You can save serious money if you pull car parts from the junkyard rather than buying them brand new. Of course, you’ll need to ensure those car parts work first, and that’s where we come in. Read on for our guide on testing car parts commonly pulled from the junkyard.
When replacing an engine part that you got from the yard, it’s important to determine which motor your car has. You won’t always find your motor in the same chassis. For example, you can find the 1.8 Turbo Volkswagen motor in different Volkswagens and Audis, just like the 642 Turbo Diesel motor in the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and a few Mercedes SUV models.
It’s also vital to know what your car’s chassis is when replacing parts on the body. Many auto parts will have a part number written somewhere on the part. You are always better off locating that number and verifying it!
Quick Tips Before Installing Pulled Car Parts
Now, you may be excited to use all those bargain car parts you pulled finally. Before you dive into the good stuff, here are a few really good tips to know before installing.
- First, it is always a good idea to spray alcohol on electrical connectors. It’ll make them easier to remove and clean.
- Clean up an electrical connection with dielectric grease.
- Always test fuses, relays, and faulty voltage supply first on electrical parts.
- Remember that you can rethread a bolt or fitting that has been stripped.
- It is always good to bring a battery or something to produce voltage to test with.
- Bring out your car’s service manual! It’ll be a useful reference when repairing parts.
- When examining, diagnosing, and repairing your vehicle, arm yourself with a bright flashlight.
- Sometimes, installing a part on your car first makes it easier to see if it works.
- Here are things you should ideally buy new: cabin, fuel, air filters, drive belts, most all gaskets, all fluids, and other parts. Use your best judgment or ask someone with experience.
We’ll start with tips for common engine parts and end with parts from the chassis.
Engine Parts
Power Steering Pump
Inspect the body of the pump for leaks. Check for leaks in the power steering lines. A lot of the time, a power steering pump will leak from the hose fittings. It doesn’t necessarily mean the pump is bad – sometimes, you must do a quick reseal. Spin the wheel of the pump to ensure a smooth, consistent rotation. Check for excessive sound or a loose wheel; these are signs of a bad pump. After installing, if the pump makes loud noises or the steering doesn’t function, the pump you pulled could be bad.
Power Steering Lines
Inspect threads for signs of stripping or worn o-rings. Look for crimps in metal portions of the line and deterioration from excessive heat or ozone in the rubber portions. Make sure to replace seal rings before installing old lines onto your car.
Steering Rack
Check for leaks coming from the body of the rack and the gaiters. Examine band clips to ensure they are not too tight or loose. If the gaiters are damaged, replace them before installing. It is difficult to know whether the steering rack is good without disassembling. However, you can test its function simply by installing it on the car. Check if the steering wanders or if there is play in the steering wheel. Also, watch out for grinding noises or leaks. If there are any of these, replace the rack with a better or new one.
Air Conditioning Lines
Look for obvious leaks in the line by identifying dried-up refrigerant spots. Locate the high and low-pressure valves and unscrew the covers. Press one of the valves down with a pocket screwdriver to see if the system is pressurized. If so, don’t remove the lines without depressurizing the system. Be sure to replace o-rings and seals before reinstalling.
Radiator
Visually inspect the fins of the radiator for damage. Don’t use a radiator that has corrosion or dents. After installing the radiator on your car, carefully check the engine's temperature to prevent overheating. If the car is overheating but not leaking coolant, your problem could be the thermostat or temperature sensor.
Turbo and Parts
Inspect the body of the turbo for cracks. Holding the turbo in your hand, reach and spin the turbine inside. If it spins smoothly and easily, the turbo is likely still good. It is smart to replace every seal when putting the turbo back on. This is so avoiding unwanted check engine lights, and leaks will be easier. Losing coolant and oil from the turbo is a quick way to destroy your motor.
Alternator
Sometimes, you might have a charging problem with your alternator. First, check your drive belt to ensure it is not worn out or too loose. If you don’t have a multimeter to test the charging power of the alternator, go to any local auto shop. They’ll easily tell you whether it is functional before installing.
Starter
Inspect all locations of electrical connection. Make sure there are no broken teeth on the pinion gear. Clean electrical connections if necessary. You can easily test the starter function with jumper cables, a battery, and something metal, like a screwdriver. Connect the positive to the larger, positive threads on the starter solenoid and the negative to the starter's body or ‘ear’. Then, secure your starter in a vice or pin it down with your foot. With a screwdriver, create a connection between the positive and smaller spade connections. If the starter does not turn, it is a bad one.
