Here’s some advice, concerning pick a part yards . . .
Only go there on 1/2 price weekends . . . otherwise, the parts prices are too high, in my opinion
keep a real good eye on any tools you bring. If you put down a tool and let it out of your sight for even an instant, there’s a very good chance somebody else will steal it
Same thing goes for any parts you remove from cars. Don’t let anything out of your sight or even out of your hands. If you remove a tail light and turn your back for even an instant, there’s a very good chance somebody will just take it
If you’re removing an an oil pan or any component that has liquid, be prepared for the possibility that the junk yard did NOT drain the crankcase. The one near me is supposed to drain fluids, but they don’t. Every time somebody removes an oil pan, there’s several quarts of engine oil on the concrete. Every time somebody removes an ac compressor or condenser, there’s a hiss and a mist as the refrigerant escapes into the atmosphere. And so forth . . .
The bigger operations have websites. Check them out. That way, you’ll have an idea what you might spend ahead of time
Sometimes it’s not worth it at all. Sometimes a cheap aftermarket new part is only slightly more expensive than a used part which may or may not be functional
