Your car gets you from Point A to Point B, hosts your road trip singalongs judgement-free, and so much more. Do you give it the protection it deserves? Learn how to keep your car from rusting with these tips from U-Wrench-It, your source for used auto parts in Norcross, Georgia.

How to keep your car from rusting

• Keep an eye out for damage. Even minor dings and scrapes can allow water to penetrate the clear coat and paint to rust your car. Examine your car regularly to see if there are any problem areas that you need to fix. Don’t forget to look in one of the most overlooked parts of the car: the wheel wells. Since these are exposed to so much wear and tear, they are a likely spot for rust to appear, but you’d never know it if you didn’t make a point to look! 
• Wash and wax your car regularly. Washing your car isn’t just good for your ego, it will also protect the finish on your car. When dirt, bird droppings, or insects stick to your car for too long, they can start to eat through the clear coat and paint, just like a ding from a car door or a scratch from a runaway shopping cart. 
• Repair the damage to keep rust from spreading. Whatever caused the weakness in your car’s finish, you can keep rust from forming (or spreading further) by sealing the chink in the armor, so to speak. Check out this tutorial to learn how to sand, seal, prime, and finally paint the weak spot with touch-up paint. 

Whether you want to take care of your vehicle with DIY car repair using salvaged auto parts or are ready to say goodbye to your vehicle, U-Wrench-It is here to help. You can check out our available parts online or in person. We even buy junk cars, so sell that rustbucket and get some cash in your pocket!

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.