Autosavings

Why Used Auto Parts Are Better Than New Auto Parts

For the last 60 years auto recyclers, otherwise known as auto wreckers or auto dismantlers with their junkyards and salvage yards, have played an important role in the economy and environment. More and more car owners are turning to used auto parts rather than new car parts for their car maintenance and repair needs, for several reasons:

Purchasing used auto parts instead of new car parts allows you to save money by about 55% on average.

Purchasing used car parts means that you have a wider selection in the used parts market from which to pick the right car part that specifically meets the fit, functionality and quality requirement of your current car and car parts.

By purchasing used auto parts you are helping to lessen the pollution to the environment. Automotive recycling plays an important role in conserving natural resources and minimizing the demand on scarce landfill space. Other then lessening the negative impact on natural resources, Automotive recycling plays a major role in reducing water pollution, air pollution and solid waste generation.

Guide to Buying Used Auto Parts from Auto Recyclers

Keeping your car roadworthy can be a very expensive undertaking these days, especially with today’s tough economic climate making it more difficult for many people to earn and save money. But by using used auto parts, not only can you save money, you can also help conserve natural resources, and still get the correct specified parts for your car. For these reason, thousands of people every year elect to purchase used car parts.

With this increase in demand, the internet has become an ideal vehicle in bringing the buyers and sellers of used auto parts together. Before you make your used car parts purchase online, here is a general guide to assist you in choosing the right auto parts at the best price.

Whenever you purchase a car part, make sure you have your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) handy. This number can provide the seller with a lot of information about your car, including the year, make and model. Having your VIN available is especially important when purchasing drive train components such as engines and transmissions.

Make sure the company from which you are buying the auto part offers a warranty on the part. Make sure you read and understand the terms of that warranty before making the purchase.

Find out how many miles are on the auto part, and find out whether the part is being sold as used, rebuilt or remanufactured.

Did you know that the VIN number to your automobile is more than just a series of numbers used for identification? In fact, the VIN number of your car can actually reveal to you the history of your vehicle. How can this be so? With a VIN number, you can find out who owned you are car in the past, whether or not the vehicle has been in any accidents and more. In fact, the VIN number is often used from car dealers that travel from home to automobile auctions to determine whether or not a vehicle is worth bidding on before they travel to the auction and place their bids.

Much like a strand of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), the VIN number of your vehicle is an identification number like no otherthe VIN number of your vehicle relates solely to the vehicle you have purchased or you plan on purchasing and no other vehicle in the world has the same VIN number as the one your car possesses. In fact, there is even a decoding process when it comes to VIN numbersa VIN number can be decoded by breaking down the various combinations of letters and numbersall which have a significant meaning. For example, one number will denote the country that the car was built in, another number will denote the manufacturer, and certain numbers even denote the cars features.

Conversely, the VIN number can also provide you with information about odometer readings; whether or not the car has ever been stolen; if the car has experienced flood damage; and whether or not there have been recalls on parts associated with the vehicle. You can also find out if there is or ever was a lien on the cars title, if it had ever been repossessed, and if it suffered major damage in the past. So, what does all this information mean to you? Basically, consider it fuel for a positive purchase when you are buying a carthe more you know about the vehicle, the better decision you will be able to make when buying it. Conversely, if you already own the vehicle, knowing the cars history is vital in giving the car the proper maintenance it needs. Also, you may be able to foresee problems in the future that originate from past issues with the vehicle.

In the end, you should visit a website that allows you to check on the VIN number of any vehicle. In fact, some sites let you run a free VIN number check so that you can test out there services. Using your preferred search engine, you can easily locate a VIN Number checking website. You will find such services well worth the visit.

In my capacity as the owner of an import car dealership, I am often amazed at the levels some wholesalers will go to in order to cover up damages to vehicles. As any reputable reseller will tell you, finding the best vehicles is not only a matter of knowing what to physically look for, it’s also a matter of knowing how to spot title and ownership oddities. Lately, I have noticed many wholesalers in possession of autos that were originally sold in the Louisiana and Mississippi areas. For some reason, these vehicles had their titles transferred to wholesalers from states far away. While this isn’t completely uncommon, it does raise a red flag when you consider the recent natural disasters that have occurred on the Gulf Coast.

Dealerships need to be aware of the opportunity for unscrupulous parties to effectively “launder” the titles of these vehicles. As a result of Hurricane Katrina, many vehicles were likely paid for via insurance claims against flood damage. These vehicles are finding their way back into the market. While there is nothing inherently wrong with re-selling a designated flood damaged vehicle, there is something entirely wrong with reselling a flood damaged vehicle under the guise of it not having been damaged.

