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Owning a vehicle is a luxury that brings convenience to our lives, but every vehicle owner will sooner or later experience the inconvenience of a dead car battery. It is important to know the signs that your battery is dead and what to do when this happens. Check out this guide from the experts at Robertson’s Auto Salvage! 

Why Do Car Batteries Die? 

Like all auto parts, batteries have a product lifespan that is limited. Batteries will eventually need replacing, especially if you drive an older vehicle. You can also unintentionally kill your battery if you leave a light on in your car, or leave your radio on when the engine is not running. Avoid killing your battery by double-checking that everything is turned off after you park your vehicle. 

Signs of a Dead Battery 

The most common sign of a battery issue is flashing lights and stalling when trying to turn the car on. Your battery can also die while driving – Signs of this include decreased acceleration, flashing dashboard lights, and the radio going out. 

What To Do If Your Battery Dies

If you think your battery is dying while you are driving, pull over somewhere safe as soon as possible. If your car won’t start, you can recharge your battery by connecting it via jumper cables to someone else’s car.  Bonus Tip – Keep a set of jumper cables in your trunk at all times. You never know when you or a friend is going to need them! 

What To Do Long Term

One time can be a fluke, but if your battery is continuously dying, it might be time for a new one. While your dealership or mechanic can install a new battery for you, paying full price and labor fees can be an unnecessary expense. If you visit a local auto salvage yard like Robertson’s Auto Salvage in Wareham, MA, you can likely find the battery you need for a fraction of the price. Combine this with installing it yourself and you will save big time!  If you’re in search of a new battery or other used auto parts, call Robertson’s Auto Salvage today to find what you need! 

Past President Jonathan Morrow has often said, “While we are not the best in sales techniques, delivery systems or technology, we are the best in dismantling vehicles.” Our industry has been processing vehicles for over 100 years, evolving slightly to meet environmental requirements and machinery advancements. You’d think that we would have the market cornered and have a bullet proof business model; after all, we are the best in processing end-of-life vehicles. Let’s take a look at history.

Sears and Roebuck was an innovator in sales way before Amazon. In the late 1890s, they published a 500-page catalogue enabling rural families the purchase of lower-cost merchandise that included delivery. They took advantage of mass production techniques and sold over 75,000 pre-fabricated kit homes by mail order. As Americans started living in more urban areas, Sears opened their first brick and mortar store in 1925. They even built the world’s tallest building in Chicago. They were innovators and considered the best in selling products … What could go wrong?

Our industry is going to encounter a disruption when electric vehicles containing lithium ion batteries hit our dismantling bays. The OEMs and battery manufacturing companies are already planning for this future and our industry is nothing more than an afterthought. They are proposing policies that potentially could restrict our ability to sell electric vehicle batteries. Seems like they are abandoning their single-use part manufacturing policy when there is an opportunity for profits. I’ve said it before, the OEMs are not driven by safety or recycling, they look at one thing – profits. If they had concerns for safety, thousands of lives could have been saved by recalling the GM ignition switch defect. It was cheaper to settle the claims than fix the defect. Profits over safety. Leopards don’t change their spots.

Electric vehicles have significantly less moving parts than an internal combustion vehicle, thus requiring less maintenance, lower probability of part failure and longer use before end of life. Most of our business models depend on the sale of recycled original equipment parts, of which the top two part types are the engine and the transmission. Well, guess what? Those are gone with the electric vehicle. What component from electric vehicles will replace our top selling products? My bet is on the battery.

Dismantling an electric vehicle and storing an EVB is another major disruptor. I remember when we encountered the unibody design vehicle along with front-wheel drive and engine sub frames. We had to adapt to handle this new design in our dismantling techniques. Instead of a walk off nose, we had to invest in cutting saws to remove the front clip. Many thought that these vehicles would be too complex to fix, and body shops had to invest big money on frame machines and measuring equipment.

