Out of all the things your junk car has to endure over time, clearly, nothing is more frustrating than dealing with each and every one of its problems. Let’s not kid ourselves on this – the list is simply humongous in every possible way, which is exactly the most frightening part.
Whether it happens to be concerning changing the entire engine or electrical wiring, it is a troublesome experience every step of the way. In any case, the bill itself is sure to rip quite a few holes in your wallet, especially if you happen to be facing a myriad of junk car problems all at once.
Now that is one scenario that can seem really overwhelming at the time. However, there are some particular problems that are much more common than the other ones out there. And these problems indicate that it’s high time to call in experts to take a look.
- Suspension & Chassis: The suspension and chassis form the base frame of a junk car. Over time, they lose out their strength to minor/major collisions or speeding through potholes. This tends to thrust the suspension & chassis, leading to a number of headaches to be taken care of in a step-by-step manner if one is to succeed in overcoming the said problem. With that being said, if your car’s suspension is giving you a hard time frequently, take it as a first sign to scrap your car.
- The curious case of the water pump: Being the main liaison between the cooling system and the motor, it does tend to become a problem once the car grows old and subsequently deteriorates. Once you get the water pump replaced, the additional hassle also happens to be that you will need to get the radiator replaced within a certain period of time as well. You certainly do not want to drag the repairs and replacement further. It’s time to give your junk car a free ride on a tow truck to the nearest scrapyard.
- Blown Head Gasket: A blown head gasket can only be replaced a couple of times because, after that, the head of the engine wears thin due to recurrent facing, which is part of the head gasket replacement process. If your junk car has had numerous head gasket replacements and another one is around the corner, it’s time to bid goodbye to avoid hassles.
- Problems with air conditioning: The sad fact of the matter is the good old days when you could simply pour out a can of Freon right into the air-conditioning system are long gone. Nowadays with the use of other types of refrigerants that are much more expensive to repair, expenses tend to hit a peak. When all the above problems in your junk car are aggravated by a bad air conditioning system, it doesn’t make sense to cling to your piece of scrap.
- The check engine light won’t just go off: The check engine light can illuminate for various reasons. From something as minor as a faulty gas cap to something extreme like a misfiring engine, it could mean anything. A vehicle’s engine control unit (ECU) is responsible for illuminating the check engine light and there could be more than 200 possible warning codes that an ECU can detect. The best thing to do is to take your car to a local mechanic. However, after letting your local mechanic fix a certain problem, the light might come back on after several days for another issue. The older your car gets, the more warning signals you will receive. So, if you do not want to spend your weekends and other days at your mechanic’s place, then it is the right time to say goodbye.
- The fuel consumption is unbearable: Many factors like worn-out oxygen sensors, air filters, incorrect tire pressure, misfiring spark plugs, and bad fuel injectors can reduce the mileage. Like most of us, you might ignore these problems at the beginning but not taking any actions immediately can permanently make your engine less fuel-efficient. The older your engine gets, the more fuel it consumes. As simple as that. When your vehicle’s fuel cost starts making larger holes in your wallet, take it as a sign of goodbye. Sometimes fixing one or two components and improving your driving habits (giving up idling) can increase the mileage. But in older cars that are over 8-10 years old, high fuel consumption is permanent and there is no solution.
- Routine car maintenance eats up a large chunk of your income: During the initial days of purchasing a new vehicle, the company provides free routine maintenance. After that, the vehicle is all yours and you have to bear all the costs. Generally, routine car maintenance includes oil changes, tire rotations, and multipoint inspections of fluid levels, hoses, air filters, belts, batteries, tire tread depth, and inflation pressure. However, after you have driven the car for several years, most of the parts begin to wear out more frequently. Brake pads, air filters, spark plugs, and fuses are some of the many components that break down more than regularly. Soon, the regular maintenance of your vehicle becomes a burden on your economy. You walk into the service center every other month and walk out with deep remorse as you are paying for a junk car that you don’t even fancy anymore. What can be done? Bid farewell and let a scrapyard take care of your old junk.
MISTAKES TO AVOID WHILE DUMPING A JUNK CAR
While getting rid of their junk car or dumping them, people are most often in a hurry. This is why they end up making mistakes and get a lot less cash than they actually deserve. People are always in a hurry to welcome their new car and forget about how valuable their junk car can be. These are some common mistakes that people make that you must avoid at any cost:
- People don’t compare buyers: After posting an ad on an online marketplace, most of us get thrilled when a possible buyer contacts us. We immediately accept the offer without further market inspection. Getting a great deal on a junk car is always a possibility and you must always keep that in mind.
- People don’t bother to know their car’s worth beforehand: Before selling your car, posting ads online, or even dumping it, you have to make sure of its value. Figuring the selling price isn’t rocket science but you are definitely up for some leg work.
- Spending too much on repairs: Making big repairs and modifications to your old car can allow you to ask for a slightly higher price. However, it will never cover your repair expenses and the profits won’t even be that significant. When you have a junk car, there is no point in adding extra modifications and touch-ups.
How To Increase The Longevity Of a Vehicle?
When you start seeing the above signs then you must know that it is time to part ways with your junk car. But there are still some methods that can allow you to cling to your junk car for a bit longer.
According to Car Advice, the average vehicle age in Australia is about 10.1 years. But some of you might be able to drive your vehicle for a lot more than that if you follow these tips:
- Don’t neglect the check engine light. If you are thinking about buying some time by putting off routine maintenance then you should be expecting an exorbitant emergency repair.
- Don’t ever let the gas tank go empty or too low. This way you will prevent debris and other waste from going to the fuel filter, and it will help your engine from having to work too hard. A pro tip is to not let your vehicle sit idle especially when stuck in traffic congestions.
- Take your vehicle to authorized and company-recommended service centers. Make sure that they perform vital checks and replacements like tire rotations and oil changes.
- If you prefer repairing the vehicle yourself then be sure to use genuine parts. Fake car parts are the leading cause of unexpected vehicle breakdowns.
Finally, regardless of whichever problems are plaguing your beloved junk car, it would be wise to note that all of the problems listed above are difficult to cure, and selling it to a junk car dealer is the best resort for that matter.
Depending on which car you have along with the time period of possession, only after ascertaining these two particular factors amongst others can you get a price estimate from your junk car dealer.
