- 02/03/2015
- 3 Min Read
- By: Anthony Peacock
When to Buy Junkyard vs. New Volvo Parts (P80)
From the moment I became aware of the Pick 'n' Pull concept I was hooked. The notion you could just go wander a massive field of cars with your vehicle listing in one hand and a spanner in the other is very exciting. Every car and part on the lot is for sale. At some facilities a bucket full of odds and ends will only run a few bucks and a little bit of your time. I have gotten some really nice parts in the past few years; Some things I would have never thought I'd need including an entire door, and most recently a fender.
The selection is often good
This smorgasbord of car parts is really tempting but there are times when only new will do. The most information you can typically get on a car when arriving is the year, color, and sometimes mileage. The rest is for you to find out or judge for yourself. In my neck of the woods, there doesn't seem to be much competition for P80 Volvo parts, so the selection is often very good.
Panels and trim are other great grabs
My favorite things to pick up are those needlessly expensive odds and ends like interior light bulbs. Every dash on a 15 year old car is bound to have at least one light in need of replacement. Many are interchangeable but the ones that seem to blow most often are responsible for switch illumination. These bulbs run around $9 each and to replace a whole dash at once is really cost prohibitive. With only five minutes of twisting and popping on a junk car at least one is bound to be good.
Interior clips also succumb to age on these vehicles, and when removing a door panel at least one is guaranteed to break. I also may or may not have an unhealthy collection of door hazard lights, as my previous S70 liked to lose them thanks to its fabulous habit of catching the seatbelt between the door and door jamb (I'm more careful now).
Hard parts can be a great find as well. Some cars have factory strut braces that are a shared design between Volvo and TME of Sweden. Those with worn out or rusty roadside jacks can normally find a great replacement at a place like this.
Panels and trim are other great junkyard grabs. My most recent outing yielded a beautiful set of Herringbone trim that I've never seen in person before, and is extraordinarily expensive to buy new. The kick panels / knee bolsters on these cars are also heavily abused and one with a map pocket is a really great upgrade on 98 model cars.
Wear items are always best replaced with new
Enough with the good and on to the bad. Wear items are always best replaced new. Door lock actuators undergo a lot of abuse. I don't slam my doors but I wouldn't say that I'm gentle either. I did once go through three used door locks from an eBay seller before I quit messing about and purchased a new one. There is no guarantee a junkyard find is going to work properly when you get it home. Unless you've got a 12v battery, wiring diagram, and the rest of the locking system is hooked up it could be garbage. This purchase ended with four months of reaching over and unlocking the passenger door, not fun.
The master window switch is always missing from every Volvo S70 at the junkyard, not because of thrifty Volvo owners but because the recycler pulls them out upon arrival to sell at another parts dealer (in my case down the road). I've replaced the switch in every one of my cars. There is some cleaning that can be done to restore life into a window switch pack, but that's a story for another time (and maybe another write up). Buying this part used is a gamble as well. A $60 used master switch died on me a year later. The dust, dirt, and finger goo that hides inside the switch is enough to short them without warning. Even the springs & plastics break over time. Genuine New is the only way to go here. Non-gooey, perfectly clean window switches feel great and you'll appreciate your purchase every day. Changing the switch should take no more than five minutes. You'll also save money in the long run replacing it once versus 2-3 times.
Valves are another sore subject in the used market. Three EVAP Purge Valves taught me that lesson. Each one seemed last just a but longer then the last before that check engine light got the better of me. The change out is very quick and the EVAP valve on the P80 cars is right across from the battery clipped into the fan shroud. I'm sure there are more sensitive parts that are better left to the crusher.
It should go without saying as well but is worth mentioning. Brakes, suspension components, and other wear items are a serious gamble. In a pinch maybe they can help you out, or get you by a little longer - maybe a decent set of rear brake pads before you upgrade to some 2000 model year vented discs. A good rule of thumb is: If it is essential to your car and has a service interval, it probably isn't worth the risk of going junkyard.
About the Author: Anthony Peacock
Anthony Peacock is a small business owner and Volvo DIY enthusiast. He is an experienced videographer and editor with a long running reputation for owning and promoting Volvo cars and their many excellent qualities.