Electric vehicle batteries come in all shapes, sizes and composition. Some are the entire floor pan, others are compact, and at the same time advancing technology will see different composition. Are our dismantling lifts capable of conforming to every electric vehicle design? An oil spill can be cleaned up, a mistake with an electric car is deadly. How and where you can store an EVB is another disruptor. I’m sure it’s going to be different than motors and transmissions.

We can overcome this disruptor through training and protocols. ARA has recognized the need for both with electric vehicles and we began last year by commissioning Andy Latham to update our electric vehicle guide. Once complete, we will move this to an electronic platform on ARA University. I am directing the ARA Certification Committee to focus on developing facility and training protocols for electric vehicles. These protocols will lead to facility certification and employee certification in electric vehicle dismantling. I believe that both are essential to our industry remaining relevant in end-of-life electric vehicle recycling. Ignoring this disruptor will not keep it away, we need to recognize it, implement a plan and adapt for survival.

Our industry has many different business models and ARA represents all of them in negotiations with other industries and legislators. Every day, we legislate, educate and advocate for auto recyclers around the world. It’s our duty to inform the industry, it’s your responsibility to put it into action. Working together we will stay relevant into the era of the electric vehicle.

Are you experiencing car issues and need to replace a part or two? Before running to your local dealership and purchasing brand new parts, consider purchasing used auto parts. You will not only save money but will also avoid the headache of waiting for new parts to come into stock.

Is this your first time buying used auto parts? Here are two tips for purchasing used auto parts for your pride and joy.

Check Your Local Salvage Yard

We might be biased, but your local salvage yard is a great place for used auto parts. Some of the parts you might need might not be manufactured any more and can have extremely high costs associated with them. We’re not talking standard parts like a transmission, but other pars such as door handles or glass panels. 

Fortunately, we have a full inventory of parts available for you to view to make the search much easier. 

Considered Remanufactured Parts

When remanufactured the right way, remanufactured parts can work as good as new while saving you money. If you decide to go this route, make sure to work with reputable manufactuers and always get a warranty, just in case!

Looking for a specific part? Give our team a call today at (800) 551-7000.

Most vehicle owners consider their car to be essential to their everyday routine. Our vehicles make it possible to get to and from work, get the kids from point A to point B, and to have reliable transportation for everyday errands. In short, there is never a good time for a car to need repair! On top of the costs of regular vehicle maintenance, an unexpected repair can leave you looking for a more sensible option. Buying used parts from an auto salvage yard can be a great alternative to getting brand new parts from the dealer. Like everything, buying used parts comes with a unique set of pros and cons. 

Pros of Buying Used Parts

Saving Money

Buying used parts saves vehicle owners big money when compared to purchasing brand new. Labor fees are also a huge part of the cost at dealerships – You will save even more if you are able to install your new part yourself! 

Helping the Environment

Waste from automobiles is inevitable today, but it is harmful to the environment and much of it is unnecessary. Buying used car parts saves them from going to waste. You can look at buying used as a form of recycling! 

Some Parts are Like New

With many parts, buying from a salvage yard does not have to mean skimping on quality. Just because a car is at an auto salvage lot does not mean it is old or useless. Vehicles can even be totaled and still have plenty of usable parts. For example, a vehicle’s frame might have been damaged enough to leave it totaled, but the parts under the hood can still be salvaged! 

Cons of Buying Used Parts

Small Selections

When buying used, it can sometimes be hard to find what you are looking for. The inventory of auto salvage yards depends on what has been sold to them. The larger salvage yards are likely to have a wider assortment of parts. You also might want to call ahead to see if your part is available instead of searching on site. 

Limited Warranty 

Used car parts will not come with the same warranty as new ones. This means there is a bit of risk when buying used. You should always buy from a trusted salvage yard that knows what they are doing and can advise you on how much life is left in the product. 

