So over the last few years, I have learned about self-serve junkyards and I have found they are an excellent resource for keeping old cars running.
First, I went to well-organized junkyards that were part of the Pick-n-Pull and LKQ national chains. These places allow you to search online for the car model you are interested in, and they give you a picture of the car and its location on the lot.
A few weeks ago, I tried a different kind of yard. No online inventory. I called and asked about the car I was looking for and they said, "yeah, I think we have some of those". When I got there, they pointed to a map that showed that imports were over by the swamp. So I just wandered the rows, trying to identify the model - and approx year - I was interested in. It wasn't really that bad because I was looking for Honda Odyssey parts, so they aren't hard to identify and they ended up having two or three. While I was pulling parts, a front-end loader carrying cars high up in the air was driving past where I was working, made me nervous. The prices at this place were about half of the prices at the organized places. For that reason, I might go back if I needed a part for a common vehicle, but I wouldn't go there for Volvo parts, lol.
How about you? What kinds of junkyards have you been to, and what's your preference when you're feeling "down in the dumps"?
First, I went to well-organized junkyards that were part of the Pick-n-Pull and LKQ national chains. These places allow you to search online for the car model you are interested in, and they give you a picture of the car and its location on the lot.
A few weeks ago, I tried a different kind of yard. No online inventory. I called and asked about the car I was looking for and they said, "yeah, I think we have some of those". When I got there, they pointed to a map that showed that imports were over by the swamp. So I just wandered the rows, trying to identify the model - and approx year - I was interested in. It wasn't really that bad because I was looking for Honda Odyssey parts, so they aren't hard to identify and they ended up having two or three. While I was pulling parts, a front-end loader carrying cars high up in the air was driving past where I was working, made me nervous. The prices at this place were about half of the prices at the organized places. For that reason, I might go back if I needed a part for a common vehicle, but I wouldn't go there for Volvo parts, lol.
How about you? What kinds of junkyards have you been to, and what's your preference when you're feeling "down in the dumps"?