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Buying used cars is definitely a smart move if you’re looking for value. According to NerdWallet, a car’s value depreciates by up to 30% just in the first year, with most cars losing 60% or more of their initial value in just 5 years. For DIY mechanics or anyone looking for a bargain, letting someone else take the depreciation hit makes a lot of sense! Unfortunately, not all used cars are equal when it comes to value, and it can be hard to tell a great deal from a lemon if you don’t know what to look for. Luckily for you, we’re here to help. Keep reading to learn the signs that a used car has been in an accident. 

How to Tell if a Used Car Has Been in an Accident

Run a Carfax report.

Isn’t it great to live in the age of the internet? Carfax is a vehicle history reporting service that can give you the inside scoop on the history of most used cars in the U.S. A vehicle history report can tell you if the vehicle has been involved in a (documented) accident, has been recalled by the manufacturer, and even the service history, as well as a list of former owners, among other things. 

Examine the car for irregularities.

While Carfax reports are an important tool for any used car buyer, you should also keep your eyes peeled for other telltale signs that a used car has been in an accident. It’s not unheard of for a seller to attempt to pull one over on buyers by going “underground” for cosmetic/body work. If the car was involved in an accident and the seller either did their own work or got a friend to do it on the down low, you won’t see it on a report … But you might be able to catch it. Look for: 

• Irregularities in the color, sheen, or texture of the paint, especially around doors, wheel wells, and other places that are challenging for a lazy painter to perfect. If there are multiple colors on the car, that’s a big, waving red flag. 
• Streaks or hatching indicating that filler has been used under the paint. If you run your hand across the vehicle and feel an area that’s rough or oddly textured, you may have found where Bondo or another body filler has been used to patch up the car.  
• Misalignments or irregularities in places where a replacement part could have been installed. A vehicle in good condition should have even spaces between areas like door panels, trunk hatches, fenders, bumpers, etc. If you notice a misalignment, like a door that seems slightly off compared to the others, ask the seller what the story is and think twice about purchasing the car. 
• Brand new/fresh undercoat, which may indicate that work was recently done on the vehicle and new undercoat was applied to cover up the signs. 

Check the fasteners. 

Another way to tell if a used car has been in an accident or had substantial work done is to look at the fasteners and screws with a critical eye. Missing clips or fasteners around the fenders, wheel wells, engine area, or doors can be a big clue that work was done on the vehicle and those items were either lost or weren’t put back on properly after the repairs. 

If you notice rusty, scratched up, or damaged screws or bolts anywhere on the car, that’s another dead giveaway that work has been done on the vehicle. New cars straight from the factory don’t have these blemishes because the factory uses specialized tools to tighten screws and bolts without damaging the slick finish of the final product. 

Good luck finding your next used car! Remember that you can find excellent quality used auto parts here at U-Wrench-It to help you with all of your DIY car projects.

You’ve probably heard that your car needs regular “tune ups,” but what does that even mean? According to Cars.com,

A car tuneup is an outdated service consisting of replacing parts to bring the ignition and fuel systems up to spec for maximum engine performance and efficiency. A traditional tuneup hasn’t been available or necessary for years.

However, while the phrase “tune up” may be outdated or unnecessary these days, it’s still very important to follow an engine maintenance schedule. Failure to keep up with regular engine maintenance can have serious repercussions for your vehicle, from the relatively minor, like decreased gas mileage, to the seriously major, like serious engine damage! Keep reading to learn more about this important part of any DIY auto mechanic’s routine. 

Engine Maintenance Basics

Start with your owner’s manual. 

The best place to go for information about what your vehicle needs is the owner’s manual. If your used car didn’t come with the manual, or it’s been otherwise lost or damaged, don’t worry! You can hunt down digital files of most owner’s manuals online, or even buy a hard copy off of eBay. 

Typically, the owner’s manual will include a maintenance schedule telling you when to perform each engine maintenance task. For instance, spark plugs usually need to be changed every 100,000 miles, while the engine air filter needs to be replaced every 30,000 miles. You should always defer to the owner’s manual for your own vehicle if in doubt, but here’s a general breakdown of the tasks you need to keep track of:  

Every 3-5k Miles

• Check engine oil level
• Change the oil filter
• Check transmission fluid level
• Check your fan belt for tears or holes
• Check your hoses for damage, cracks, etc.
• Check drive belts for wear and tear. 

Every 12-15k Miles

• Change engine air filter
• Flush coolant
• Check your timing belt
• Replace drive belts if needed

Every 90,000k Miles

• Flush or replace fluids
• Replace spark plugs
• Replace timing belt

By staying up on these engine maintenance tasks, you can keep your car in great shape for years to come! And remember, if you’re looking for affordable used auto parts, we’ve got you covered here at U Wrench It. Explore our online parts catalog, sign up for our mobile VIP club to hear about our promotions, or come visit us at 4600 Buford Highway in Norcross! 