Shipping Parts

If a local salvage yard doesn’t have what you are looking for in stock, they might be able to connect you with somewhere else that does. You could also find luck searching for the part online. This will entail paying for shipping and waiting at least a few days. Even with shipping cost included, you will likely still be saving money. 

Robertson’s Auto Salvage is the leading salvage yard in Southeastern MA. To check our inventory & learn more, give us a call at 800-551-2680 or visit our website robertsonautosalvage.com

It’s late May and I wonder what the new normal will become, how it will affect my family, friends and business. The COVID-19 pandemic is the greatest economic and social disruptor of our lifetime. Eighty years ago,
Winston Churchill led the United Kingdom through World War II, another massive economic and social disruptor to affect most of civilization. The quotes in this article are all from Winston Churchill. Sometimes you need to get inspiration from the past to tackle the present.

“Never, never, never, never give up.”

We, the Automotive Recycling Industry, are survivors. Unlike other industries, we can change our business models adapting to market trends. We will survive attacks from the OEM’s that restrict the ability to utilize the parts we sell in repairs. We will survive unfair regulations that environmental groups try to implement on our industry. We will survive unlicensed recyclers that operate under the radar and tarnish the name of our industry. We will survive limited interchange for the product we sell, which is discriminatingly withheld from us. We will survive COVID-19 and the new normal ahead.

“If you have knowledge, let others light their candles with it.”

ARA is the automotive recycling industry’s eyes, ears, and voice. ARA represents all businesses, including their owners, employees and families that rely on auto recycling to support their way of life. It goes way beyond our members and carries a huge responsibility.

ARA’s duty is to accumulate information and distribute it to the automotive recycling industry. We have stepped up our game during the COVID-19 crisis and will continue to implement new correspondence methods for the future. Check out ARA’s COVID-19 Dashboard (www.a-r-a.org/covid-19-dashboard.html) for all the latest news.

Vince Edivan, ARA’s director of member relations, has communicated through Zoom, Facebook and YouTube with short video updates, webinars and Executive Committee Town Halls (all of which can be seen as recorded videos on our Facebook page). Vince has great ideas, he’ll be promoting and informing our industry in some surprising ways throughout the summer.

Our ARA staff has scoured the news and leaned on resources to prepare and distribute daily COVID-19 email updates. It seems like the world was changing daily, if not hourly, and we wanted to keep everyone informed.

This is ARA’s responsibility and duty for our industry. After that, it is up to individuals to open and read the emails, go to the website, watch the webcasts and EC Town Halls, ask questions, and implement that knowledge into your business model.

“If you are going through Hell, keep going.”

We know that many of you today are struggling to pay bills and keep the doors open. Not every business received the taxpayer PPP assistance money, and those of us who did should be grateful for the life line thrown to us. ARA, through a very generous donation from Car-Part.com, created the ARA COVID-19 Relief Fund. AB CatTech and Rebuilders Automotive Supply quickly stepped up, donating money that triggered matching funds from
Car-Part. Since then, others have donated and today it totals $65,000 – all to benefit auto recyclers and their employees and family. If you have a need, from help paying rent to bringing back a furloughed employee, apply at www.a-r-a.org/ara-covid-relief-fund.html.

Auto recyclers help auto recyclers. Just look at the Professional Salvage Yard Information Facebook Forum, started by Greg Condon, which boasts 2,500 members. I remember when recyclers were combative towards each other, highly protective of their customer base, etc. Today, cooperation is seen through the ARA Mentoring Program, trading partners, cross docks and consulting groups. We ask each other questions and openly answer them. In many cases, we are each other’s best customer.

“I was not the lion, but it fell to me to give the lion’s roar.”

This was not my year to be President of ARA, but the obligation landed on me to take the wheel and steer the ship. Sometimes, the order of events takes a detour and your name is called to step up early. Luckily, the ARA EC is transparent regarding ARA’s direction and industry information so that any team member, be it Jono, Marty or Shan, could have taken the wheel before their planned time. The New England Patriots have a slogan “Next Man Up.” When a team member falls, another takes their place. No player is bigger than the team.