Being in the industry, I have heard both sides of the argument. Many wholesalers will tell you that flood damaged vehicles are often appropriated by insurance companies as “totalled”, when in fact they may have never been submerged in water at all. My answer to that is to say that any business which values its customers and strives to maintain integrity and honesty would never sell a product they are unsure of. In other words, I’m not willing to take a chance with my business and reputation at stake, nor am I willing to gamble with someone else’s money. That’s exactly what selling a flood damaged automobile is: gambling with your customers money.

Flood damaged vehicles can have corroded electrical systems that are primed for failure, unseen rust damage, and a variety of other problems that can surface at a later time. My advice to dealerships is to use every resource at their disposal to find out the history of the cars they are purchasing and avoid flood damaged vehicles, unless you plan to sell them as such.

Here’s news you may want to brush up on: Using touch-up paint on your car can be an inexpensive way to protect its value. Some scratches can remove all the paint down to the metal and the area can begin to rust, causing permanent damage.

There are several choices for applying touch-up paint. Spray cans can be used for large areas and with patience and practice you can achieve excellent results. For smaller chips and scratches, you can brush the paint or use a paint pen. Often, a paint pen will be easier to apply to very small chips, as you can apply the paint more precisely.

Women find using touch-up paint is easy because they have had so much practice applying nail polish. In fact, according to paintscratch.com, some women have even painted their nails with automotive touch-up paint to match their vehicles.

The easiest place to find touch- up paint is on the Web. First you have to know your color code. There are sites where the paint colors are broken down by year, make and model, so finding your color code is easy. With the correct paint and good instructions, applying touch-up paint should be no more difficult than coloring your nails.

With the right paint and good instructions, applying touch-up paint to your car can be as easy as coloring your nails.

The auto warranty is something everyone thinks about when they are purchasing a car, but few of these people realize that they need to think about it after that as well. You go into a dealership, which convinces you to purchase an auto that is perfect for you. What seals the deal, in many cases, is the fact that the auto has an auto warranty on it. You think that they could not or would not offer a warranty on a product that wasnt up to standards. So, you purchase your car and get your auto warranty.

Regardless of the car, the make or model number, you simply shove that auto warranty into the glove box and call it done. But, what you need to do is to know what is covered on that warranty, what you need to do to get those services, and what you need to do to keep that warranty up to date.

Getting the information that you need to make a decision about your auto warranty is also important. For many people, they may not even realize that they should read the thing! You would be surprised at what is and isnt covered in that warranty. If you have one and you havent read it, dig it out and get going.

What you will want to know first of all is what things it cover. Does the auto warranty cover things such as parts and oil changes? Does it cover the tires, brakes and the body work?

Now that you know that, do you know what to do to get the services that it covers? Read on. Learn where you will need to go to get these services, if there will be any fee and what happens if you dont go to the right location.

Lastly, you also want to know about the auto warranty expiration date if there is one. In some cases, you may actually be able to increase that amount of time by purchasing a warranty extension. The auto warranty can offer many things after all.

Trust, reliability and good communication are not just key ingredients to a healthy and successful relationship with your significant other. They are also instrumental to a balanced and sound relationship with your automobile and its technician.

At some point in a vehicle’s life, most women will have to take their automobile to a repair shop because it has, unfortunately, let them down.

AAA, North America’s largest motoring and leisure travel organization, is helping women motorists jump-start their awareness in automotive maintenance with a checklist they can use to boost their car care confidence and automotive self-reliance.

“If women put off visiting an auto repair shop because of fear, it could be a recipe for disaster,” said John Nielson, director of AAA’s Approved Auto Repair program. “The more you know about your vehicle and how it operates, the better.”

AAA offers the following tips for women:

* Become familiar with your automobile’s maintenance schedule. This information is provided in the owner’s manual of your vehicle.

* Don’t wait for your car to break down to identify a repair shop. Be proactive and research where you want to take your vehicle when it’s time to be serviced.

* Gather recommendations and opinions from friends and family about auto repair shops. This will help streamline the decision-making process.

* Check with local consumer agencies to identify if the repair shop in question has any unresolved disputes.

* Find out if the shop employs ASE certified automotive technicians that are experienced working on the type of car you own.

* Select an AAA Approved Auto Repair facility. These shops undergo an extensive investigation before being allowed to enter the program and AAA is confident that they will provide competent and professional repairs.

* Communicate your vehicle’s symptoms effectively by using simple everyday language or demonstrating the problem during a test drive with the technician.