Our enormous scrap yard has plenty of room to find what you need while maintaining social distance requirements. Give us a call at 770-448-6485 if you have any questions or are looking for a particular part. Want to sell a junk car? Call 404-805-0900 and find out how easy it is to get paid for your clunker!

If you’re into DIY car maintenance, you’re probably the type who loves to tinker and get things just right, not to mention saving a bundle of money with smart shopping. While you probably know how to save money on auto repair by buying used auto parts and working on your own car, you might be surprised to know that you’re leaving money on the table when it comes to your gas consumption. 

There are so many factors that affect fuel consumption in cars, so if you’re looking for ways to increase your miles per gallon (mpg), you’re in the right place. Check out some of these gas mileage boosting ideas from Carbibles. 

How to Improve Gas Mileage

Keep your tires properly inflated.

Driving on under-inflated tires doesn’t just drive down your gas mileage and drain your wallet; it’s also dangerous! Underinflated tires are a safety hazard, and over time, failing to keep enough air in your tires will also cause them to wear out faster. Save money and protect yourself and other motorists by checking the air in your tires when you gas up your car. 

Lighten up on that lead foot. 

Here in Atlanta, we have some of the worst traffic in the country, and the “stop-and-go” nature of traffic is terrible for gas mileage. To make matters worse, many drivers gun it when traffic is moving, only to have to slam on the breaks a moment later when it inevitably slows again. Drive smarter and lighten up on the gas pedal to use your fuel more efficiently. 

Replace your gas cap.

Did you know that the seal on your gas cap will fail over time? Most people don’t realize it, but the rubber seal on the gas cap does an important job, keeping excess air out of your engine. When the seal gets old and cracks, your engine ends up drawing more air, which makes it consume more gas just to get the same effect. Shop our used auto parts to find whatever you need for all of your DIY car maintenance projects. 

Sub out your old belt fan for an electric thermatic fan. 

If you have an older car, it probably has a belt-powered fan that increases drag on the car, in turn increasing your gas mileage. Replacing the original fan with a newer system will make even better use of your fuel. 

Gas up in the morning.

According to Carbibles, you can save up to $10 per month with this so-simple-it’s-genius lifehack. The underground gas tanks where fuel is stored at gas stations are affected by the changing temperature throughout the day. When the ground is colder in the morning, the gas particles are closer together, but as the ground heats up through the day, those particles get farther apart. Gas station pumps aren’t measuring the actual density of the fuel, they just deliver a certain volume of gas based on a pre-calculated flow rate. Fuel up in the cool morning hours to get up to 2.5% more actual fuel than you would by fueling in the afternoon on a warm day. 

Headlights are one of the unsung heroes of your car, lighting your way on dark roads at night or shining a path in rainy weather. Unfortunately, sometimes the weather gets the best of you and you end up with water in your headlights! 

If you’ve noticed moisture in your headlights or reduced visibility when your lights are on, don’t wait to deal with it. Water in headlights will not go away on its own, but you can get rid of moisture in headlights with a few tips. Keep reading to learn how from your source for used auto parts in Atlanta—U Wrench It!  

What Causes Water in Headlights?

If your headlight cover is cracked or the seal around it is damaged, it’s clear how water got inside the headlight. However, if you examine the headlight and don’t see any cracks or damage, the moisture is probably just condensation. 

The humid climate here in Atlanta is a major culprit when it comes to water-logged headlights. If you’re driving at night, you turn your lights on, which warms the humid air inside the headlight housing. Once you park and turn off the lights, that air will cool down, and as it does, the moisture will condense inside the headlight. 

Regardless of how it got there, you’re going to want to get that water out of the headlights for maximum visibility and safety on the road! Here’s how. 

How to Get Water Out of Headlights

• Remove the headlight cover from your car. Your owners manual should have instructions for doing this, but it’s usually pretty simple, requiring just a screwdriver to remove the screws holding the cover in place. 
• Check the headlight vent and clear any dirt or grime that may be restricting airflow. Most headlight assemblies have vents built in specifically to prevent condensation from forming in the headlight, but this opening can become obstructed over time. 
• If there’s a lot of condensation or standing water in the headlight, you’ll need to remove the headlight assembly and remove the bulbs, plugs, and any other electrical components from the housing. 
• Next, use a blowdryer (Yes, the kind you use on your hair!) to heat up the air in the headlight housing and evaporate the condensation. 
• While you’re at it, prevent moisture from getting in the headlight again by sealing any areas that need it with clear silicone caulk. Remember to let the silicone dry/set completely before you reassemble the headlight!

If your headlight housing or lens is broken, don’t worry—you don’t have to pay exorbitant dealership prices or hunt for a bargain at the auto parts store. Just come to U Wrench It and shop our extensive inventory of used auto parts to find what you need at a great price!

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.