When I joined the EC, I pledged to work every day and give my best representing the Automotive Recycling Industry. Thank you for giving me the opportunity.

It is important to keep up with the regular maintenance needs of your vehicle, but even when you do everything right, things can sometimes go wrong. The best thing you can do is know the signs that something is happening with your vehicle. Here are some signs to watch out for: 

Dashboard Lights

Although signals such as your check engine light could definitely mean there is an actual engine problem, this can also mean that there is something off with the electrical wiring that is causing lights to turn on unecessarily. 

New Noises

If your car is making a new noise, this is cause for concern. Squeaking or whistling can mean there is an issue with your brakes, while a dragging noise could mean something is detached in the undercarriage. If your car is getting increasingly louder, it might be time for a new muffler or exhaust. 

Chugging or Shaking

Chugging can be a sign that something is wrong with your vehicle’s engine. It could also mean that an important oil or fluid is leaking or needs changing. Shaking could point to an issue with your tires, and also opens the possibility of an issue with the power steering. 

Difficulty Starting

When your car takes a couple of tries to get started, it could need a new starter/ignition. If the trouble starting is accompanied by the dimming of lights, your vehicle might also need a battery recharge, or a new one altogether. 

Leaks & Puddles

Be sure to keep an eye on the ground where your regularly park your car to make sure that nothing is leaking. A bright green puddle under your vehicle probably means that you have a coolant leak, while dark brown means an oil leak. Water dripping under your car is no cause for concern, as this is typical for the air conditioning system. 

Regardless of what issue is going on with your car, you are probably looking for the most cost effective method of fixing whatever part is struggling. Buying gently used auto parts from a salvage yard can fix your car just as well as dealer parts. Check out Robertson’s Auto Salvage for quality car parts at great prices!

Just like anything else, cars don’t last forever. As your car ages, it begins to need more frequent repairs and depending on the make, model, and year of your car, you might be spending a lot of time at auto salvage yards looking for the car parts that you need. Two parts you absolutely don’t want to deal with repairing/replacing is your engine and transmission, especially with the high cost associated with them. If for some reason you do have to replace yours, always give a used transmission a try first.

Here are 5 factors to consider when purchasing a used transmission from a salvage yard:

1. Check for Leaks

One of the biggest concerns with a transmission is whether or not it is leaking. Before you make your purchase, check to make sure there are no leaks in the transmission. If you don’t see any, check the transmission fluid levels, add some more and see if any drips out. 

2. Look at the Body of the Car

Look over the body of the vehicle that the transmission is coming from. Do you notice any signs of damage or excessive bodywork? This is a sign that the car was involved in a collision and the transmission could potentially be damaged. If you noticed minor bodywork was done, this won’t be an issue!

3. Bring a Mechanic with You

If you know a mechanic that is willing to go with you to the salvage yard, this will help ensure that you are purchasing a solid transmission. This will make for a smooth, easy process.

4. Check the Warranty

Depending on the salvage yard you go to, they will most likely have a warranty in place. Finding this out will inform you if parts and labor are included. Have this written down so there are no questions in the future.

5. Ask About the History

Not all sellers will have any history about the transmission you are purchasing, but some will so it’s always worth it to ask. If they do have some history, you’ll be able to check out the risk factors before purchasing the new-to-you transmission. You can also run a vehicle history report on CarFax to get more information about the vehicle itself and the transmission/engine.

Need a new transmission for your vehicle? Let us help! Give us a call today at ((800) 551-7000.

Finding a salvage yard is easy but finding one with reliable used auto parts proves to be another story. When you’re in the process of scavenging for the parts you need, keep these factors in mind. 