Electronic Control Unit
A problem with your ECU can be very difficult to pin down. If you are ambitious, you may search for procedures to test continuity and certain testing procedures for your motor electronics. The ECU is a VIN-specific part. This means it almost always needs to be reprogrammed before using a different vehicle.
Coolant Hoses
Ensure coolant hoses have no holes and are still relatively firm when squeezing with your hands. If the coolant hose is soft and squishy, save yourself some worry and buy a new one. If it is a metal coolant hose, replace the seal when replacing your car.
Vacuum Tubing
Blow through the tubing and feel for solid airflow. Blow through again, putting your finger on the other end to block the airflow. Make sure there are no leaks.
EGR Valve
Inspect electrical connections. Apply both sucking force and blowing force with your mouth to see if the valve still functions. If you can blow one way and can’t suck— or the other way around— the valve itself is still functioning—clean carbon deposits with brake fluid and a rag before reinstalling.
EGR Hose
Check for kinks and carbon deposits blocking the passageway. Blow through with an air compressor blower attachment to check for clear airflow—clean electrical connections with alcohol.
Air Pipes
Look for dings and blemishes on metal pipes. It’s best to clean any existing oil out of a charge pipe. For example, any soft material air pipes, like an intake air hose, may tear easily. You may want to buy one brand new to be safe.
Injectors
You can test the resistance of a fuel injector by using a multimeter. After unplugging it from the wiring harness, put a test lead on each electrical pin. Each injector should have the same amount of resistance when tested. Look up the specs for the correct resistance for your specific automobile. It’s also wise to clean an old fuel injector before installing it back into the car. Please do this by applying voltage and flushing it with a carb cleaner.
Spark Plugs
Inspect the spark plug visually to ensure no cracks or deformities in the crush ring. If the downward-faced tip is covered in oil or has corrosion, it will likely be fouled. It probably won’t perform well and may not even produce a spark. It is important to torque a spark plug to spec upon replacement and gapping correctly with feeler gauges.
Full Motor
If you pull a whole motor from the junkyard, check for a few things before taking it home. With a socket wrench (ideally 1/2”), crank the motor around clockwise (as if you were tightening) on the crank pulley. Check for a smooth rotation of the motor. Does the crank pulley turn at all? If it is difficult to turn, it is very possible that the motor is seized or will not function. Examine the overall cosmetic condition of the motor and check for leakage points and broken pieces.
Manual Transmission
Check the fluid level by removing the fill plug and dipping a finger inside to see the fluid. Shine your flashlight on a fluid sample to ensure there are no shiny chunks of metal. Examine linkages to ensure they are functioning properly. You can do this by sitting in the car and switching between gears when the car is off. However, you won’t know whether it’s a good manual transmission until you have installed it and the engine is running.
Automatic Transmission
It’s pretty impossible to know whether an automatic transmission is good without taking it apart or driving it. However, it is best to ensure that nothing is broken on electrical connectors and linkages. These are crucial to the function of the transmission.
Throttle Body
Check the condition of the spring mechanism for consistency by twisting the part where the cable hooks are. Examine the throttle plate to ensure it opens and closes properly—clean electrical connectors with alcohol. Examine the throttle body stop screw and idle adjust screw. We recommend cleaning with a can of throttle body cleaner.
Mass Air Flow Sensor
Without the engine running, it will be hard to check the functionality of the mass airflow sensor. Make sure the electrical connector is undamaged and without corrosion. Before installation, spraying mass air flow sensor cleaner inside the MAF, where the hot wire resides, is good. It’ll ensure proper functioning.
Intake/Exhaust Manifolds
Inspect manifolds for cracks. Always replace gaskets when reinstalling. If the intake or exhaust is dirty, put the manifolds in a parts bath for cosmetic and airflow improvement. In some rare cases, manifolds have moving parts. If this is the case, refer to a service manual to maintain that certain manifold properly.
Fuel Pump
The fuel system can sometimes be tricky to diagnose, but the fundamentals are quite simple. There are many different types and styles of fuel pumps. Do some research as to which type of pump your vehicle has. Remember to check simple things first, such as any fuses or regulators associated with the fuel pump. After pulling a fuel pump from the junkyard, ensure it is free of corrosion. Once you have installed the pump on your car, you can run a fuel pressure test by connecting a fuel pressure gauge to the fuel pressure testing port. Additionally, test the voltage to and from the pump with a multimeter.
