Whether you accidentally left a light on, the temperature has recently shifted to extreme heat or cold, or maybe you suspect that there’s an electrical problem draining the battery, there are all sorts of reasons why you might find your car battery dead… At least temporarily. 

As annoying as it is to get in your car and realize you need a jump, it’s even worse to realize you can’t get a jump because you don’t have jumper cables! Jumper cables are an essential piece of gear that you should always have in your vehicle. Over time, they may see some wear and tear, so it’s important to choose a good set that will hold up through the years. 

What to Look for When Buying Jumper Cables

There are several concerns to keep in mind when buying jumper cables, including: 

Length

The length you’ll need depends on the size of your vehicle, but it’s better to err on the side of longer than shorter. For instance, if you have a particularly long vehicle like an extended cab truck, you’ll need longer cables than if you have a compact sedan. Consider that you may not always be in an ideal space when getting a jump. The length of the cables doesn’t matter too much when you’re in a large parking lot with plenty of room for another vehicle to pull up nose-to-nose with your own for a jump; however, if you’re on the side of the highway and need a jump from a vehicle lined up behind you, you’ll wish you had that extra length. 

Clamps

Another important concern when buying jumper cables is the type of clamp (the part that you attach to the car battery terminals). Some jumper cables have flimsy, cheap clamps that will break after repeated uses. You want sturdy, durable clamps, and you also need to make sure they are able to attach securely to both kinds of battery terminals, whether on the top or the side of the battery. And last, but definitely not least, be sure to select handles with adequate insulation. It should be thick, durable, and cover as much of the handles as possible so you don’t accidentally give yourself a car-battery-sized shock!

Cables

The wires in your jumper cables carry electricity between the jumper car battery and the jumpee car battery, so good quality is very important! Don’t settle for flimsy wires that may not carry enough electricity to effectively jump start a vehicle. Select jumper cables with a gauge of at least 8, preferably 6, and with good, thick insulation. 

Whether you’re looking for a set of lightly used jumper cables to add to your vehicle, or need to replace a car battery on a budget, we’ve got the used auto parts and junk cars DIY mechanics need at U Wrench It! We are open for business and our expansive lot allows for easy social distancing so you can conduct your shopping safely. 

They say April showers bring May flowers, but all that precipitation brings something else, too—dangerous road conditions. If you have to drive in the rain, be safe! Check out these 4 safety tips for driving in the rain from your local used auto parts store, U Wrench It. 

How to Drive Safely in the Rain

Ready your vehicle.

You’ve probably heard the saying, “The best offense is a good defense.” Well, the same principle applies to cars, too. The best thing you can do to drive safely is start by inspecting your car before you hit the road.

Are you headlights and tail lights working? What about your windshield wipers? Does your wiper fluid need to be topped off? And most importantly, have you checked the tread on your tires lately? If your tires are too worn down or “bald,” they will not have as much traction on the surface of the road, which is crucial when driving in the rain. 

If your vehicle needs any repairs, don’t put them off. You can browse our inventory of used auto parts online or visit us in person at our extremely spacious scrap lot to pull the part yourself. (We are sensitive to the current pandemic and ask that customers practice social distancing when visiting us.)

Slow your roll.

Look, we all want to get from point A to point B as quickly as possible… But it’s better to be safe than sorry. When it’s raining, reduce your speed to account for the road conditions. According to DefensiveDriving.com, you should generally reduce your speed by one third to account for wet road conditions. For example, if the speed limit is 60 mph, you should drop to 40 mph. If the speed limit is 75 mph, drop to 50 mph. 

Get lit. 

Here in Georgia, you have to have your lights on if you’re using your windshield wipers, even during the day—it’s the law. Rain decreases visibility, so it’s important to keep your lights on both so that you can see other drivers more easily, and so that other drivers can see you. And don’t rely on your automatic running lights; it’s important to turn your lights on so the back of your car is illuminated, too. 

Drive carefully. 

