www.Find-a-Part.com - Car Parts Search

Used Car Parts - When Are They Better Than New ?

We all know that used car parts are cheaper than new ones.  However, when is it better to buy used than new ?  Obviously there is the environmental aspect of buying used, if you're putting a used or reconditioned gearbox into an 80,000 mile car, then you're making a co2 saving.  We discuss this issue further in an article on our site - Used Car Parts - Can they be more suitable for purpose than new parts ?

Engine Code Finder

When buying a used engine, or other parts associated with engines, buyers can save themselves a lot of time, trouble, and potentially money, by finding out what the engine code of their car is.  The engine code of the car is usually stamped on the engine block, and each model of car tends to have the engine code located in the same place.  The owners manual gives the location of the engine code.

Find a Part would like you to get the best deal for your used engine, and to do this, you need to be able to give the right information.  With this in mind, we have created an engine code finder service on our website.  Basically, we've been through our old requests, and where an engine code exists in a request, we've added it into a new database, linking it to the make, model, and year of car.  This then enables us to list the engine codes for popular makes and models of car, as you can see for yourself by clicking the link above, then choosing a make.  So far we've cobbled together information from all makes we have dealt with over 2009, and we'll keep updating information as the year goes on.

Often, a 3 or 4 letter / number prefix is used by traders to describe the engine code that they are looking for, and it is this prefix that our members can use to isolate the engine, or similar engines that are used in similar cars to yours.  Vauxhall engines seem to be an exception to this, with a 6 digit prefix used.  One of the things that comes to notice from these listings is that multiple car manufacturers appear to use the same engine codes, which makes it likely that they are the same engines.  This can be seen on the VW Sharan engines page, for example.  This seems reasonable as it is probably cheaper to license and engine from another supplier than re-invent the wheel when there is a perfectly good engine already available from another manufacturer.

As always, when buying parts, please make sure that you get a Land line phone number and company name of the company you are purchasing from, and where possible buy with a credit card, for maximum protection when purchasing expensive items at distance.

Car Parts Factory gets Welsh Govt cash

A car parts factory in Llanelli will be able to expand thanks to the offer of a £3.2 million grant from the Welsh Assembly.

The Car Parts maker Calsonic Kansei makes engine cooling and air-conditioning systems  for a number of car manufacturers.

The plant manager said that the offer of money was crucial in securing investment for a required expansion to the plant, and that the grant had coincided with a large new contract to provide Jaguar Range Rover, who are now owned by the Indian Tata group, with car parts for the next generation of Range Rovers.

The Welsh based firm, Calsonic Kansei employ 400 staff in Llanelli, and the Welsh assemblys’ Economic and Transport Minister, Iuean Wyn Jones, said that the grant would help to safeguard 237 of those jobs, and create 37 new jobs too.

The backing for this company in tough economic times shows a good degree of common sense by the welsh assembly, the best way out of a recession is to grow your way out, and by supporting this company the assembly are helping to grow a viable business, and boost the local economy.

This article was produced by Find-a-Part, car parts search specialists since 1978.

Hybrid Cars - Passing the Green Buck to make a few bucks ?

All the fuss seems to be about Hybrid Cars now, with the Chevy Volt appearing on the most tweeted list on twitter, claims that it will return 230 mpg in the city seem very impressive, if slightly pushing credibility.  The thing about this form of Hybrid is that it relies upon electrical power.  If the electrical power supplied to re-charge the battery comes from Wind farms, great, everyone seems to be onto a winner.  If the power comes from fossil fuels, then aren't we back at square one ?

The Honda FCX Clarity car is miles ahead of the competition from this writers' point of view.  With a hydrogen fuel cell, the only by-product of the car is water.  The car still relies upon electricity and a battery though.  The Honda FCX Clarity was named 2009 World Green Car.  This illustrates the problem that the US is going to have in competing with Asian car companies in the future, and explains why the US government have spent $1.3 Billion dollars in grants to companies which will improve green technologies for cars, car parts and battery components.  All well and good, but there also needs to be a push to convert to greener power stations.

Whatever the future may bring, Find a Part will still be helping you find Used Car Parts.

