'll have all the help that you need. 

#2: Purchase A Warranty To Go With Any Used Parts That You Buy

Since the parts that you are buying are used, you should always double down on the protection by getting a warranty to go with it. You will need to get a clear breakdown of the warranty terms, in order to know what constitutes a void and to know how long you're covered. This level of protection goes a long way toward helping you get the most bang or your buck when buying used auto parts. 

#3: Find Out The Specific Parts Number Before Making A Purchase

When searching for parts, it can be easy to get confused, since many parts look the same when they are intended for the same make or model. However, you'll be in for a rude awakening when you find out that the part is not compatible with your vehicle. To avoid this, always ask your auto parts shop or salvage yard to verify the serial number and parts number, so that you purchase the right part. 

Keep these three valuable points in mind as you shop for your used auto parts