It sounds simple, but you’d be amazed at how many accidents are caused by failure to respond to road conditions. Leave more space than usual between you and other cars. Don’t wait until the last minute to brake; it can take longer to stop on a wet surface. Avoid driving through standing water. And if you do hydroplane (aka lose traction due to a layer of water on the road), don’t panic! Take your foot off the gas pedal and continue to steer the car in the direction it needs to go. Do not slam on the brakes; doing so can cause you to lose control of the vehicle even more. 

We hope these safety tips for driving in the rain help you to stay safe on the road!

When you feel a tickle in your nose and a tear in your eye, you know it’s here: Spring in Atlanta! While the azaleas and flowering trees are giving us a great show, we also have to endure the pollen wafting on the breeze and enveloping everything in a dusting of yellow. Keeping your car looking fresh and clean is a challenge right now, so why not turn your direction to something a little less glamorous, but still very important—routine car maintenance.  

If you’re into DIY car repair, you already know you can save a truckload of money by purchasing used auto parts and installing them yourself. Well, the same goes for routine maintenance. Why not make the most of being stuck at home by ticking some things off of your to-do list? We’re still open for both online and in-person shopping, as well as buying junk cars. Our scrap yard is massive, so it’s easy to maintain social distancing. 

Ready to get started? Check out this list of spring car maintenance tasks to keep your ride running smoothly. 

Spring Car Maintenance Checklist

Change the oil.

You should change the oil in your car every 3,000 to 5,000 miles, so if you haven’t had an oil change since the fall, don’t wait. If you haven’t done it before, no worries—it’s very simple with a little research and some helpful directions. Check out this step by step guide to oil changes.  

Check the fluids.

The oil isn’t the only fluid you should be checking on your car. You should also check these: 

• Transmission fluid
• Windshield wiper fluid
• Brake fluid
• A/C fluid (freon or refrigerant)

Keeping on top of your transmission fluid is especially important because transmission repairs are some of the hardest and most expensive car repairs to do. (Average cost ranges from $2,000 to over $4,000.)

Check the alignment and suspension.

Driving on rough roads, over potholes, or even taking the neighborhood speed bumps a little too fast (Don’t do that!) can throw off the alignment and suspension of your car. You’ll know the alignment’s off if you experience the steering wheel shaking or vibrating while you drive. Another sign is the car pulling to one side or the other. 

Rotate the tires.

You should rotate your tires every 5,000 miles or so, but even if you’re not up to that mileage, keep an eye on the tire tread to make sure they’re wearing evenly. If you find any problematic areas, use the penny test to measure tread wear. 

Check the air pressure. 

It’s also super important to check the air pressure of your tires, and you should do so frequently. Inadequately inflated tires are a major safety risk and can lead to uneven wear and tear on your tires, causing you to need to replace them sooner. 

Inspect the brakes.

Speaking of safety, your brakes are one of the most essential components of your car! When doing spring car maintenance, remember to check the brake pads and rotors. The earlier you catch a problem, generally the easier (and cheaper) it is to fix.

If you’re looking for ways to save money, learning how to do some basic DIY car maintenance is a great option. Here at U Wrench It, we help Atlanta’s DIY mechanics find the best used auto parts for their projects, whether that means rebuilding a car or making a repair. 

One of the common maintenance tasks that you may want to learn is how to change the coolant in your car. 

Tips for Changing Coolant

What you’ll need

• 2 gallons of new coolant
• A drain pan
• An air compressor
• An air-powered refill tool
• A hose removal tool
• Paper towels
• Standard wrenches and screwdrivers
• Manual (to find block drain plugs)

Draining the old coolant

• Start with a cool engine. Remove the cap from the coolant reservoir or radiator and look at the color of the liquid. If you see rust, debris, or oil floating on the coolant, or if it’s the color of chocolate milk, you have a bigger issue on your hands. You may have blown a head gasket or have some other issue with your engine. However, if the coolant looks clean, you’re good to move on to the next step. 
• Jack up your car and set the jack stands. Place your drain pan directly underneath the coolant reservoir or radiator, and loosen the lower radiator hose clamp. To do this, you’ll need to use spring hose clamp pliers or a worm clamp screwdriver. If you’re unable to remove the hose, you may need to bring in the big guns. You can get a hose removal tool for under $10 to pry it loose. 
• Once the hose is off, allow the radiator and water pump to drain. After they are entirely empty, reconnect the lower radiator hose and clamp securely. 
• Use your manual to find and remove the block drain plugs. After all is drained into the pan, replace the plugs.