USA - Michigan gets massive grants for car parts development

The US state of Michigan has recieved $1.36 billion dollars in government grants to develop hybrid car and hybrid truck energy solutions. According to an article in Free press, the money will be used to create up to 40,000 jobs, and will be used to enable companies to tool up for electric vehicle batteries and other car parts for electric vehicles.

Hybrid battery production is an area which is dominated by companies in South East Asia, so the companies that receive the grants will have a lot of work to do to reach the standards already reached by competitors. The biggest benefactor of the grants is Johnson Controls, who will make batteries for Ford hybrid and electric cars and trucks. About half of the money will be provided to companies in the form of tax credits, which will be payable upon meeting targets, ensuring that the money is not spent on other projects.

It remains to be seen whether the UK government will offer a similar stimulus package to car companies, although it is arguable that most British car plants are in foreign ownership, car parts manufacturers in the UK would certainly benefit from a similar stimulus. Article compiled by Find a Part - Car Parts Search Specialists since 1978.

Vauxhall & Opel : Is there a new bidder ?

A second bidder has thrown its hat into the ring for General Motors’ Vauxhall and Opel brands, according to the New York Times. General Motors had planned to sell its European operations to a consortium involving Canadian car parts maker Magna and a Russian bank, but this bid appears to be in trouble.

R.H.J. International, a Brussels-listed industrial holding company, is looking to acquire a majority stake in the European subsidiary, Adam Opel, which includes the operations of Vauxhall in Britain. “These discussions have been taking place over a number of weeks and are at an advanced stage,” R.H.J. said.

Magna International and Sberbank, a Russian lender controlled by the Kremlin, signed a tentative deal to acquire majority ownership of Opel in late May, just before G.M. sought protection from its creditors in a U.S. bankruptcy court.

Report compiled by Find a Part - Car Parts Search Specialists Since 1978.

US Car Parts Manufacturers get "clean energy" parts boost

Car parts manufacturers are feeling the pinch more than ever during this recession - but the american government are looking to assist those car parts makers who are looking to innovate for clean energy solutions.

As John O Dell points out in his excellent blog entry of June 18th - "If GM, Ford and Chrysler combined are making 5- to 6-million fewer vehicles than in their heydays, that's 20- to 24-million fewer tires and steel and alloy wheels; 10- to 12-million fewer headlamp assemblies, and on and on."

The response to this problem in America has been the sponsoring of a bill to provide a revolving $30 billion federal loan fund which will help car parts suppliers and other small to medium sized businesses become parts suppliers for clean energy solutions for cars. As Senator Sherrod Brown (Ohio) pointed out - "As Congress debates a strategy on climate change, we need a strategy for the manufacturing sector. A clean energy economy means jobs for communities."

It remains to be seen if the UK government will offer a similar deal to car parts suppliers in the UK. As has been detailed in this blog, a number of UK car parts manufacturers have been suffering as a result of this recession, and as yet have been given little or no assistance when it comes to innovation for clean energy solutions. Maybe the UK needs a manufacturing sector less than the USA does ?  As O'Dell points out - "the U.S. needs a healthy manufacturing industry - countries that can't make their own basic goods are countries whose economies exist at the sufferance of others. Besides, we can't all be consultants or burger flippers"...

Report Compiled by Find a Part Car Parts Search Specialists since 1978.

Car Parts company axes 78 jobs

Car parts company axes 78 jobs A Car Parts manufacturer based in Birmingham has gone into administration, causing the loss of 78 jobs.

Textile Assemblies, based in Small Heath, makes car seating, door furniture and armrests. Administrators KPMG said it had to make 78 people redundant as the forecast order book could not sustain the firm's current employment levels.

KPMG added it was "endeavouring to trade the residual business" while options were being considered. The administrators said the company employed a total of 172 people at its Small Heath site before announcing the job cuts.

Report compiled by Find a Part - Car Parts Search Specialists since 1978.

USA - Cash for Clunkers - Saving CO2, or just making more cars ?

Excerpts from an Article by Terry Gray, chairman of Find-a-Part Ltd - Car Parts Search Specialists Since 1978.  Full Article is available here, and you can check out the Green Footprint news feed here :

I have during my 40 years of working within the motor industry seen many legislation changes launched by those politicians we actually vote into office. Like many of the thousands of Professional Businesspeople I know who are engaged in the business of Decontaminating Vehicles and Providing Quality Recyled Auto Parts I often wonder if some of our so called leaders or their advisors have ever lived in the same world as us mere mortals.

