As a parent, you’re often caught between being proud to see your children grow up, and wishing they could stay small for a while longer. Though you may be tired of playing chauffeur for every soccer practice and after school club, it’s still bittersweet when your kids no longer need you to drive them around. Before your child gets a driver’s license and hits the road, make sure they’re safe by choosing a safe and practical first car for your teen driver. 

How to Choose Your Teen’s First Car

Safety First

Even the most responsible teen drivers are less experienced than adults who have been driving for years. While you have to trust that your child follows the traffic laws and safety measures you taught them (or that they learned in Driver’s Education), it’s still a smart idea to choose a car that will offer the most protection in case of an accident. Some things to consider: 

• Bigger is NOT better. People tend to think that the bigger a vehicle is, the safer it is, but SUVs and trucks are actually more likely to roll over in a crash. Instead, opt for a late-model mid- to full-size car. These types of cars are a happy medium between roll-prone SUVs and small cars that are too small and light to provide protection in a crash. 
• Look for safety features. It goes without saying that the car needs to have driver and passenger airbags, but if possible, you’ll also want a car that has side and curtain airbags for the most protection. Other safety features can help your teen stay safe too, like anti-lock brakes, seat belt alarms, and electronic stability control.
• Avoid temptation. Look, even adults are often tempted to see how far they can push a fast, sporty car. While it might not be the coolest car in the lot, choosing a less Fast and the Furious-esque car will likely reduce your teen’s inclination to speed.  

Price Range

While we all hope and pray that our teens drive safely, accidents happen. Whether it’s a collision with another car or a failed attempt at backing out of a tricky parking spot, you will probably be glad you went with a used car if you have a teen driver. Shop around, inspect (or have your mechanic inspect) the car, and strike a balance between value and safety. 

Other costs to keep in mind include: 

• Gas money
• Cost of insurance
• Cost of traffic or parking tickets

Dependability

And last, but certainly not least, look for a first car for your teen driver that is dependable! You worry enough about your kids without them breaking down on the side of the road. See if the car has a warranty, get a car history report to ensure it hasn’t been flooded or damaged in an accident, and steer clear if the mileage is high.

No matter what you choose for your teen’s first car, remember that you can save money and keep your vehicles running great with used auto parts from U Wrench It!

Leaving a puddle behind is never good, whether you’re working out at the gym or pulling out of your driveway. While a towel and some cleaning spray can help you with the former, the latter can be a bit more complicated. Learn how to identify car fluid leaks with these tips. 

Common Car Fluid Leaks

Most of the time, your car fluid leak will fall under one of these categories: 

Engine Oil

You’ve probably seen the evidence of oil leaks before in a parking lot, but it’s a lot more unsettling when you see evidence of an oil leak in your own garage or driveway. Oil leaks are fairly easy to identify, though the appearance of leaked oil can range from a light amber color to a dark brown or black color. This is because motor oil can collect dirt and debris over time, making the oil thick and sooty. If it’s been a long time since you had an oil change, or your engine is malfunctioning such that the combustion reaction is incomplete, the soot can build up and cause damage to your engine. 

Power Steering Fluid

A red, brown, or clear fluid leak could be your power steering fluid. Keep in mind that the older the steering fluid, the darker brown it will turn. If the leak is occurring near the driver area of the car, it might be power steering fluid. 

If, however, you notice that the leak is coming from another area, it may be transmission fluid. The whole situation is complicated by the fact that some cars use the same fluid for both power steering and transmission! Check in your owner’s manual and look online to determine if your car uses the same fluid for both, which will help you narrow down the possibilities. 

Transmission Fluid

New transmission fluid is colored red by the manufacturer, but over time, it can darken to a more brownish hue. One way to identify it is by smelling the fluid. If it smells tart or sweet, it’s transmission fluid. It could also be transmission fluid if it smells burnt, which would indicate that your transmission is running too hot and may be sustaining damage every time you run your car. 

Brake Fluid

You’ll never guess what color brake fluid can be. Unless you guessed brown, and then—ding ding ding— you’re correct! When new, brake fluid is a clearer, lighter yellowish color, but over time it can turn brown. The easiest way to check for a leak is to look at the measurement on the brake fluid reservoir. However, you can also identify it by feel. Brake fluid is a hydraulic medium that feels extremely slippery to the touch. 

If you’ve identified any of these car fluid leaks, it’s important to repair them right away. Doing so will help your car run better for longer, and keep you safer on the road. Shop our used auto parts for everything you need to keep your ride running strong!

Are you a car person? No, not a Transformers-style literal car person. (Although that would be pretty cool.) We’re talking about gearheads! DIY mechanics. Car lovers. Auto enthusiasts. For many folks, it starts with simple, routine maintenance. Maybe you start doing your own oil changes to save money. Then you move on to brake pads and spark plugs. After a while, you try doing some minor repairs on your own, and you’re hooked. Yep, it’s time to take the plunge: You’re going to choose a project car. 

How to Choose a Project Car

There are a lot of things to consider when choosing a project car, and ultimately there’s no one right choice—just the right choice for you. However, as a general rule, there are some tips to help you choose a good fixer-upper car.   

Know your budget and work within it.

When choosing a car to fix up, it’s important to factor in not only the cost of buying the car but also the costs of repairing and refurbishing it, not to mention registration and insurance. If you’re looking for affordable used auto parts, visit us at U Wrench It and find the part you need at our Atlanta junkyard. Our huge car junkyard is a treasure trove of hidden gems, and you’re sure to find the replacement parts you need for your project without breaking the bank.

Avoid pricey problems.