Adding new coolant

• Place your air tool into the neck of the radiator or coolant reservoir. Join the exhaust hose and compressed air line, diverting the free end of the air tool’s exhaust hose into a large receptacle, like a gallon bucket. 
• Open the valve and allow the vacuum to increase until the gauge is just to the red zone. 
• Add your coolant. While many coolants are marketed as “universal,” be aware of the manufacturer’s suggested coolant. Whichever type of coolant you go with, you’ll need 2 gallons. While you’re doing this, the vacuum is sucking any air out that is left in the system, so you can completely fill it with the coolant of your choice. 
• Once you’ve filled the coolant reservoir, replace the tank caps. You’re free to remove your jack stands and hit the road! 

A note of caution:

Remember that used coolant is toxic and dangerous. Because of the sweet taste, pets and children are drawn to it, and ingesting even a small amount can be fatal. If you spill so much as a drop, make sure to clean it up right away so that it can’t harm kids or pets who may wander by. 

To dispose of used coolant, pour it into a plastic container with a screw-on lid and take it to your local recycling center, like Atlanta’s CHaRM (Center for Hard to Recycle Materials).

Buying tires isn’t the sexiest part of vehicle ownership, but it is one of the most important ways to maintain your safety on the road and get you where you want to go. If you think you might be due for new tires, don’t panic—while they can be an expensive purchase, there are ways to save money and still equip your car with reliable tires.  

Check out our tips to find out what you should know before purchasing replacement tires, and get all of the DIY tips and used auto parts you need right here at U Wrench It! 

What to Know Before Replacing Tires

How to tell if your tires actually need to be replaced

Replacing your tires can get expensive, so make sure you actually need to do it! There are 4 common ways to tell it’s time to replace your tires: 

• They’re expired. Yes, it’s true—tires can actually go bad! In most cases, tires can last up to 6 years, but it all depends on the circumstances. Even if you don’t drive the vehicle often, you should still replace the tires at least every 10 years.
  You can find the age of a tire by looking at the 16-digit ID number on the sidewall. It will start with DOT (Department of Transportation) and end with a four digit number. For instance, if the last four digits are 1220, the tire was manufactured in the 12th week of 2020. You can also use this ID to look up the tires on the manufacturer’s website. 
• They’re bald. Use the penny test to see how much tread is left on the tires. Simply take a penny and insert it into the tread, with Abe’s head down. If the treads are touching Abe’s head, you’re good. If not, the tires are too worn down and need to be replaced. 
• There’s a visible defect. This one is simple; if you see a nail or other object imbedded in the tire, it’s going to need to be repaired at the very least, and probably replaced. 
• The tread wear indicators are sounding off. Many newer tires have wear indicators to let you know when to replace your tires. Once they are exposed by wear and tear, they will make a grinding or humming sound when changing lanes. 

What type of tires are right for your vehicle and driving conditions

When selecting replacement tires, it’s important to take into account the type of driving you typically do; do you frequently drive in snow? Do you plan to take the vehicle off road? Are you looking for better handling or durability?

It’s also crucially important to make sure you’re buying the correct size and type of tires for your vehicle. Refer to your owners manual to see what the manufacturer’s recommendation is so you can buy the correct type. 

Where to buy tires

You can purchase tires from a tire shop or dealership, but that can get expensive. Fortunately, if you’re looking for DIY options, you can also purchase used tires from an auto salvage yard like U Wrench It! 

We have a huge selection of quality used auto parts, so check out our inventory online or come see us.