Chassis Parts
Tires
Use a tread-depth gauge to get a good idea of how much life the tire has. Flex the tire and check for softness. A sign of a good tire is that it’s firm to grasp. If the tire is excessively soft, don’t use it. Inspect the inside and sidewalls of the tire for punctures. If the tire has a puncture but is relatively small and not close to the sidewall, it is possible to use a patch or plug to repair the seal. Lastly, make sure the tire is the right size for your vehicle. Often, you can find the sizing on the sidewall of the tire.
Wheels
Inspect the wheel for damage, especially on the outer rim, where the tire will seal on. Clean the surface with a wire brush attached to a drill if the wheel is dirty around the sealing edge. It’s especially useful for chrome wheels. Once you have mounted a tire on the wheel and inflated it, check for leaks with a spray bottle full of dish soap and water.
Brakes
Generally, it would be best if you bought brakes brand new to ensure the quality of function. However, if you are in a pinch, ensure the rotor has enough material on the face where the pads will touch. Also, make sure there is not an excessive amount of rust on the rotor. When taking pads, ensure enough thickness on the pad's surface that touches the disc. Taking old brake discs to a local auto shop to be resurfaced is never a bad idea.
Control Arms
When examining a used control arm, the most important part is to make sure there are no large cracks or breaks in the rubber bushings or ball joints. If the rubber seems well preserved, and there are no fractures in the metal, the control arm should be safe to use on your junkyard build.
Light Assemblies and Bulbs
For the light housings, it’s important that the plastic isn’t broken and that the electrical connectors are clean and snug-fitting. When you open the cover to remove the bulbs, check for the seal, preventing condensation inside the unit. For the bulbs, a simple tungsten bulb is easy to inspect. Hold it up and look to see if any filaments are severed. However, halogen headlamps are a little bit more difficult to inspect. You should never touch the glass part of the bulb with your fingers. Why? Doing so will cause a heat spot, causing the halogen lamp to burn out prematurely. Visual signs of a bad halogen bulb include a smoky black color of the glass and bubbling or cracking. You can also test the continuity of the bulb with test leads to make sure continuity exists.
Struts/Shocks
The easiest visual sign that a strut or shock is bad is if there is hydraulic fluid leaking out. Your best bet is picking the newest or best-condition car in the junkyard to pull the suspension out. After installing the junkyard strut on your car, you’ll know how drastically you have improved the suspension simply by driving it over bumps. See how well it performs. You can also jounce each side of the car physically to test firmness.
Coil Springs
The visual signs of a bad coil spring include excessive rust or wear. Once you install the junkyard spring, listen for any noises from the suspension. Check for vehicle sag when parked and vehicle sway when turning. If you are still bottoming out over bumps after spring replacement, you may want to consider replacing the shocks.
Leaf Springs
Just like with the coil springs, inspect for signs of corrosion. If there is slight rust or dirt between the spring leaves, clean it with a wire brush. Then, wipe clean with a wet rag. After cleaning, you can lubricate with a silicone-based lubricant. While cleaning, check that the U-clamps are tight and in the right position. Check the conditions of the clips holding the leaf springs together. Ensure that the shackle and dowel pins are not bent or corroded. Check rubber bushings at the end of each leaf spring. At most junkyards, the vehicles are no longer supported by the suspension. You will have to use your best judgment based on the cosmetic condition of the spring.
Window Regulator
Window regulators are always a great find at the junkyard. Suppose you can easily access the positive and negative sides of the cable coming from the regulator. In that case, you can test its function by applying 12V using either jumper cables from the battery or an external source.
Window Switches
Check the overall functionality of the switch. Make sure it clicks up and down like it’s supposed to. You can also test the continuity of the switch by using test leads and testing each terminal for continuity with each separate function of the switch, according to the service manual. Remember that no continuity exists if the switch is not pressed down.
Blower Motor
Blower motors can be easy junkyard pulls that can give relief if your heat or air conditioning has gone out. Test the blower motor by applying 12 volts to each wire connector. How you apply the voltage does not matter, as the fan's rotation will reverse. Your problem could also be the lack of voltage or a faulty resistor.
