For the seasoned junkyard wanderer, each trip is an exercise in targeted efficiency. Like when I needed a rare HVAC control module for my 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee—the usual yard visit became more of a strategic mission.
The contemporary vehicles section might be a bit cleaner and less picked over than where the classics reside. Finding tech upgrades or advanced modules from newer totals often means venturing into this local car junk yards lesser-trodden territory. Keeping abreast with the incoming inventory helps to hit these sections at just the right time.
Strolling through the rows of a local salvage yard is always an adventure, and on one such excursion to find a radiator for my aging Chevy, I bumped into a fellow DIYer. He recounted with glee how he'd managed to clear out his driveway by selling his weathered Dodge Dart directly to the junk car salvage junkyard we were both rummaging in.
After realizing that repair costs would be too high, he made a quick call and got an offer based on the weight and parts value. The next day, his old clunker was hauled away—no hassle or haggling needed—and now here he was, scavenging for treasures with cash in hand from that very same sale.