Making Your Mind Up On Overhauled Car Parts

The starter on your vehicle is going to need to be replaced. You can tell by the noise it is making, that it will not last much longer. Are you going to take it to a mechanic? Can you do the job yourself? If you plan on doing the job yourself, you will face some decisions. Besides having the proper tools, you may need to search for car parts. Here are some things worth knowing.

So Many Choices

You may face several decisions while looking for the right part. You can search for a starter at a parts store website. Put in information asked for, and you will see starters that fit your car. It may pull up a list of several that will fit. Which one do you buy? Some are re-manufactured and some are new. Some have a short warranty and others have a lifetime warranty. How do you make the right decision?

Parts That Have Been Rebuilt

Many parts that you can buy will be rebuilt. This is not the same as a used part from a salvage yard. When you buy a re-manufactured or rebuilt part there is an extra fee. It is called a core charge. For example, the starter might be fifty dollars. The core charge might be fifteen dollars. The initial cost will be sixty-five dollars. When you bring your old part in, the store refunds you the core charge. As long as the starter is not severely damaged, you will get the money back.

What Happens To Your Old Starter?

Your old part is sent to a facility to be rebuilt. It will eventually be back in a parts store; clean and ready to go.

Never Used Before

New parts are completely new. They did not come from a previous vehicle. They are more expensive as a general rule.

Which Warranty?

How long do you plan to keep your present vehicle? That can determine your warranty decisions. Consider a longer warranty if you have no plans to replace your car. If you will not be keeping it long, any warranty will probably do. A LLT warranty will be your best choice in many cases. It is a limited lifetime warranty. Usually you just bring it back if it fails, at any time. You will be given a suitable replacement part. You may pay more for a lifetime warranty, but you will probably get a better part. With any warranty, always read it to be certain.

Summary

The decision to buy new or re-manufactured car parts can be determined by the warranty. Also take into consideration how long you plan to keep your car. Always read parts warranties to be certain of your rights.