Talking About Automotive Electrical Systems

Prepare For Parts Pulling The Safe Way

16 September 2016

Leonard White

Heading to a junkyard for spare parts is an affordable way for a car-savvy or mechanically-minded person to fix their car. Many junkyards offer pick-and-pull services and include a database of the vehicles and any already removed parts if you call, but you need to go prepared. To avoid being one of the many junkyard explorers trying to force every proprietary bolt loose with a flat head screwdriver and a hammer, read these tips for a successful junkyard escapade.

Calling Ahead With The Right Questions

The basic questions for calling a junkyard are the make, model, and year of the car, along with the part you need. There's a few other details that you need to include, which can be different even in the same model of car.

For many engine parts, components may be different depending on the size of the engine or subtle changes in the model. For example, some cars may have different liter sizes, which may mean a different size for the water pump, radiator, and associated connections. A car that is "limited", "special," or described with other marketing buzzwords may have a few small parts that are from a different manufacturer, and your part may be completely different because of that small detail.

In some cases, the spare parts may look similar until you look at the connections. The differences between V8 and V6 engines may be obvious from glancing at the number of pistons or the labeling, but specific parts may work exactly the same while having different connections because the company decided to go with a different manufacturer during the V8's design.

Proprietary Tools Save Mileage

Don't assume that a standard toolkit can handle everything. Not all vehicles use just metric or just standard, and some components may be put together with a specific set of sockets designed by the company. Sometimes, it's because the company doesn't want you to do the work on your own, which makes the job even more difficult by design. 

It's not hard to get specialized tools for modern companies, although it may be expensive. If you're lucky, you can contact a dealership, mechanic or even the junkyard itself to borrow a set of proprietary tools, but you don't want to do this at the last minute. Shop around ahead of time, look for loaner items or cheap sales, and get exactly what you need.

If you try to use non-proprietary tools in a proprietary socket, you may be able to get the job done. Unfortunately, you might also strip the screw or bolt sockets, making future work harder to do. In a few years, you may not be able to undo your work because the bolts are stripped from using the wrong tools.

For more information, contact Cottman Used Auto Parts or a similar company.

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