Once a vehicle becomes inoperable, it is usually of little use to the person or company that owns it. However due to the intricate and interconnected way in which an engine functions, many parts on an inoperable vehicle remain in excellent working order even though the whole engine no longer works. This is where auto recyclers come into the picture. While the automobile has no value to its owner because it no longer performs the function for which it was purchased – transportation- the auto recycler has another use in mind and will gladly compensate the owner of the car in order to obtain it. This arrangement benefits both parties and the community as a whole. The owner receives at least some money for the vehicle, the auto recycler receives an inventory of parts and the community does not have the economic or ecological strain of dealing with a large useless piece of machinery. This is one of the few win-win scenarios in the world today.

Once the inoperable vehicle has been purchased by the auto recycler, the vehicle is moved to its dismantling facility. Here the process begins. First, all hazardous materials must be removed from the vehicle. There are more than you might think. Once this is finished, technicians go over the automobile thoroughly to discover what parts are in good working condition. Once this has been assessed and the parts are removed, then the rest of vehicle is stripped of plastics and the vehicle is sent to the crusher or shredder. Here, the left over metal frame of the car is compacted and the steel that is left is then recycled back into anything from new parts to completely new vehicles. It has been estimated that since 1997, enough steel has been recovered from salvaged automobiles to build 13 million new ones.

Once the good working parts of a salvaged vehicle have been removed, they are now ready to be returned to use. Most auto recyclers today utilize direct access inventory systems that connect them with other auto recyclers, mechanics and consumers through the internet. When a particular part is needed, all one needs to do is a simple internet search. This system makes it easy to compare prices and in many cases, auto recyclers will compete for your business. If the part is located close enough one can even drive over, inspect the part, and pick it up that day. For parts located further than that, most auto recyclers are happy to ship even large parts right to the consumer or mechanics door. Most reputable auto recyclers provide at least a minimal warranty on the parts they sell, also. As for the actual savings to be had on used parts, it is estimated that most of these parts can be obtained at up to half of what the same part may cost new. Now everyone can enjoy that savings.

If you haven’t been effected by the economic meltdown, you are one lucky person. Personally, I’ve stopped watching the news. I don’t know if we are in a recession, depression or what. All I know is my house isn’t worth much, my retirement account is so low I’ll be retiring right when they bury me and I’m not alone in this situation. If you’re like me, you are giving a lot of thought to how you spend your money. Maybe I should say that you’re thinking a lot about how not to spend money. Welcome to the frugal America.

It isn’t going to change your situation, but one area where you can save a few bucks is on your car. Contrary to the way things appear these days, the modern car is not a device dreamed up by aliens. You can actually work on it yourself. You can definitely save money by doing the basic maintenance yourself – change the oil, check the belts, flush the radiator, etc. Ah, but what if you run into a bigger problem?

Auto repairs are not brain surgery. Assuming your engine isn’t shot, you can change out most parts of your car without needing to call in a pit crew from NASCAR. The key is to understand what you are getting into. I realize this goes against the manly mantra, but reading up on it before hand and watching some videos online can be a huge help.

Once you dive into your repair job, you inevitably are going to run into something that you need an answer to. Here is where you are introduced to the last bastion of real customer service in the world – the auto parts store. When you run into a problem, the people behind the desk at whatever store is in your area are a fountain of advice -free advice.

Obviously they want you to buy something, but they see giving advice as a marketing tool. I’ve actually gone in an out of store no less than four times in a day to ask questions when trying to change out a fly wheel on a car. I felt so bad I actually bought a case of oil I didn’t need. Regardless, the advice I was given saved the day.

Admitting you need help can be difficult. When it comes to your car, you should bite the bullet. Turning a small repair into an engine replacement is not a good idea. Ask the guys who actually work on cars all the time. Their friendly and will give you the answers without rolling their eyes!

