Considering Your Buying Options When You Need Parts For Your Vehicle
by Rosa Wallace
Buying auto parts for your car, truck, or SUV does not have to be complicated, but you may need to make some choices about where you get your new parts when the time comes. There are several places you can find what you need, and often the local auto parts shop is a good place to start.
Common Auto Parts
One of the most significant considerations when buying replacement auto parts is the availability of the parts you need. If you are replacing something common like a starter or alternator, the local auto parts shop probably has the parts you need already on the shelf.
Buying parts at these shops is simple, and in most cases, you need to ask for the part for your vehicle. The associate will look up the correct part for your needs, pull it off the shelf and sell it to you. However, if the shop does not have the part, you may need to wait for them to order it or find another source that has the part you need.
Often ordering parts does not take much time, and you may be able to get it in a few days. The prices at the auto parts shop are often the lowest price for new parts, so sometimes, that price is the best reason to wait for the part to arrive.
These shops also typically offer parts in several price levels, including new parts with lifetime warranties, new parts with one or two-year warranties, and remanufactured parts that require the old part to be exchanged when you purchase them. The quality of the components used in these parts will often be reflected in the warranty, but talk to your parts shop about the differences.
Specialty Or Manufacturer Replacement Parts
Sometimes, the parts you need are only available through the dealer network for the car's manufacturer. These parts are factory replacement parts that will fit precisely and are the same parts used to assemble your car when it passed through the assembly plant.
Typically a local auto parts shop cannot get these parts for you, so working with the dealer is the best option. If the parts are commonly replaced pieces, the dealer may have them in stock; however, there is a chance that they will need to order them. Ordering parts is not uncommon on older cars and trucks because the dealer often no longer services these older cars and trucks, and they stop stocking parts for them.
If the vehicle is newer, it may not have parts available in the aftermarket yet, so the auto parts shop has to wait for a vendor to offer them, but the dealer is getting the parts directly from the manufacturer or their suppliers.
Share
About Me
Hi everyone, my name is Lee Flounce. I am crazy about rebuilding engines in my spare time. The process of breaking down a combustion engine to find the damaged parts waiting inside definitely intrigues me. I carefully remove each part and place it on a piece of cardboard for a close inspection. Once the engine is broken into its individual components, I take some of the parts to the machine shop and clean others at home. I order all of the seals, gaskets and internal components in need of replacement and wait for my parts to return from the machine shop. Once I have everything I need, I rebuild the engine using the torque specs for all of the nuts and bolts. I would like to explore all of the parts and practices employed in this process through my website, as it differs slightly from engine to engine.