Junkyard Etiquette ?

[71Datsun510Wagon]

On most junkyard visits I keep to myself. On occasion I pass a guy who obviously needs an extra hand.

I helped a guy who was madly yanking on lug nuts trying to get some wheels off. I hit the brake pedal for him while he broke the nuts free. Took maybe 60 seconds.

Last weekend I was pulling some door switches out of a car. An older guy was underneath the car trying to break loose some suspension bolts with a 1/2" ratchet. I watched for a minute, then offered to get a 24" breaker bar from my car. I was back in three minutes and the tool got the job done for him. I had seen the guy walking around the yard before (he had a walking cane).

Both guys were very happy for the help.

The yards I've been too have been relatively safe. Occasionally there are some customers I take a wide berth around!

Anybody else offer a hand? Or is it frowned upon where you are?

Rob

 

[filtered]

I don't ask for help. I don't offer help. If someone asks i'll try to help. Most of the time I don't speak the same language as the other people in the yard so I usually get left alone. There is no etiquette in the yards around here. I'm just happy no one has stolen my tools while i'm working on something or tried to break into my truck in the parking lot.

 

[billymade]

I'm finding that; aside from major components... its becoming less and less cost effective to go to junk yards, we used to go all the time! By the time you factor in: gas, time, and being overcharged for parts.... you can many times buy a new part; am I the only one who has come to realize this? It also maybe the fact; in my area the good junk yards are hours away...

 

[Twiggss]

I got offered some sticky icky in the parking lot of one my my local junkyards. He asked, i said no thanks. I think that was quite etiquette.

 

[sselander]

those are pretty rare in Connecticut now.

I needed a sway bar and it was already pulled and on a shelf.

I went to Chuck and Eddie's Used Auto Parts and was surprised to see people in the yard pulling parts off.

 

[pipsters]

I'm finding that; aside from major components... its becoming less and less cost effective to go to junk yards, we used to go all the time! By the time you factor in: gas, time, and being overcharged for parts.... you can many times buy a new part; am I the only one who has come to realize this? It also maybe the fact; in my area the good junk yards are hours away...

A local junkyard wanted $125 for a hood for my car and new from the autobody shop it was $80 + 50% markup...so still $5 less! I had to paint it anyway.

 

[Buckgnarly]

I don't ask for help. I don't offer help. If someone asks i'll try to help. Most of the time I don't speak the same language as the other people in the yard so I usually get left alone. There is no etiquette in the yards around here. I'm just happy no one has stolen my tools while i'm working on something or tried to break into my truck in the parking lot.

You must be talking about Harry's! I always swing by one of the locations when I'm home visiting the family.

One piece of etiquette that I always try to follow is to NOT trash the car/truck to get at my part. I always try to leave it intact if I need to remove pieces to get at what I need.....guess it's JY karma!

 

[bmxr4life87]

We have an lkq self service yard here with a price list before you go in the yard so you know how much your paying before you ever enter the yard. Its nice to not get a major gouging just because your getting something from a camaro or mustang or whatever and I find their prices to be very reasonable especially since you pull it and you can inspect it before hand. Plus they have a 30 day money back warranty

 

[TWX]

My general take on junkyard behavior:

• Don't loan tools to anyone you don't already know, and don't ask to borrow tools from strangers.
• No stash of parts is sacred. If someone pulled parts but didn't buy them and tried to hide them, they're fair game for anyone else, even if they were hard to pull.
• Avoid damaging the rest of the vehicle as much as practical when stripping parts. There's no need to be rude to other customers by destroying what they need.
• If you bring your spouse to watch the tools, pull a seat out of a van or truck for her to sit on while you work. She'll be a lot happier that way.
• Don't relieve yourself in the junkyard if they have bathrooms. If not, do it in the Ford section.
• If you feel like offering help, fine, but don't be weird about it, and don't be surprised if they don't trust you around their stuff.
• Don't expect anyone to help you, and if they do, keep an eye on your stuff.

That's about it...

 

[472scout]

I've never had a problem. Everyone has always been polite. I do get a lot of people asking to borrow tools. Almost always Mexicans of questionable "documentation". They show up with a plastic bag containing a hodgepodge of maybe 5-10 extremely battered imported tools. If they were working right next to me I might help them out, but these guys come walking up from who knows what corner of the yard wanting to borrow tools that they don't even know the name of.

 

[GoBlue]

There are not any reputable yards around me that allow customers to pull parts anymore. As a local shop owner who deals with yards a lot i will occasionally be invited in to grab something small if their very busy but its rare. Pull and pays are a dieing breed around these parts.

