Rant! Getting Used Parts From Scrap Yards For Pre 1990 Vehicles Impossible

[slow&rusty]

Guys - I am so frustrated, so this is more of a vent than anything else.

I own a 1988 Mazda 323 that is my daily driver, great little car and I am the 2nd owner since new runs like a top with 211,000 miles on it.

Anyhoo..recently the windshield water resevoir developed a leak and no longer holds fluid. So I called 30+ scrap yards all around Houston with zero luck. The same windshield water resevoir is used in the '87-'89 Mercury Tracer and also in the '91-'94 Mercury Capri. I even went to the Ford \ Mercury and Mazda dealerships and the part has been discontinued for quite some time.

When I spoke to the owner of one of the scrap yards, he could tell I was *REALLY* frustrated and he said that guys like me that have a pre 1995 (and definitely pre 1990) vehicles are 5hit out of luck after Cash for Clunkers. He said that with the price of scrap metal going up, combined with the C4C program incentives and more of a demand for later model cars, they literally crushed thousands of pre 1990 vehicles regardless if it was a S-Class Benz or a Mazda 323like mine. Subsequently, as demand for these cars are now significantly less, manufacturers are discontinuing making parts for these every day (this was confirmed when I went to the dealerships last week).

I spoke to the owner of large mechanic shop and he said that he knows several customers of his who have bought complete cars (running or not) just to strip them for the hard to find \ obsolete \ unobtanium parts needed to keep their cars running and then disposing of the shell of the car.

This sucks!
Yasin

[red911sc]

Ebay??

[fastfredracing]

Check out Car-Part.com It is a national database of salvage yards, and I use it nearly every day to find stuff that is NLA.

[fastfredracing]

Check out Car-Part.com It is a national database of salvage yards, and I use it nearly every day to find stuff that is NLA.

[cbush]

Exactly what I love about my 911. I can get just about any part on a 41 year old car. So ditch the Mazda, and drive an old Porsche- it is a win-win

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by slow&rusty

When I spoke to the owner of one of the scrap yards, he could tell I was *REALLY* frustrated and he said that guys like me that have a pre 1995 (and definitely pre 1990) vehicles are 5hit out of luck after Cash for Clunkers. He said that with the price of scrap metal going up,

I understand your frustration. Not only are the cars use and throw away, so are their components. New parts aren't available and the old ones were not designed to be taken apart and repaired.
I have to question the accuracy of your junker's comment about C4C. Except for the engine block, the parts off of C4C cars could be resold. C4C should have made used parts more plentiful, not less. However, Mazda 323s weren't eligible because they got better than 18 mpg, so you're SOL in that department.
I'll bet the price of scrap has a LOT more to do with the disappearance of the cars from junk yards than C4C.

[widebody911]

Hell, try getting parts for a pre-1960 car.

[slow&rusty]

Thanks for feeling my pain. eBay has yielded nothing in 2 weeks of searching.

Car-Part was an interesting website to hit (thanks Fred). What I noticed is that they do not differentiate between the different models, say for example I needed a distributor from a Turbo model car on the Car-Part search engine it does let you put in the engine, so you may end getting a distributor off a non turbo model?

Looks like potentially the cost of keeping my daily driver commuter car will exceed my fun cars!

Patooey!
Yasin

[EarlyPorsche]

I haven't had trouble getting parts for lot of cars that are pre-2000 or pre-1990 but, with all due respect, the vehicles were keepers (mainly Jeeps). I think a Mazda will only live about 3 or 4 days in a yard before they scrap the block, transmission, battery, tires and wheels separate from the body for around $500 in scrap metal. I hate to be "that guy" but: if you owned a junkyard would you keep 88 Mazda's laying around when you could have 99 Civics in the same space?

[jyl]

I think a car that is generally considered more long-lasting, less disposable, more desirable will be easier to source parts for. I'm not saying your Mazda is a bad car. But getting used parts for an older Volvo or even my '88 VW would be easier, because people actually keep those cars on the road and fix them properly. I'll bet your typical owner of a 20+ y/o Mazda doesn't bother to replace the washer fluid reservoir when it leaks, or anything else for that matter. If you are committed to this car, maybe time to look for a spare to cannibalize.

[jyl]

Or, how about

1988 MAZDA 323 Front Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir

[slow&rusty]

Originally Posted by jyl

Or, how about

1988 MAZDA 323 Front Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir

Holy crap JYL that is the part I need...calling Direct Parts right now...thanks for the link!

[sc_rufctr]

My daily is a 94 VR6 VW Golf... 264,000 kms and she still runs great.

Whatever isn't available from the Stealership (and most parts are) is available after market.
I don't mean to be unsympathetic to your situation but that's another reason why I
prefer a VW to anything made by the Japanese, Koreans or even local made Fords and GM cars.

I know VW may have issues with reliability etc... (not my experience but often claimed)

But at least you can get parts for the old girl.

[slow&rusty]

Originally Posted by sc_rufctr

My daily is a 94 VR6 VW Golf... 264,000 kms and she still runs great.

I don't mean to be unsympathetic to your situation but that's another reason why I
prefer a VW to anything made by the Japanese, Koreans or even local made Fords and GM cars.

I know VW may have issues with reliability etc... (not my experience but often claimed)

But at least you can get parts for the old girl.

Its cool no ofense taken, the situation is what it is...I love my old girl and will keep her for as long as I can, just means more of an effort in keeping her running than in previous years. As a friendly aside I used race against VR6 Golfs all the time when I autocrossed my 323, it was fun beating them!

[Britwrench]

If you want to keep the Mazda, buy a spare one and part it out.
Keep anything you might need, scrap the rest.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by jyl

Or, how about

1988 MAZDA 323 Front Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir

That's amazing. I wonder if they really have it.

"Do not be fooled by an aftermarket MAZDA 323 Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir! Buy a factory MAZDA part and receive peace of mind!"

Ha! I wonder if there's a big problem with substandard, black market Mazda 323 windshield washer fluid reservoirs.

[ZOO]

Time to join the Grassroots Motorsports Forum -- those guys are geniuses, and excel at keepiing older cars running and competitive.

[azasadny]

I use EBay to find parts for older cars and so far, I've been successful.

[Rick Lee]

I haven't used my wiper fluid in my 993 in six yrs. Just don't drive in the rain or snow or just squeegie it at gas stations.

[sammyg2]

Around here the junk yards are absolutely full of mazdas but I understand your point, most of them are only 5 years old