Finding the Needle in the Haystack: Your Guide to Locating Hard-to-Find Auto Parts

For any vehicle owner, the need for a replacement part is inevitable. While common components are usually easy to come by, tracking down those rare or discontinued used auto parts can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. These days, many manufacturers are out of stock or have parts on backorder, but the parts may still be available used! At Pete’s Auto Parts, we understand this challenge, and we’re here to guide you through the process. This post will outline effective strategies for finding those elusive, hard-to-find auto parts, highlighting how Pete’s Auto Parts can be your key resource, alongside other helpful options.

1. Start with Precision: Identifying the Right Part

Before you even begin your search, accurate identification of the part is crucial. Here’s how to get it right:

• Examine the Existing Part: Look for a manufacturer’s stamp or a part number directly on the component. Note down all numbers and letters.
• VIN (Vehicle Identification Number): This 17-digit code is unique to your vehicle and can be used by parts suppliers to identify compatible parts, especially hard-to-find auto parts. Have it handy!
• Check Your Vehicle’s Option Code Sticker: the sticker inside of your glove box or on your spare tire cover contains many option codes that can lead you to finding the right part.
• Find Your Vehicle’s Birthday: On the sticker inside the driver’s door, the date your car was made should be listed. Sometimes it will just be the month and the year, such as 03/12 for March of 2012. Sometimes it will have the full date. Note: The date your car was made may be different than the vehicle year!

2. Your First Stop: Pete’s Auto Parts

At Pete’s Auto Parts, we specialize in providing a wide range of used auto parts. Foreign, domestic, new or old. Here’s how we can help you find those hard-to-find auto parts:

• Our Inventory System: While not every single part might be listed online immediately, our extensive inventory is constantly being updated. Use our website’s search function at [petesauto.net] with the part number or a detailed description.
• Extensive Partners: We can’t have it all, but we are connected to over 200 yards that we can source parts from, many of them family-owned and operated, just like we are!
• Contact Our Experts: If you can’t find what you’re looking for online, don’t hesitate to call or text us at 616-669-6592. Our knowledgeable team has years of experience and can often locate parts that aren’t immediately visible in our online system. We can also cross-reference part numbers and understand the interchangeability of components across different makes and models.
• Specialized Search Tools: We use the best computer system in the industry, Pinnacle Professional, so we can use the built-in search tools to find hard-to-find auto parts by part number, name, and more.
• Our Network: Over the years, we’ve built a strong network with other reputable businesses. If we don’t have the hard-to-find auto part in stock, we can often leverage these connections to find it for you.

3. Hard-to-Find Auto Parts Hiding in Assemblies 

You may be surprised to learn that the hard-to-find auto parts you are searching for are hiding in plain site – in assemblies. Many parts you may think of as “their own part” only become hard-to-find auto parts because they are generally sold used as part of a larger assembly item. A good example of this is steering columns. The ROEM (recycled original equipment manufacturer) steering column parts, such as the headlight switch, the wiper switch, the clock spring, and the steering wheel, and all sold at used auto parts stores as a steering column assembly. If you are searching for a steering wheel and finding only expensive options, or perhaps it’s such a hard-to-find auto part that you don’t see any at all, try searching for the complete steering column assembly. You can often buy the assembly part, and then use that, or just remove the small piece you need from it. This is true with headrests (often hiding as a complete seat) a strut, spindle or control arm (often hiding as a complete knee assembly) and many other pieces. If you think you have a hard-to-find auto parts and it’s not coming up in searches, don’t hesitate to reach out to us and ask and we can guide you to what assembly to request instead. Many customers will ask us for the glass inside their door mirror, not realizing it’s actually cheaper to buy an entire door mirror!

Note that assemblies can work both ways, if you are searching for a hard-to-find auto part that happens to be a front end assembly and you aren’t having any luck, try searching the subcomponents, such as the front bumper, fender and hood, some auto parts stores have stopped inventorying specific assemblies because their customers were searching for the pieces! As always, if you are stumped, don’t hesitate to reach out to us for help by phone or text at 616-669-6592.