Before finalizing your fixer-upper car purchase, give it an in-depth inspection and think critically about any issues it may have and how you’ll tackle them. Don’t just check the body; get under the car and examine the undercarriage. Look in the wheel wells. If you see rust—just say no. Dealing with a rusted out junk car isn’t recommended as a first-timer activity. And if you want your project car to look half decent when you’re done with it, don’t buy a car with severe paint damage. If the vehicle looks severely sun-damaged or has damage from road salt, it could end up costing thousands of dollars to fix. Wait until you’ve gotten a beginner project car under your belt before tackling something that requires that much of a financial commitment.   

Be realistic.

If you’re itching to work on a foreign, ultra-rare, or super popular model of car, take a deep breath and hold that thought. Are the parts accessible where you live? Are they affordable? A vintage car that was manufactured in large quantities will be much easier to find parts for than an obscure model. 

If you have a junk car to sell, you can even use it to fund your project car purchase! We pay the most for junk cars in Atlanta, and depending on the make and model, we may even tow it away for you. Give us a call at 770-448-6485 for parts or 404-805-0900  to sell a junk car.

Does your car have a radiator leak? If you’ve never experienced a car overheating, you might think, “No big deal, right? A leak doesn’t sound too bad. Fixing it can wait.” However, if you have experienced this scenario, you know that a radiator leak is a serious car problem that needs to be fixed ASAP. But how can you tell if your car has a radiator leak to begin with? 

Diagnosing a Car Radiator Leak

Fortunately, diagnosing a radiator leak is relatively simple. 

• First, check your dashboard temperature gauge. If it’s reading particularly high, or if your temperature warning indicator lights up, you can tell there’s an issue with your cooling system. 
• Next, check your coolant level. The translucent coolant reservoir makes it easy to see the level of the coolant. There’s typically a “minimum” line marked to help you quickly determine whether your coolant is low. 
• Low or empty coolant means that there may not be enough in the cooling system. If you drive your car in this state, it could easily overheat. Once your engine is completely cooled down, you can check your radiator to determine this.
• Begin your hunt for the leak at the radiator. Carefully examine the radiator from different angles to see if you can find the breach. The bottom is a common spot for a leak, as any rocks or debris you hit on the road can fly up and puncture it. Occasionally, you may find that there are rust spots or weak points in the aluminum that have broken through to cause a leak.
• If you’ve double and triple checked your radiator and you’re sure it’s not the source of the leak, it’s time to work your way through the rest of your car’s cooling system. Check each of these components until you find the leak.
  • Radiator hoses and cap
  • Water pump
  • Engine block
  • Thermostat
  • Coolant reservoir
  • Heater core
  • Gasket between the engine block and cylinder head (Note: If this is the source of your problem, go ahead and call a professional mechanic. A blown gasket can mean that coolant has leaked into the combustion chambers of your engine. Running the car in this state will likely lead to a huge cloud of thick, white smoke, not to mention serious engine damage.) 

What Happens If You Don’t Fix a Car Radiator Leak?

If you’re reading this section, you must like playing with fire…In this case, literally! You really, really don’t want to let a leaking car radiator go unaddressed. Worst case scenario, your car could catch on fire! Best case scenario, you’re still dealing with a major issue—if your engine overheats, it can blow the head gasket, damage the pistons and cylinders, or even crack the engine block.

Now that you know how to diagnose a car radiator leak, and why it’s so important, keep your car on the road with affordable used auto parts from U-Wrench-It! We’re the best source for used auto parts in Atlanta!

If you’re a frugal person, you may be planning to drive your car “until the wheels fall off.” However, while thriftiness and frugality are great values to possess most of the time, there are a few times when you might want to pass on the cheapest option. Driving a junk car is one of those times. 

If your ride could best be described as a junker, clunker, rust bucket, or hunka-junk, keep reading—this post is for you! 

Dangers of Driving a Junk Car

Retro style is cool. Retro safety features? Not so much.

The auto industry has come a long way, and no, we’re not just talking about the days before seat belts. Even high-end cars manufactured 10 years ago are substantially less safe than today’s basic vehicles, as car safety standards and technology continue to develop exponentially over the years.
With so many features available these days—smart seat belts, additional airbags (not just in the steering wheel), passenger cabins, accident avoidance systems—the benefits of driving a beater car just don’t seem worth the trade off in safety.    

That car’s not “lit”—it’s on fire! 

Even if you invest the labor in maintaining your old junk car, it can still become a fire hazard over time. Old, decomposing wire insulation is a common culprit that junk car drivers often don’t realize is happening until a fire starts. And it’s not just the electrical system that can cause a fire; automotive fuel lines and pumps also degrade over time, so if your vehicle is over 10 years old, the likelihood of a fuel malfunction-induced fire goes up. 

You could end up stranded on the side of the road.

This one is pretty self-explanatory. After all, time is money! Even if you splurge for a roadside assistance service like AAA, breaking down on the side of the road is pretty inconvenient. 

Captain Planet would be ashamed. 

You’re not just putting your safety at stake when you drive a dangerous junk car; you’re also harming the environment! Even with your best efforts, it’s very unlikely that you’ll be able to get the emissions from your junk car lower than a newer model. In fact, you may even have trouble passing an emissions test, putting your “street legal” status in jeopardy.
Even if you’re not concerned about your carbon footprint, do you really want to keep paying for all of that gas when you could drive something with better gas mileage?

You might be losing money keeping it running.

Gas isn’t the only money hole you’re throwing your hard-earned dollars into when you drive a junk car. You’ll also end up paying for constant repairs, replacement parts, and possibly even rental cars or rideshare services when your beater car is on the fritz. 

Ready to part ways with a rolling money pit? If so, at least you can comfort your thrifty heart by selling your junk car to U-Wrench-It. We buy junk cars in Atlanta, and we pay the most of any junk car buyers around. Call us at 404-805-0900 to get started!