Poor quality repairs can happen even when the most experienced repair person is at the helm. Windshield glass is layered like a sandwich, and it’s the outer layer of glass that receives all the activity from the harsh road environment. The poly layer in the middle flexes and holds the inner and outer layers of glass together so splintering is reduced and strength is added to the vehicle’s roof. When an object hits the windshield it will cause a hole or crack that runs to the inner glass layer. Even if the damage is small, the first thing that immediately contaminates the area that is broken is good old air, and it’s that air that shows up as a dark gray blemish within the windshield. Don’t mistake this blemishing for water or dirt settling inside the damaged area. The cracks in the glass layer can be so tight that moisture in any form could not penetrate the area.

The quest to successfully remove all the air trapped within the outer glass layer of a broken windshield is on. As with all science and technology, improvements in the glass repair business have improved drastically in recent years. Auto glass repair shops and mobile service providers must now make the choice between using the old way or changing to the new superior technology for their customers. Ultimately consumers must know a little about the repair systems themselves in order to receive the best service for their money.

After a windshield is repaired with the super hard plastic glass resin, that’s it. The resin cures so hard that the repaired area becomes stronger than the original glass, welding the broken surfaces together. So producing the best looking repair the first time is crucial from both the service provider and the client.

Less than two years ago a revolutionary new windshield repair system was introduced to the industry called “Prism Technology”. Prism was developed to enhance the results produced during windshield repairs by one of the leading glass repair products manufacturers in the world that has been a big player in research and development for the glass repair industry. The Prism technology uses the most advanced “dry vacuum” injector system to not only remove the maximum air contaminates from the damaged area, but also to simplify the entire repair process for the technician. This new system takes all the guesswork and mystery out of knowing that the air contamination has been removed first before the acrylic resin is injected into the broken glass.

With older repair systems still being used in majority, all pull the air trapped in the glass up and through the liquid resin that is contained within the repair injector. The technician loads the liquid resin into the barrel of the injector after mounting it onto the windshield by way of the bridge. The bridge is the thing with the suction cups that stick to the windshield. The resin sits on the bottom of the injector that is sealed to the windshield surface and an o-ring seals the resin in the injector barrel. Then a vacuum is produced by pulling up a plunger at the top of the injector, you’ve seen this before more than likely. The air contaminate, that is trapped within the broken glass, now must be pulled out of the damage and up through the liquid resin. Problems arise from air bubbles that are left behind in the damaged area. Some air bubbles can stay in the liquid resin, not being pulled completely through to the top, and when the injection starts with the downward motion of the plunger, the bubbles are pushed back into the glass. The air bubbles push the resin aside and produce voids in the repair that look unsightly and produce weak repairs.

The new Prism dry vacuum technology eliminates this frustrating problem for the auto glass repair industry. The injector has two parts-the body or barrel, and the resin cup. The injector is mounted the same way as the old system, but after mounting the injector to the windshield, the barrel is turned so the resin cup is down and gravity keeps the resin from running into the injector. A strong vacuum is then produced by the plunger being pulled upward or by a machine vacuum attached by a hose to the injector for several minutes. Under a vacuum, the injector barrel is turned 180 degrees and the resin liquid runs into the damaged glass, unobstructed by air. Because of the vacuum produced, all the air is sucked out from the damage and the resin flows freely into the zone. When it’s time to push the remaining resin into the damage, the plunger or machine produces high pressure that squeezes the liquid into the tightest regions of broken glass. When the repair area is properly cured with UV light rays, and remains under pressure until hard, the repair resin welds together the entire damaged area completely, producing the highest quality windshield repair in the industry.

Consumers can now get the best windshield repair for their hard earned dollar just by understanding the latest auto glass technology. Don’t forget to ask the repair guy or gal if they use the new “Prism” dry vacuum repair system. There is manual, machine and computerized repair equipment that uses the high tech Prism system. Be on the lookout for the manual type systems that use hand pulled plungers. Most of those will use the older technologies. It’s worth the time you’ll spend to find the right repair guy that is keeping up with the current technology before getting your next windshield repaired.

Keep that original windshield as long as you can to keep your factory seal, and don’t replace it until you just have to, because the inevitable fact is windshields break when hit. So have it repaired with the right stuff, you may have to look through it every day.