Blower Motor Resistor
Usually, when your blower motor goes out, the resistor running alongside it is bad. Testing procedures require that you test resistance between the two terminals. Each automobile's resistance is different in specification. However, the blower resistor has gone bad if the circuit remains open, with an infinity reading on the Ohmmeter.
Lock/Unlock Switches
Lock and unlock switches go through a test similar to the window switches. Check for continuity between the different terminals for each switch function, using the service manual as a reference.
Door Levers
Examine the function of the door lever as well as its cosmetic condition. After removing the door panel, ensure the pull rod is connected to the door lever and latch. Ensure that no small plastic parts are broken.
Door Lock Actuator/Door Latch
Open and close the door, testing the function of the latch. If the car has door lock actuators, this is one case where it is easier to replace the part. You can then test it when it is newly replaced within the car. It is possible, however, to disassemble the actuator and look for broken parts or find a severed or corroded solder.
Hood Lift Support Shocks
Check the function of the shock. If the shock goes up but no longer supports the hood. Support shocks are easily removed by pulling the clips out on each end with a pocket screwdriver. Pop it out of place using a firm hand.
Drive Axle
Inspect the axle for rust, grease leaks, and torn boots on CV axles. After installing, test the axle by raising the car off the ground. Watch the axle spin while someone holds their foot on the gas pedal to check for trueness.
Differential
Look for signs of fluid leaking from the differential. Unscrew the fluid fill bolt on the top and dip your finger inside to see if there is fluid. If there is, examine the fluid to ensure no tiny chunks of shiny metal.
What are the advantages of using junkyard parts?
Many types of parts, like aftermarket and recycled parts, have advantages and disadvantages.
Types of Alternative Parts
You can put several alternative automotive parts on your car if you get into an accident. The manufacturer makes OEM parts, and in general, this will be the highest-cost option. Aftermarket parts are also new parts that have never been on another vehicle. The difference is that a company other than the original manufacturer makes them. Typically, these are the next highest in cost. Both types of parts are sold bare, meaning they will come only as unpainted parts.
Recycled parts are a little bit different. They are often the lowest-cost option of all the part types. When insurance companies refer to recycled parts, they'll call them "like kind and quality" or the acronym LKQ. These parts get a certain grade depending on their quality. Insurance companies will only purchase parts that have a rating of "A". An "A" quality part signifies either no damage or an area of damage smaller than a credit card.
However, "B" or "C" quality parts often come at an even greater cost savings. You may want these if you're repairing your car yourself. If you don't carry collision insurance on your car, these are handy if you want the least expensive repair possible. You can purchase mechanical parts like radiators or air conditioners from an auto recycler. For less money, they can help keep your car running longer.
Advantages of Recycled Parts
You may hesitate to use a part on your car that was already in use on another vehicle. If so, it would help to remember that the parts are graded by quality. If you remove parts from your car now, they would already be "used." Also, remember that these parts were all created by the original manufacturer. Generally, this means there won't be any issues with fit or function. So, you're getting a part built by the original manufacturer at a fraction of the cost. Plus, in many cases, they come with extras that other part types do not.
When purchasing an OEM door, the bare door shell is all you will get. It would be best if you transferred in the old wiring harnesses, door glass, trim panels, and other trim. Often, recycled doors will not be damaged, and you will get these additional pieces with your used part. Call the vendor you're purchasing the part from and find out what else will be included. This can save you even more than other types of parts.
Environmentally Friendly
Vehicle recycling is a truly environmentally friendly process. Auto recyclers ensure that frequently high-quality parts don't go to waste. The vehicles themselves may have reached the end of their lives in a mechanical sense. But this does not mean the sheet metal components are useless. Even cars declared total losses due to an accident often have plenty of parts that were never damaged. Choosing these parts provides you with opportunities for savings. Seeing how great these parts can look once painted to match your vehicle will surprise you.
Part recycling can also help keep your older car on the road longer. Original manufacturers don't make parts forever, so in some cases, recycled parts may be the only option. Generally, once a car has gotten old enough that the manufacturer has stopped making parts for it, aftermarket companies have also moved on to newer cars. In many cases, recycled parts can help you save money and potentially even avoid replacing your car.
So, when talking to the collision shop or the mechanic, ask what parts are available for your car. Remember, it's often just a call to a recycler to find which parts they have that would work for you. Don't let a repair shop convince you to pay more than you need to get the same part. Recycled parts are a cost-effective, environmentally-friendly way to get your car back on the road without spending a fortune.
