When your car breaks down, and you need some parts to fix it, the parts can be expensive. Getting the best parts you can, at the lowest price possible is always the goal, but there are some things you should know about buying parts before you head to the parts store.
New Parts
Many times when you need a part for your car, you head to the parts store and pick up the part from the parts counter without giving it too much thought. While new parts carry the best warranty, they are also the most expensive way to go when buying car parts. Because new parts are more often than not, readily available, often, that is what people reach for when they need to get the car back up and running.
Some alternatives do exist that can help lower the cost of the parts you need, but you have to know what to ask for and how to make sure you get the right parts for your car.
Remanufactured Parts
Some remanufactured parts are available for many cars and can include starters, alternators, and water pumps, to name a few things. Remanufactured parts start as a core from a part that failed and is cleaned and repaired then resold. The cost of these parts can sometimes be substantially lower to buy, and you will often only get a ninety-day warranty on the parts.
In some cases, the cost savings are so significant that it is worth taking a chance and giving up the warranty for the cost savings, especially if the new replacement part is costly. It is essential to check the fit of any remanufactured parts you buy, comparing the old part to the new one, so you are sure the part will fit the car properly.
Once the old part is off the car, you need to save it and return it to the store as a core. The remanufacturer with use the core to rebuild and produce another part to sell, and most of the time, you have a substantial core charge that you pay to ensure you bring back the old part.
The core charge can sometimes be fifty or a hundred dollars, so if you do not return the old part, the cost savings may not be there at all.
Used Parts
You may want to consider buying used parts from a salvage yard when you need a part for your car. While there are a lot of things you can get at a great price, there is no guarantee that the used parts will last because they come off cars that were involved in accidents or may have been sent to the salvage yard because they don't run.
While used parts will save you a lot of money, they are a bit of a gamble when you are trying to get your car back on the road.
For more information, contact companies like 422 Auto Wrecking.