1. Salvage Yard or Junkyard

Used auto parts can be found at both junkyards and salvage yards and taking the type of junkyard/salvage yard you’re scavenging into consideration will have an effect on the quality of parts you find. Traditionally, salvage yards are for used auto and machinery parts, making them the best place to pull used auto parts from. 

There are also full-service and u-pull salvage yards (we do both!). 

Full-Service Salvage Yard

Full-service salvage yards have a professional that pulls the parts you need from the salvage yard inventory while you wait.

U-Pull-It

A u-pull-it salvage yard is pretty self-explanatory but is the process of the individual (you) going into the salvage yard and searching for and pulling the parts they need on their own.

2. How to Find What You Want 

Depending on the salvage yard you go to, most have some sort of organizational tactic to where the parts are located. If you’re going to a salvage yard for the first time, especially one that u-pull-it, be sure to ask what the process is and how the land is laid out. This will help you find what you need faster!

3. Types of Parts

There are certain types of parts that you should always buy new including belts, hoses, and filters. These are items that deteriorate quickly and it’s better to not have to worry about replacing them in a short period of time. This also goes for breaks! 

All other parts, including engines, transmissions, gauges, interior materials, and more are all fair game and great to purchase at salvage yards!

4. Wear and Tear

Cars and car parts that end up in salvage yards end up there because they’re dead or at the end of their lifespan. If you’re lucky, you’ll find a car that is still in good shape and has extremely reliable parts. When you’re purchasing used car parts from a salvage yard, always be sure to check the wear and tear of the part before purchasing it. If you need help gauging the condition of the part, a team member will be able to help you and will be able to help you find the same part in better condition if need be. 

Interested in purchasing used auto parts from Robertson’s Auto Salvage? Give us a call today at (800) 551-7000 or shop them online. 

The quickest way to lose money on your car is to go to a new car dealership to have someone fix your vehicle. In almost every case, repairs can be done at home at a much lower cost and effort. You can save even more if you source your parts from the right place. Your local auto salvage yard has everything you could need to get your car up and running without breaking the bank. In fact, auto salvage yards save you money in a lot of ways. 

Avoid Unnecessary Repairs

If you’re repairing your car yourself, you are likely familiar with its condition. Doing your own oil changes lets you check out the engine. Fixing your tire pressure keeps you aware of your tread. Even changing headlight bulbs lets you check out your car’s wiring. When you’re checking out your car regularly, you won’t be easily misled. You can avoid unnecessary repairs by learning about your car, and what is necessary or not. 

Save on Labor

By fixing your car on your own, you’re cutting out the middleman. For many small repairs, the majority of the cost is the labor involved in the fix. Instead of paying someone else several hundred dollars for a few hours of work, you can just do the work yourself. That saves you a lot of money right off the bat. 

Fix Small Problems Early

When you’re not afraid of a huge bill, it’s less daunting to get small repairs done. Replacing your own brake pads is much cheaper than getting the whole brake system redone. Similarly, it’s much easier to fix a minor scrape in the paint yourself than to replace a side panel because of rust. By getting parts and fixing things on your own, you can catch things early. That’s going to save you time and money in the long run. 

Get the Same Parts for Cheaper 

You can get the exact same parts your mechanic uses for less at your local auto salvage yard. You don’t have to get the brand-new, name-brand item for it to work perfectly well. Auto salvage yards only sell the best items from the cars they take in. You can check out the part quality first hand, and it will still cost less than a new item. 

Learn New, Helpful Skills

Finally, taking care of your own car can help you help others. Most fixes are just as applicable to your next car as they are to your current car. Fixing things with your hands is always a useful skill. Knowing how to fix your car cheaply and quickly will save you money and time for years to come.  Repairing your car yourself is not just a money-saving tip, it’s a life skill. If you want to repair your car without wasting hours of your life or hundreds of dollars, Robertson’s Auto Salvage is happy to help you find the parts you need to save money and get the job done. Give us a call today to get started on fixing your vehicle for the best price! 800-551-2680