4. Expanding Your Search: External Resources

While Pete’s Auto Parts is a great place to start, here are some other avenues you can explore online:

• eBay Motors (ebay.com/motors): This is a large marketplace where individuals and businesses list used auto parts. You can often find a wide variety of parts, but be sure to carefully review seller ratings and descriptions before making a purchase.
• Salvage Yard Websites: Many individual salvage yards across the country have their own websites where they list their inventory. Searching for “used auto parts [your state/region]” can lead you to these local resources. Examples include websites like Lambert Auto Salvage when you search for used auto parts Mississippi. There are similar regional or local yards that can help you with hard-to-find auto parts just like Pete’s can.
• Automotive Forums and Enthusiast Sites: Websites and forums dedicated to specific vehicle makes or models (e.g., a Ford truck forum or a classic Mustang club website) often have classified sections where members buy and sell parts. These communities can be invaluable for finding niche or rare items.
• Social Media Marketplaces: Platforms like Facebook Marketplace can sometimes list used auto parts being sold by individuals or smaller businesses. Use specific search terms related to the part you need and your location.
• Combination Sites: at Pete’s Auto Parts we list our parts on www.car-part.com, as do many other recyclers. There are a bunch of these combination sites that list many recyclers parts, such as us.b-parts.com but buyer beware – most parts are marked up on these sites, when you contact the facilities directly you can often get a better price on those hard-to-find auto parts!
• Self-Service or UPull Facilities: If you are reasonably handy, exploring a self service (sometimes called a U-Pull) yard might be a good option. You can usually find out in advance if your local self-service store has any vehicles that COULD have your part, then it’s up to you to go there in person, pay an entrance fee, pull the part yourself, and then save big with their discount prices. Our favorite local self-service option in West Michigan is Lucky’s Self Serve, and on their website you can find matching vehicles. We recommend searching YouTube for video instructions on how to safely remove the part you are after, before you head out!

5. Persistence Pays Off

Finding a hard-to-find auto part often requires patience and persistence. Don’t get discouraged if your initial searches don’t yield immediate results. Keep exploring different avenues and be ready to provide as much detail as possible when contacting suppliers. Remember to have the VIN of your vehicle and any part numbers from the existing component ready when you reach out.

At Pete’s Auto Parts, we’re committed to helping you get your vehicle back on the road. While some parts are tougher to find than others, by combining your efforts with our expertise and the resources mentioned above, you significantly increase your chances of success. Call or text us today at 616-669-6592 – we’re ready to help you find that elusive part!

Knowledgeable Staff and Support

Our team at Pete’s Auto Parts is composed of automotive experts who are dedicated to helping you find the right part for your vehicle. When you have hard-to-find auto part searches, we’re here to provide expert support. Our knowledgeable staff is committed to ensuring you have a positive experience and get the most out of your junk yard parts purchase. You can call us, text us, message us on facebook or on our website, you have options!

Conclusion

Choosing used car parts from Pete’s Auto Parts or any used auto parts supplier offers so many advantages, including cost savings, high quality, environmental benefits, and access to rare components. If you have a used car part search we hope you’ll try us today! We have a commitment to excellence and a dedication to customer satisfaction. By opting for used auto parts, you’re not only making a smart financial decision but also contributing to a more sustainable approach to vehicle maintenance. Visit Pete’s Auto Parts today for a used car part search and discover the many benefits of choosing used parts for your next automotive project. 

Next Steps

When you started looking for hard-to-find auto parts you may have been unsure of what you would find, but we hope you are pleasantly surprised! Pete’s Auto Parts can do a great job taking care of you and getting you the quality used auto parts you need, if you give us a chance! Call or text today 616-669-6592. Or go to our hard-to-find auto parts search page and search for your part today! 

Some Links:

Check us out on facebook! https://facebook.com/petesautoparts

Find videos of our vehicles running on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@petesauto7873 

Search for those hard-to-find auto parts on our website. 

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