You’ve never met a DIY you didn’t try, or at least consider. You change your own oil, pull parts from junk cars, and aren’t afraid to get your hands dirty. Home mechanics like you source used auto parts from us all the time, but there’s one thing that many folks overlook: car batteries!

Most of the time when someone sells a junk car, it’s due to an issue they deemed too expensive or inconvenient to fix, not due to a dead battery. That means that there are plenty of cars sitting at U Wrench It that could have a perfectly fine battery just waiting on you to come along and pick it!

Of course, as with all used auto parts, it’s important to know what to look out for when shopping for a used car battery. These are a few things to keep in mind.

• Know what you’re looking for. Consult your car’s manual to find out what voltage and capacity you need.
• Look at your current battery and see which side is negative and which is positive. You’ll need to find a car battery with terminals in the right places in order to connect it.
• Check the battery group size to make sure it will fit properly in your engine compartment. If the battery is the wrong size, it could slide around while you drive and end up damaging something else in your engine.
• Look for better brands. If there are multiple used batteries that will work with your vehicle, take the brands into consideration to help you choose. You’re probably better off going with a well-known, quality battery brand.
• Watch for dates. Sometimes car batteries will have a sticker somewhere indicating when they were sold; often if it’s from a large retailer, the battery will come with a 2 year warranty. If you select a battery that’s still within the warranty period, you may be able to return it to the store if it dies!

No matter what kind of automotive project you’re working on, you’re sure to find useful used auto parts at U Wrench It! Shop online or visit us at our Norcross junkyard to get started.

There are many DIY car repairs that you can easily and safely perform yourself with the right tools and a little research. But is replacing a windshield one of them? At U Wrench It, we have a huge variety of used car parts available for thrifty DIY mechanics. Read on as we break down the pros and cons of purchasing a windshield at a salvage yard.

Reasons to Purchase a Used Windshield

The most obvious benefit of purchasing and replacing a windshield yourself is cost. Depending on the make and model of your car, it may be easy to find a windshield or other auto glass at an auto salvage yard, and you’ll pay far less than if you ordered a new windshield. However, despite the affordability, availability, and ease of replacement DIY windshield repair entails, there are some strong reasons to leave it to the professionals.

Reasons Not to Purchase a Used Windshield

Depending on your auto insurance, you may be able to get your windshield replaced by a professional for free or at a discounted rate. If your plan covers such repairs, you should take advantage of a new, professionally-installed windshield to prevent voiding your warranty or making a mistake on installation.

Even if you have to pay out of pocket, you may want to opt for a new windshield due to safety concerns. When you purchase auto glass at a salvage yard, you don’t know whether the source vehicle has been in an accident, which could weaken the glass even if there is only a faint scratch or chip.

Ultimately, whether you decide to go the DIY route or leave it to the pros should depend on your vehicle warranty, auto insurance plan, and confidence in your auto repair skills. At U Wrench It, we’re always happy to help our customers find the right part for a project, so give us a call today at (770) 448-6485.

There are many reasons why you might be getting rid of your old car; maybe you need more space for your growing family, the car needs a costly repair, or you’re just upgrading to something more exciting! Perhaps you’re committing to using public transportation, or you want to get a more fuel-efficient ride to save money on a long commute. Whatever your reason, be sure to get the most out of your used car with these tips.

Give Your Car a Facelift

You might be surprised what a difference a few simple repairs can do for the value of your used car! If you know your vehicle needs some TLC, consider the complexity of repairs and whether or not it’s worth resolving those issues. There are lots of things you may be able to do yourself.

Check out YouTube to explore a plethora of do-it-yourself videos with pro-tips from real mechanics. You can fix up your car with used auto parts from U-Wrench-It to save money. Just be sure to consider how much value it will add to your asking price compared to how much the part costs.

Make Lemonade from Your Lemon

If your car needs a lot of repairs and the cost of doing them outweighs the value you could get from selling, then sell us your junk car! Just because the transmission is bad or the axle is bent doesn’t mean the whole car is a lost cause. The other parts may be in good condition and eligible for resale to a thrifty DIY mechanic. If your car is old, rare, or out of production, the parts will be even more valuable to automotive enthusiasts hunting for a rare part to complete their own fixer-upper.

So call us today at (404) 805-0900 to  discuss selling us your junk car!

We should all do our part to help save the environment, especially when doing so is easy (and can save you money)! Here are just a few ways that buying used auto parts help saves the environment:

• Keep Stuff Out of Landfills – Landfills have adverse effects on air and soil quality, and have a direct negative impact on humans and nature. One of the best things we can do for the environment is to minimize the amount of waste we discard. When you buy used auto parts, you are directly helping to keep these parts out of landfills.
• Recycle and Reuse-  Recycling auto parts is important (including recycling your used motor oil), but another important part of recycling is upcycling. Recycling costs resources, whereas upcycling or reusing items requires little to no new resources.
• New Parts Use More Resources – Any newly manufactured item requires resources to create. And it’s not just the resources used in production, but also those used to transport the product across the country or world. Buying used auto part helps reduce these environmental costs.
• Repair Your Car for the Environment – The very act of keeping your car in good repair is good for the environment, as a well-maintained car puts out reduced emissions. Simply put, the better your vehicle is running, the less it contributes to air pollution.

The environmental impact is great, but buying used will also you’ll save money! You don’t have to be Captain Planet to appreciate the monetary benefits, so check out our prices and parts catalog today!