What you Need to Know When You Buy Auto Parts

You will need to know some details about your car when you buy auto parts. Your repair garage may ask you questions, the retail parts store may ask you questions, or the dealership where you are having repairs done may also ask you questions. It may help to make a little “cheat sheet” to keep handy when you have to answer. If you buy the wrong part—or they order the wrong part for you—it will create a long wait for you to get your car fixed and is a waste of time.

What to Put on Your Cheat Sheet When Looking for Auto Parts

First, make sure you have the make and model of your car written down, along with the year. This is the first thing that a garage or parts supplier will ask you. They may also ask you if it’s a sedan (4 doors) or a coupe (2 doors), information that also can help them give you the right part. Also make sure if there are special designations in your model name, like a series of three letters that may designate an upgraded model, that you include that in your information.

You will perhaps then need to supply information about your engine. They may ask you about the size of your engine, depending on the part or repairs that need done. For instance, if you are having something on the exhaust system repaired or replaced, they may need some information about the size of your engine and whether or not you have air conditioning. Be prepared to answer these items quickly by having them listed on your cheat sheet.

Make sure you write down your specific car’s color, and use the manufacturer’s term for the color. This is in case of collision or body damage you want to touch up with a small bottle of paint from the parts store. The reason is because although your car might look “red” to you, there are several shades of red that may have been used that year on different cars from that manufacturer. If you ask specifically for “Autumn Red” or “Ruby Red,” you can be assured of getting a much closer match on your paint. However, remember that as your car gets older the paint oxidizes and changes color slightly, so your touchups later in the life of the car may show more difference than early ones.