Car Parts on the Internet The Easier Way to Shop!

Finding the right parts to repair or enhance the workings of your car used to be a dirty job, but when the health of your vehicle was at stake, somebody had to do it! While more run of the mill parts might be found at your dealer, rather than amidst the broken down cars at your local wrecking yard, getting the bits you needed often necessitated several trips between different stores, while the exact part you needed was being hunted down.

But, as it has done in so many other areas of our lives, technology has come to the rescue, in this case specifically in the form of the Internet. This amazing connection that links people from Tennessee to Timbuktu has revolutionized all types of shopping in the past few years, and it can save you many hours of your precious time and bundles of your even more precious energy by helping you find the parts you need without any of the legwork.

From eBay to specialised online car part stores, the car part you are looking for is just waiting to be found. While locating the part you need on a non-specialised site might be down to a fair amount of luck, dedicated online car part stores usually offer you access to their detailed catalogues, allowing you to search for whatever you need by simply typing in the specifications of the part you’re looking for.

While many online stores choose to operate virtually to help them cut down on costs such as rental fees, and light and heating bills, others still simply maintain an online presence to boost their accessibility. The latter breed of business maintain physical stores too, allowing you to check up on parts online while still being able to go downtown to take a look at an item before purchasing. If this is not necessary, most stores will post the part you need directly to your home or workshop, so that you barely have to look up from your car repairs to get the parts you want.

Because isn’t this what hunting down car parts is all about? You would much rather spend your time working on your car than tracking down the parts you need. So log on to the Internet, and then get back to doing what you really love.

Dave is the owner of http://used-car-parts-online.info a website providing information on car parts.

Counterfeit Auto Parts: A Global Epidemic

That replacement auto part you are planning to install or have installed on your vehicle may be a counterfeit. Government officials are telling us that the fake parts industry is costing Americans billions of dollars per year. Counterfeit auto parts are plain wrong...unsafe too!

Recent concerns about U.S. port control have been focusing on the possibility that American ports will be used as a conduit for terrorists to attack America. What many people do not realize is that only about 5% of all containers going through our port system have their contents inspected by authorities. That means a full 95% of the containers never receive a visual inspection, although many do get electronically scanned. Still, it is the naked eye which can detect and determine if something in a container isn’t quite right. As far as auto parts go, a visual inspection is necessary; unfortunately many fake parts do get through. A global epidemic is in progress and it has little to do with terrorists and everything to do with counterfeit auto parts. Let’s take a look at the counterfeit parts “industry” and how you can avoid getting taken.

Yes, it is an industry...the counterfeit auto parts “business” that is. Every year billions of dollars worth of fake auto parts are produced worldwide and circulated to unsuspecting consumers. In some countries the problem is completely out of hand resulting in injury, even death, to drivers and their passengers. Among the parts frequently counterfeited are:

Camshafts

Rocker arms

Antifreeze

Transmission fluids

Bearings

Belts

Distributor caps

Valves

Alternators

Brake pads

Air conditioner condensers

Shocks and struts

Oxygen sensors

Spark plugs...

...the list goes on and on and on...

So, how can you spot a fake auto part? A visual inspection of the product is very important. Look at the part and feel it. If it seems or looks different from the part that it is replacing, then that can be a sure sign that it is a counterfeit. In addition, check the packaging carefully: odd shaped or odd fitting packaging, mismatched logos, typos, anything out of the ordinary should raise a red flag to you.

If you believe a part is fake contact the retailer and let them know that you suspect that they sold a counterfeit part to you. Don’t accuse the retailer of knowingly doing something wrong; any decent retailer will quickly remedy the situation as it is their reputation that is on the line.

No, you can’t guarantee that you will never purchase a counterfeit auto part, but you can certainly reduce the chances. Only deal with reputable retailers and when purchasing online avoid purchasing from overseas suppliers. Auto parts wholesalers not only can save you money, but lessen the risk of you getting something that isn’t genuine. How is that? Because wholesalers buy everything directly from the manufacturer. No middle man to get in the way to jack up prices or, potentially, try to pass off auto parts as genuine that are in reality, fake.

The counterfeit auto parts industry is booming but you can do your part to lessen its impact. Be aware of what you are buying and only purchase your replacement auto parts from reputable dealers who stand by everything they sell.

Copyright 2006 – Matt Keegan is The Auto Writer covering topics from performance auto parts to new car reviews. To find genuine auto parts including quality K&N filters and other premium air filters please shop online at http://www.autopartswarehouse.com for the best selection.