How does the junkyard process work?

[The motor guy]

Im doing a manual swap on my 2007.5 dodge ram 2500 with the 6.7 cummins. I need a pedal assembly, steering column cover for a manual, and a manual console assembly for a 2wd truck that has a pocket in place of where the transfer case lever would typically go. Figured it would be easier for the mechanic if I had most of the parts he needed. Now with that being said, how does this whole junkyard thing work? Are the vehicles organized in anway? I know some yards you remove your own parts and others I guess they do jt for you. Ive heard they aren't alwahs so nice when they remove things. Cutting wires instead of unplugging them etc.

 

[The_Jeff]

If you're having a mechanic do this work for you have him source the parts. Eases "misunderstandings."

You do have a mechanic lined up already for this, right?

There are probably lots of little doodads you'll also want to grab from the donor truck, the prices of which add up if they're forgotten.

 

[The motor guy]

If you're having a mechanic do this work for you have him source the parts. Eases "misunderstandings."

You do have a mechanic lined up already for this, right?

There are probably lots of little doodads you'll also want to grab from the donor truck, the prices of which add up if they're forgotten.

Yes i do, but it seems a lot cheaper if I can just grab the stuff myself. I mean unless he just makes one stop at a junk yard and its just like a 1 or 2 hour ordeal where he grabs it all from one truck

 

[Elkins45]

I'm far from an expert but there are two "u-pull" lots I've visited since I've started working on used cars. In both you can browse their inventory online to see what models they have and how long they've been there, but that only tells you so much because there's no guarantee that someone won't pull the exact part you need five minutes before you arrive. At least once I've come up empty handed for the particular part I was seeking.

Once at the yard you pay a small fee ($2 or $3 in my case) and they will tell you which row your target cars are in. You walk out to the cars and see if they have the parts you want, then remove them if they do. The cars are usually propped up on old wheels so here's at least some access to the underside. There are wheelbarrows or carts available for heavy parts.

Once you have your parts you bring them to the cashier and pay. I think there's a small warranty period if hey are defective but I don't know if this applies to engines or transmissions.

This photo of the Scion xB I needed parts from might give you some idea of what to expect.

 

[Arc]

All the junkyards in my area you just go to the counter and tell them what you need. Sometimes they let you pull the item and sometimes they do it. Bring lots of tools with you.

 

[skyactiv]

It's kinda fun walking around looking at what's there. Most yards colluded to charge an admission fee and an environmental fee on anything you buy. Wear boots and clothes you don't mind getting dirty/muddy/greasy. Most want to know what you want before letting you go out.

 

[The_Jeff]

Yeah you go inside and talk about what you want and the price before you go through the effort to pull things. Otherwise they have you over a barrel.

 

[PF52]

Cutting wires instead of unplugging them etc.

That always seems to be the guy who was there right before me. Guy needs a foglight switch, so he removes it from the dashboard using an axe and a crowbar. As a bonus he cuts the wiring too.

 

[Chris142]

Yeah you go inside and talk about what you want and the price before you go through the effort to pull things. Otherwise they have you over a barrel.

Here all the prices are posted online.

https://www.pyp.com/prices/victorville-1287/

The cars are not in any order like they were 20 years ago. You have to look up the row and spot to find the car you are looking for.

There's always some Spanish speaking guys hanging around that will pull the parts for you for a few.

 

[ironman_gq]

There's 3 yards near me, ones a free for all, go look find what you need pull it and pay on the way out, the others are the ask at the counter and see if they have it available types.

 

[The motor guy]

I'm far from an expert but there are two "u-pull" lots I've visited since I've started working on used cars. In both you can browse their inventory online to see what models they have and how long they've been there, but that only tells you so much because there's no guarantee that someone won't pull the exact part you need five minutes before you arrive. At least once I've come up empty handed for the particular part I was seeking.

Once at the yard you pay a small fee ($2 or $3 in my case) and they will tell you which row your target cars are in. You walk out to the cars and see if they have the parts you want, then remove them if they do. The cars are usually propped up on old wheels so here's at least some access to the underside. There are wheelbarrows or carts available for heavy parts.

Once you have your parts you bring them to the cashier and pay. I think there's a small warranty period if hey are defective but I don't know if this applies to engines or transmissions.

This photo of the Scion xB I needed parts from might give you some idea of what to expect.

View attachment 317249

So they do keep similar model cars together?

 

[PF52]

So they do keep similar model cars together?

Sometimes, yes. It is really common for them to be grouped together, say, GM, Ford, Chrysler and Imports each in their own sections.

One yard near me that has since closed, used to arrange the cars in rows all of the same model; for example, six Camaros all in the same row. I'd notice cars move around from time to time just to keep the rows organized just right. Seemed unnecessarily fussy but it was nice to help find stuff.

 

[SC Maintenance]

Pull a part are all a little different. Usually you pay a fee to enter. The vehicles are generally organized by area and there will often be an online inventory that shows the isle there in. Having said that it seems to get screwed up pretty frequently.

You might want to try LKQ-online first. More money but they do all the work and ship it to you. Or car-part.com.

 

[crashz]

The thing to remember is that you are coming in after the guy who needed part X, so he wrecked everything getting to that part. When we had plenty of junk yards, I often went looking for clean square body trim. I was not successful very often.

 

[PF52]

Pull a part are all a little different. Usually you pay a fee to enter. The vehicles are generally organized by area and there will often be an online inventory that shows the isle there in.

The online inventory is awesome! Every Friday, I check the online inventory of about six junkyards to see if I need to make a trip there in-person or not.

There's still one junkyard near me that does not have an online inventory yet; other than that it's a really good junkyard. Occasionally I'll fly my drone over the yard just to see what's there..... Much faster than wandering around looking.

 

[Leo99]

I'm not sure what a manual swap is but based on TMG's luck and the nature of this post, I'm hoping it goes smooth for you.

 

[The motor guy]

The thing to remember is that you are coming in after the guy who needed part X, so he wrecked everything getting to that part. When we had plenty of junk yards, I often went looking for clean square body trim. I was not successful very often.

So they'll smash an alternator trying to get to the water pump below it?

 

[The motor guy]

I'm not sure what a manual swap is but based on TMG's luck and the nature of this post, I'm hoping it goes smooth for you.

It means you ditch the automatic and put a manual transmission in its place.

 

[Elkins45]

So they'll smash an alternator trying to get to the water pump below it?

I can tell you they’ll rip interior trim to shreds to get something like a door switch or something in the dash. On one of the xB’s I pulled parts from someone had sawed through the exhaust manifold runners and the exhaust to get the front cat rather than unbolting it. Someone probably could have used that manifold but it was just a jagged menace. On another one someone had harvested the hood and valve cover leaving what was maybe a perfectly good set of camshafts and cylinder head to rust away.

 

[Nukeman7]

I can tell you they’ll rip interior trim to shreds to get something like a door switch or something in the dash. On one of the xB’s I pulled parts from someone had sawed through the exhaust manifold runners and the exhaust to get the front cat rather than unbolting it.

That was most likely an employee of the junkyard. They harvest the catalytic converters first for recycling which essentially offsets the $300-$400 they paid for the scrapped vehicle. While it may be unenforceable, U.S. federal law prohibits reselling and/or installing a used catalytic converter on a vehicle other than it was originally installed.