 

[GoBlue]

Don't relieve yourself in the junkyard if they have bathrooms. If not, do it in the Ford section.

That is awesome!

 

[mtkst19]

A local junkyard wanted $125 for a hood for my car and new from the autobody shop it was $80 + 50% markup...so still $5 less! I had to paint it anyway.

a used oem hood will sell for more than a new aftermarket cheap hood. reason is time to fit the item to a car. a oem hood or insurance quality hood will "fit" the car and shoudl not need more than an hours time to work right. the aftermarket hood is ok to use--but quality is not there. may take more time to make right, or may be off all together.

when a part is graded, it is graded in hours damage. an hours damage is the size of credit card. so if you have 2 small dents on a hood-- and the credit card covers the damage, that would be 2 hours damage. now if the dents were next to each other, and the card covers both dents--thats one hour clean up. even if the dent is the size of a dime-- the fact it is there is 1 hour clean up.

generally, anything over 2 hours damage never gets sold to a body shop for insurance job. they are sold to the d-i-y guys who toss it on and go or rebuild/repaint themselves.

 

[balane]

Don't relieve yourself in the junkyard if they have bathrooms. If not, do it in the Ford section.

LOL, great! It's easy to find because it's the largest section in the yard by far.

 

[OccupantRJ]

There are not any reputable yards around me that allow customers to pull parts anymore. As a local shop owner who deals with yards a lot i will occasionally be invited in to grab something small if their very busy but its rare. Pull and pays are a dieing breed around these parts.

The pull-it-yourself yard here is busy as a cat in a sandbox.

 

[greasemonkey44]

i always lend stuff to people if they ask; its HF anyway
i dont plan on having help so i have all my tools ready and if i need i bring a friend, but i dont frequent junk yards as much anymore since i started working full time

 

[wafrederick]

Be careful not to break parts and one yard in my area has a policy: you break it,you buy it.This is Economy Auto Part's policy in Muskegon,Mi.There are two grades of aftermarket body parts,capa and non capa.The capa does not fit worth a **** and the non capa fits better.Better off buying used doors for a 1988 to 1998 fullsize Chevy truck.The door hinges are welded on from the factory and the new doors use bolt on hinges which can be a real pita to adjust.Plus the new doors don't fit very well.New fenders are cheaper to buy than used and take less time to prep.With an used fender,you have dents to fix which is a waste of time.LKQ is a corperation and don't ever trust corperations.

 

[GoBlue]

Be careful not to break parts and one yard in my area has a policy: you break it,you buy it.This is Economy Auto Part's policy in Muskegon,Mi.There are two grades of aftermarket body parts,capa and non capa.The capa does not fit worth a **** and the non capa fits better.Better off buying used doors for a 1988 to 1998 fullsize Chevy truck.The door hinges are welded on from the factory and the new doors use bolt on hinges which can be a real pita to adjust.Plus the new doors don't fit very well.New fenders are cheaper to buy than used and take less time to prep.With an used fender,you have dents to fix which is a waste of time.LKQ is a corperation and don't ever trust corperations.

I cant disagree more about LKQ. Their engines and trannys are always superior to the back ally **** we get from the locals. They also speak English. They also dont lie about the mileage and condition and back their items with no hassle...at least in my experience.

 

[njride]

I cant disagree more about LKQ. Their engines and trannys are always superior to the back ally **** we get from the locals. They also speak English. They also dont lie about the mileage and condition and back their items with no hassle...at least in my experience.

I never bought anything from them or been in person to one of their yards, but I notice on ebay anything from LKQ is way overpriced. Maybe they just don't like to ship or maybe just fishing for suckers on ebay and cheaper in person I hope.

 

[LincolnCont.]

Well the title of the thread already violates the first rule of etiqutte IT'S NOT JUNK!...it's "merchandise" LoL.

 

[bluebolt]

Lots of U-Pull-its around me, hit them often. I have loaned out tools, always got them back. Have helped a few people, more rarely I have asked for help, usually have someone apply brakes while I bust lug nuts loose. Borrowed a cheap ratchet from a lady one time, broke ratchet, walked to truck and brang her back a Craftsman. Have left tools while I run to porta potty, always there when I come back. Try to keep an eye out for possible safety stuff, saw some guys witha an engine on the 3 wheel overhead hoist knock off a car off the jackstands as the were passing by, glad I wasn't underneath! Watch out for lighting, one of the yards I go to lady was killed by lightning, wasn't even raining, you never know.

