Get To Know Your Car Body Part

For the sake of this discussion we are going to limit the term “body parts” to just those on the actual body and exterior. In other words, we are eliminating from the discussion anything having to do with the powertrain, wiring, or other engine components. All of those can come in a later discussion.

The doors consist of the following: door beam and panel, outer door handle, inner door handle, door control module, door seal, door watershield, hinge, door and hood latch, and lock.

Windows are considered the glass, sunroof, sunroof motor, window motor, window regulator, windshield, windshield washer, and window seal.

Car seats include the armrest, bench seat, bucket seat, fastener, head rest, seat belt, seat bracket, seat cover, and seat track.

And the exterior includes the hood, bumper, cowl screen, fascia, fender, front clip, front fascia, grille, hatch and trunk lid, pillar, quarter panel, radiator core support, rocker panel, roof rack, spoiler, trim package, and the welded assembly.

So how are we doing so far? Headache? Confused? Truly these are all basic parts and with the proper diagram it all makes a certain amount of sense, so much so that if you have the proper tools (in some instances a simple screwdriver and/or wrench) you can remove a damaged part and replace it yourself.

Having a body part replaced by a mechanic is not a cheap process. At the minimum you will pay $50 and up per hour for labor plus the body part, so that the cheapest replacement cost you can hope for would be $150 and in many cases you are looking at a repair cost of $500 and up. At prices like that it makes a lot of sense to at least consider replacing the part yourself.

Even a complete novice to car repair knows someone who has a working knowledge about repairs; worse- case scenario and you know nobody like that, you can always go on the internet to find instructions on how to make most body part repairs. Easily the biggest obstacle faced by most car owners regarding car repair is fear; lacking confidence and the unknown most people would rather just fork out the money and have someone else do it. Understandable but in today’s economy very costly.

Consider this instead: go to an auto parts store, order the body part, and try replacing it yourself. Or better yet, go to a You Pull It salvage yard, buy the used car part at a huge discount, and replace it yourself. Junkyards are the great bargain basement of America, the last great frontier for bargain-hunters. Pick and Pull your used part, save money, call up your friends and trade them labor for beer, and have a guys afternoon fixing up your car. That way you can have a guy-bonding experience and not empty your savings account, a win-win situation.