The auto industry and their dealers are rife with scams and fraud and the potential buyer needs to be armed with the knowledge of how these scams work and how to avoid them. There are many dealers that run reputable businesses and can get buyers into a vehicle without using fraudulent means, but there are always those individuals or companies that are looking for ways to take consumers for a ride. The state of California, San Diego and Los Angeles in southern California in particular, is home to many of these scam artists. Even smaller states like Oklahoma have their share of fraud cases and attorneys there are as busy as lawyers in the larger California market. If you are fortunate, you won’t be a victim of one of these disreputable dealers, but it is wise to be aware of potential scams before you head to the dealer. Here are some tips on dealing with auto fraud.

People with bad credit are often the victim of fraud at dealerships. They are easy prey, often due to the fact that they believe they cannot get financing. The worst offenses usually occur in the finance office, where the potential buyer often lets their guard down. One way to lessen the chance of being scammed is to show up with no trade and to have your financing done through your bank, with a bank draft in hand.

One of the most common frauds committed by car dealers and one that attorneys see frequently brought to them is the advertising fee scam. Dealers slip into the contract an advertising fee. Often times the advertising fee is on the factory invoice. Dealers add in a second advertising “fee” which becomes pure profit for them. The way to avoid it is to simply ask that it be taken off the contract. If the dealer tells you that the factory doesn’t charge them an advertising fee, have them show you the invoice. If there is no fee on the invoice, which is unlikely, it is okay for the dealer to charge between 1% and 3% of the Manufacturers Suggested Retail Price or MSRP for an advertising fee. If it does not appear on the invoice, then the fee is completely negotiable. If it does appear on the invoice, then that is a case of dealer cost and is not negotiable.

If you feel you are the victim of auto fraud, the best way of dealing with it is to contact a lawyer and learn what your options and rights are. If you have a good case, a lawyer will have no problem presenting your grievance to the court.

As the weather gets warmer, motorists should begin thinking about getting their vehicles ready for the busy summer driving season.

Given today’s busy schedules and complex vehicle systems, many drivers prefer to take their cars to repair shops than do the work themselves. The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) offers these tips for choosing an appropriate repair facility.

* Start shopping for a repair facility before you need one.

* Ask your friends and associates for their recommendations. Also, consult local consumer groups.

* Arrange for alternative transportation in advance so you will not feel forced to choose a shop based on its location.

* Look for a neat, well-organized facility, with vehicles in the parking lot equal in value to your own and modern equipment in the service bays.

* Look for a courteous staff, with a service consultant willing to answer all of your questions.

* Look for policies regarding estimated repair costs, diagnostic fees, guarantees and acceptable methods of payment.

* Ask if the repair facility specializes or handles your car’s type of repair work.

* Look for signs of professionalism in the customer service area, such as civic, community or customer service awards.

* Look for evidence of qualified technicians. This includes trade-school diplomas, certificates of advanced coursework and certification by ASE.

ASE was founded in 1972 as a nonprofit, independent organization dedicated to improving the quality of automotive service and repair through the voluntary testing and certification of automotive professionals. Its certified technicians wear blue-and-white ASE shoulder insignia and carry credentials listing their exact areas of certification. Their employers often display the ASE sign.

You hear about automotive recalls all the time in the newspaper, on the Internet, as well as on the nightly news. Amazingly, one in 12 cars traveling the roads today were recalled for one reason or another in 2003. However, even more amazing is the fact that only one third of the owners of the recalled vehicles chose to take their car in for the needed repairs. The car manufacturers are required to send out letters informing owners of these vehicles of the recall, regardless of whether it is a major or minor event. Also, the information regarding the recall is delivered to consumers in so many different mediums it is almost impossible that owners of the affected vehicles do not learn of the problems. However, people seem to think that if they are not experiencing any problems at the moment then the recall affects all of the other vehicles instead of theirs and end up ignoring the recall. This is negligence and simply asking for the problem with the car to crop up. However, if this happens after the recall then it is the owners fault because they were given the information and allowed to fix the problem free of charge yet they simply ignored it. As long as car manufactures report the recall and inform owners of the vehicles as they are required to do by law, it is up to the consumer to take advantage of the recall and have their automobile fixed. If not, then the owner is taking the risk. If you have not heard anything about car recalls or just bought a used vehicle and want to find out if the manufacturer issued any recalls then you should check out www.nhtsa.gov or www.autorecalls.org to see if your car is listed.