 

[Muffduster]

LOL, great! It's easy to find because it's the largest section in the yard by far.

It's obvious neither of you two know facts. Probably Chevy owners. I myself never find the need to go to junkyards as I drive a Ford. I don't much care for offbrands or generics like Dodge, Chevy, Toyota, etc. They break down way too much.

 

[GoBlue]

Hey...i own a shop that repairs broken cars...i tell everyone who will listen to buy Ford products. Today's new Fords are tomorrows cash cows to the mechanic! I wish everyone in America would buy a Ford!

 

[Muffduster]

Hey...i own a shop that repairs broken cars...i tell everyone who will listen to buy Ford products. Today's new Fords are tomorrows cash cows to the mechanic! I wish everyone in America would buy a Ford!

Add a third to the "doesn't know facts" list.

 

[Danglerb]

SoCal junkyards vary, OC nothing really good. Pick a Part and Ecology are the two self helps I know of, the pay for parts bend you over and charge for the vaseline. I get a lot of my parts from a local place that only dismantles Porsche 928's, high prices but expert help and a full one year warranty, a huge asset to 928 owners. I'm parting a car myself, and also buy parts from other owners with a parts car.

One complaint I've heard is that some places have a "Gringo tax", likely more of a discount to regulars, but still people have griped about being charged more than the board price with some "excuse".

Anybody that looks like that need it or could use it I would offer to help, not so sure about loaning tools, I might include myself with the tool.

 

[Need4racin]

I let one guy borrow a wrench that was pulling some parts off a old bronco one time. He actually wiped it off when he gave it back to me. I was surprised.

 

[GoBlue]

Add a third to the "doesn't know facts" list.

lighten up

 

[4Tigers]

most yards around here are over priced and hard to deal with Read articles where guys are buying parts on the east coast for half

my etiquette is don't buy from them!

 

[Alchymist]

RE: Lighten up: Q -What do you call a field with a dozen chevy pickups and one Ford pickup?
A- A junkyard and a way home.

 

[DARKSCOPE001]

I feel uncomfortable at the local yard. The only few times I have gone were with a friend. I travel light and generally the cars we are working on nobody else wants. Nissans, hyundai, foreign stuff. Most everyone is over in the GM section pulling **** off of old tired out cars. Lots of transmissions laying on the ground. ripped apart front ends. Thats what I dont like about the yard is people dont respect the rest of the car. they would gladly destroy the car to get one little part out.

Now im not gona lie I got bored one day working with a buddy when it was hot out. I threw a rock though a nice undamaged window. (I know shame on me) And I feel uncomfortable when people approach me.

Sometimes i will help people but most often I try to aviod the crew that is found in the local yard. If I do help someone they better be close. Speak clear English. Know a thing or two about the part they are after. and im coming with them to help them not give them my nice tools to hopefully come back.

 

[wafrederick]

If you know the owner very well,you will get a good deal.I know one yard owner that lies on mileage of engines.A customer bought a 3.3 chrysler from him and said there was 13,000 miles on it.Was not true,looked like 113,000 miles on it.Luckily it ran very well.Got burned on one,a vortec 350 and said it was a Jasper reman with 10,000 miles on it.It was not,painted black and Jasper paints them grey.Ran good very well.I know the owner of Economy Auto Parts very well and deal with him only including an employee of his too.Jim,the owner has a son,Artis and a daughter my father will not deal with at all.
What do you get when you have 100 Fords and one Chevy? a good junkyard and one good tow truck

 

[Oldndirty]

I've lent tools and always got them back. Buckgnarly mentioned Harry's. If he is talking hazleton PA, it could take you 35 minutes to get tools from your car or truck and get back. Once broke the only philips screwdriver with me and a guy a few cars away helped me. After that I Helped a few people out. They post their price list on line so you know what you are paying

 

[Buckgnarly]

I've lent tools and always got them back. Buckgnarly mentioned Harry's. If he is talking hazleton PA, it could take you 35 minutes to get tools from your car or truck and get back. Once broke the only philips screwdriver with me and a guy a few cars away helped me. After that I Helped a few people out. They post their price list on line so you know what you are paying

You got it! Hazleton site is HUGE....my parents live near the Pennsburg, that's smaller but usually less crowded. Allentown site sucked last I was there, but that was at least 8 years ago. Man I miss that place and it's prices....nothing that big up here in New England.

