Ever wonder what happens to your car after you sell it to car wreckers? It is the end of the motor for car owners. But, the journey does not end there.
Look at what car wreckers do when they get rid of scrap cars.
What is a car wrecker?
Car wrecking involves carefully dismantling damaged, wrecked or otherwise decommissioned cars. The car wrecking crew will find and retrieve any remaining parts that can be sold.
Scrap metal companies can sell any metal parts that are not usable, like a damaged bumper or chassis, or any internal components, which have been damaged beyond repair.
Car wreckers don’t leave old cars to rust. They work to dispose of them responsibly and efficiently.
The value of spare parts that can be used
Sometimes, dismantled cars can yield many reusable parts. These parts may still be valuable to someone looking for spares. Many Mitsubishi Car Wreckers in Sydney recycle and resell used parts of cars, such as:
- Headlights, blinkers & taillights
- Seats & upholstery
- Exhaust system parts
- Mirrors
- Alloy wheels and hubcaps
- Engines and parts for engines
- Transmission systems
- Undamaged windshields and windows
While just a few broken or damaged components make a car difficult to drive, most internal and external components are usually in excellent working order.
The vehicle recycling process
Car wreckers are skilled at recycling vehicles using a complex process. This ensures that all components can be recovered and all non-usable materials are properly recycled. This includes the safe disposal of fluids and materials that are not suitable for recycling or resale.
Tires and wheels
The car wreckers can remove wheels and tires from the cars they are removing. If a car has been scrapped because of severe chassis damage or engine failure, it may still have relatively new tires and still have plenty of life. Existing car owners can save money by purchasing second-hand tires or wheels.
Catalytic converter
This exhaust emission control device reduces pollutants in a car’s exhaust. These devices are used in cars powered by internal combustion engines, such as gasoline and diesel. Brand new replacements may be expensive.
Car battery
If the battery is still full, the car-wreck crew will take it out and recycle it. Batteries are often replaced. Sometimes, a battery from a scrap car can still be in good condition. This can be very useful for other drivers who wish to reuse it.
Drainage of vehicle fluids
Cars use many fluids, including engine coolant, engine oil and transmission fluids, fuel, air conditioning refrigerant, windscreen wiper fluid, and engine oil. As part of the car wrecking process, the car will be drained of all fluids.
Electronic components
Many of the electronic components in modern cars are expensive to replace. Each of these components can be removed by car wreckers, such as starter motors, electronic modules and alternators, and entertainment systems.
Transmission and engine
Sometimes, a wrecker can remove entire engines and transmissions to be reused. These large mechanical parts can still be valuable depending on the car’s age. These components can be sold directly or sent to a manufacturer for restoration.