Both of these websites have all the information about recalls over the past years so you can search through the year, make, and model of a vehicle to see if yours is listed. It is very likely you will see your car listed on one of these website because more than 31 million cars were recalled in 2004. That is almost unbelievable considering the amount of technology used in developing cars as well as the fact that cars are safer than they have ever been. However, it is true that mistakes are still taking places and consumers are buying vehicles with basic problems like fuses or major problems with gas lines, tires, and seats buckling in crashes. Regardless of whether or not you believe you are driving a safe car you need to check out the websites stated above every few months just to make sure your vehicle has not ended up on the list. If it has, dont fall into the two thirds of individuals who never respond to the recall. Instead, head to the nearest dealership or authorized mechanic who can make the free repairs to your vehicle. Why so many people dont have time for free repairs is beyond me, but knowing your vehicle has a problem that could be potentially fatal for you and your family and that a free repair is available should be enough to motivate you to have the repair taken care of.

Another thing to keep in mind is that simple problems with your vehicle that result in a visit to the mechanic may not be a problem you are required to pay for. Millions of Americans each year take their cars to the mechanic for a basic repair, or even a major one, assuming something went wrong and they simply need to fix it. Unfortunately, many of these individuals never check to see if the problem was due to a recall and end up paying for a repair that might be free or discounted by the automobile manufacturer. So, armed with this knowledge the next time your vehicle has even the slightest problem make sure you check and see if the car has been recalled for similar problems and if you can get free repairs or discounted ones at the least. It is certainly worth checking out and could save you hundreds or even thousands of pounds.

Who Issues Recalls?

In general, the reason so many people dont respond to recalls is because they simply dont understand the recall process. The NHTSA , National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration, is responsible for investigating consumer complaints regarding specific vehicles and problems associated with them. After several consumers have reported the same or similar problem to the NHTSA for the same model vehicle an investigation is launched. The point of the NHTSA investigation is to determine whether the consumer caused the problem or malfunction in some way or if the manufacturer of the vehicle is at fault. If the manufacturer is determined to be at fault then the owners of affected models will receive information in the mail regarding the recall of the vehicle with information included on how they can have the problem corrected free of charge. However, the NHTSA is not always the one who issues a recall.

Occasionally, the manufacturer realizes a problem exists in a certain model vehicle and will voluntarily issue a recall. Of course, the NHTSA is informed as well, and the same letter is sent to owners of the vehicle letting them know the problem with the vehicle and how to correct it. Many times, however, a recall does not affect all models of a particular year. For example, if a recall is issued on 2005 Ford Explorers more than likely it will only affect a certain batch of these vehicles and not all of them. However, if you own a vehicle of that make and year then you can take it to the dealership and the service department will run the VIN, or vehicle identification number, to determine if in fact your vehicle is affected by the recall. If so, then you can have the repairs made at no cost. If not, then you can head home knowing your vehicle is safe and sound.

Just keep in mind, however, each year millions of cars are recalled for various reasons and you should always take your car in if you suspect the recall might apply to your vehicle or if you receive a recall letter. Dont take your safety for granted, especially if the repair for the recalled vehicle is free.

Communication is the key to a successful result when dealing with auto detailing shops. The first, and most important, aspect is for the car owner to be prepared to explain their wishes in detail. It may be helpful to have an idea or photo of the auto detailing that they wish to incorporate into their automobile. The artists at the auto detailing shop will be able to better understand the owners idea and wishes if they are able to clearly relay that through a series of communications andor photos. For instance, if you want stripes applied, be prepared to explain the color and design. Even if you have to sketch an image or look through an auto detailing guide to get the perfect design, this will be very important in making sure that you are pleased with the finished product.

While explaining the auto detailing that you want, it will be ideal if the car owner could provide a written list of the artwork that they want to purchase. It is also important that the car owner not be overly demanding, but rather allow the auto detailing shop to explain what they can do and how quickly they can get it done. The detailer is a professional who is knowledgeable with cars and what to look for, so it will not make the process any quicker if the car owner is suggesting a completion date before the detailer has had an opportunity to inspect the car.

The car owner should not be embarrassed to ask questions or request more detailed information regarding auto detailing terms. There is truth in the adage that indicates, there is no such thing as a dumb question. It is best for the owner to leave a telephone number, at which heshe may be contacted, with the auto detailing shop. The best idea is to request an update, cost estimate and approximate time of completion prior to the actual detail work beginning.

If the auto detailing shop informs the car owner that new embellishments can be applied, the owner should inquire about warranties and any available guarantee. If either exists, the information should be provided in writing and a copy given to the car owner for hisher records. It is also a good idea to inquire about payment options. Some auto detailing shops may allow their customers to make convenient monthly payments after the work has been done, while many require immediate payment in the form of cash, money order, check or credit card.