 

[Need4racin]

I had a favorite yard back in georgia. It was all sectioned off by make FORD/GM/MOPAR/IMPORT

Then about a month before cash for clunker they divided the yard into Standard/Premium. Standard was we buy junk cars, and premium was salvage auctions. They also jacked up the standard prices and and put the premium double the standard. Oh and the yard was divided up into TRUCKS/CARs. That pissed me off too since it was a pain in the *** hunting for parts when all the ford trucks are all scattered around the yard.

 

[Shipfittin]

Sometimes I will go out to the Pick-n-Pull in Virginia Beach. It's a good sized yard and you usually get a good airshow from NAS Oceana while your pulling parts.

I always make sure to stop by the Chrysler section to laugh at all the home boys out there trying to figure out how they will ever get a Dodge Stratus to run. I love how there are rows and rows of Dodge Stratus' and Intrepids in the junkyard.

I'm a Ford guy but I've got to say it. You've also have to stop by and look at the rows of Explorers lined up, always makes for good humor as well.

I never lend tools out to anyone but if they ask I'll try to help them out if it will only take a couple minutes.

Safety is my number one concern when pulling parts in the junkyard. You can not let your guard down. I don't go enough to have ever seen anyone get hurt but some of these places are an accident waiting to happen.

One thing that kills me though is when you have one or two guys picking parts off of a car and they have ten buddies trying to play bouncer around it. If you want every part then you need to go just purchase the entire vehicle from the junkyard and take it somewhere to pull it apart. As far as I'm concerned you can't lay claim to anything you haven't pulled yet. If you don't get to it before me, then to bad. And I expect other people to be the same way. If I can't get to it before you, then I lost out on it.

 

[Need4racin]

Hah that reminds me of the time I found a bronco soft top in the back of C4C bronco. Some guy was eyeing it up as I was pulling parts off the truck, and I told him "don't even think about getting the soft top it's coming with me". His girlfriend kept giving me a bitchy look the rest of the time they were pulling parts off the truck next to it.

Paid $2 for the top, sold it on the internet for $670 shipped.

 

[engineer2]

Helped younger guys remove parts they weren't sure how to remove.
Turned down a guy asking for help because I was in a hurry to pick up my kid and her friend. Strangely, he was dressed in a white pimp suit and had no tools. I'm sure my daughter's friend was impressed by me covered in dirt and grease.

 

[Shipfittin]

Helped younger guys remove parts they weren't sure how to remove.

Kinda reminds me of the last time I was out at the junkyard. There was a young fella, couldn't have been more then 19 and he was searching for some parts for this guy he was working for. He asked me if I knew where he could find them on the engine, some kind of sensor. Kind of felt bad but I had no idea what the part was he was looking for, some kind of sensor I had never heard of. You'd think if you were going to send out your employee to a junkyard to pull a part for you they'd have a clue where to find it on the car.

 

[Gort the giant robot]

I would to toss a few words in about wrecking yards. I have worked in wrecking yards for over 40 years. 30 years at my present job. A few of you have complained about prices of some used parts. First off this is 2011 not 1977. running a wrecking yard nowadays is very costly. Late model cars and trucks cost alot to buy. We buy in person at auctions and online. We see alot of the cars being bought are shipped out of the country. Buying a late model wrecked Accord or Camry can cost well over $5,000. We pay wages and medical for 13 employees and we don't work cheap. We have to pay for insurance, gas and electric. We have to pay fines to OHSA and the Fire Marshall. We always have the EPA and DEQ snooping around trying to nail us. We have to pay 4 times a year to have our runoff water tested. No matter how much we try to comply, they always seem to find something wrong. We have 4 forklifts to maintain and 3 delivery trucks. We have many different taxes to pay to stay open. We have to pay a fee to have a cutting torch on the property. We pay to have a alarm system and have to pay a monthly fee to the city for a pemit to have it. We have to pay the Hollander interchange infomation company for their computor program we use. We also pay someone to maintain our website. We pay towing companys to bring the cars and trucks we buy to us because it is cheaper and safer to have them do it. So when you think you have to pay too much for parts, remember this post. I started out in this trade in 1968. We didn't have all this BS back then. We could afford to sell stuff real cheap and still made a real good living. In the town I grew up in we had appox 30 wrecking yards in the area, now there is just 4We pull all the parts.Customers wreck to much stuff to let them do it. Well, thats all I have to say about that.

Gort the engine and transmission man for the last 30 years.

 

[Twiggss]

yeah i think one thing that ticks me off is people ripping the interior apart looking for speakers. Nothing like comming across the car and the door cards are half ripped off, the dash was attacked with a hammer....etc