$15,000 Fines, Huge anomolies and holes in the basic concepts, One Billion US Dollars and 50 Million US Dollars for "administration".  When will politicians realise that the Professional Auto Recycling Industry is a Multi Million Dollar Industry with the potential to benefit the Environment.  Replacing a worn out Engine in a so called clunker with a lower mileage, Tested, Guaranteed Recycled Engine would not sell more new Cars but would save CO2 by the bucketload.

My personal observation is that In their rush to bring in bills which are designed in part to "Move New Vehicles and help manufacturers" as well as "Attempt to help the Environment" virtually every Government in the world who has created a "Clunker or Scrappage Scheme" has missed some very simple facts of what happens out there in the real world.

The most obvious fact is that vehicles up to 25 years old and liable to be used as an "eligible trade-in vehicle" are also liable to have had many parts replaced, not least of which is likley to be the "Engine" In the UK there is a central vehicle registration Centre called the DVLA where every Vehicle in the UK has its registration plate Issued and by the rule of Law if a replacement engine is fitted then the DVLA is supposed to be informed.

In the real world however the majority of Garages, Replacement Engine Fitting Centres or DIY Motorists ignore this requirement.  It follows therefore that a search on the VIN Number at the DVLA in the UK on a "Scrapped Vehicle" would result in a high chance of their being a mismatch on Vin and Engine Number Details.

In the USA each state has its own Vehicle Registration Centre and the combination of intertrading of vehicles state to state and a similar attitude to informing the relevant authoritie/s regarding Engine Number Changes a virtually nightmare of potential fines of $15000 could unfold especially on the Genuine Professional Auto Recycler.

This situation in the US especially could be caused by any circumstances by which the Engine of a Vehicle has been changed and that fact not known to the Vehicle Owner, missed by the Dealer only for the Genuine Recycler having removed it to discover it is in fact a replacement and mismatched to the VIN.  In fact the problem may even expand itself outside of the ring of Vehicle Owner, Dealer and Recycler involved in a single Cash for A Clunker Transaction.

Imagine for example if the engine has been replaced and the original engine has years ago entered or subsequently enters the "Core and Reconditioning Market", what then happens to the unfortunate Genuine Auto Recycler entwined in an investigation.

Car Parts companies - winners and losers 2009

Car Parts companies have been among the worst hit businesses during the recent recession.  Here we look at some of the winners and losers.

Ford Part maker and former subsidiary Visteon went into chapter 11 bankruptcy on May 29th.  This followed the closure of the UK based car parts factories, which according to Visteons' wikipedia page were never profitable, and were closed as a result of the USA operation being unable to support them financially.  At the time of the administration, Visteon listed total assets of $4.58bn (£2.88bn) and total debts of $5.32bn.  Ford has opted to help Visteon through the bankruptcy with debtor in possession finanacing, which should give Visteon a clean slate, albeit under strict financial conditions.

There is a meeting to discuss a £250 million pound deficit in the Visteon UK workers' pension scheme, which is being held on July 8th.  Further details are available here.

GM and Ford Parts Maker Lear Corp filed for bankruptcy on July 2nd 2009.  Lear is a supplier of seating, electrical, flooring, interior trim, instrument panels, etc., to OEM auto companies, with General Motors and Ford representing 40% of its customer base, and has been hit especially hard during the downturn, as indeed GM has with its own banruptcy proceedings.

Car Parts manufacturer Meridian Automotive Systems is closing a central Indiana factory for an indefinite period, putting 295 people out of work.

Last year, Lucas Car Parts went out of business, after a takeover by Euro Car Parts was due to occur, eith Euro Car Parts pulling out at the last minute.

Car parts maker Magna International has reached an agreement in principle to rescue GM Europe, owner of Opel and Vauxhall, reports say.

The agreement was reached with General Motors, but is subject to the approval of the German government, which will be providing funding to the new owner.

Magna appear to be one of the few winners during a period of great uncertainty in the car parts manufacturing industry.