What To Do if a Tree Falls on Your Car

Posted on June 7, 2018 by junkcars17

Forces of nature cannot always be stopped. In times of inclement weather, like heavy storms or wind, trees are prone to toppling over. Factors like root strength, soil conditions, and overall tree health can render a tree more susceptible to storm damage. Primary targets for falling trees are porches, decks, sheds, houses, garages, and of course, vehicles. In fact, a large number of car insurance claims are for vehicles damaged by fallen trees.

So what do you do if you walk outside, only to find that your car or truck has been squashed by a tree? Continue reading to find out.

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Call Your Insurance Carrier

If you are a car owner, you likely have automotive insurance. In the circumstance that your vehicle is damaged, whether by tree or by something else, your first step is to contact your auto insurance carrier. They will take down your information and schedule a time for an adjuster to come out and look at your tree.

After receiving a settlement offer from your insurance company, you have two options: You can make a claim with your insurance carrier and accept the insurance money, or you can keep your totaled car and forgo making a claim for insurance money.

In the case that the vehicle is still driveable, you can have it inspected by a licensed mechanic to determine how much it would cost to have it repaired. However, even if it is still operational, it could still be considered a total loss if the cost to make all the repairs exceeds the current market value of the vehicle.

If You Forgo Insurance Money

If you decide that you do not want to release your totaled vehicle to your insurance company, you can choose to keep it, and later sell it to an Indianapolis junk car buyer, or dismantle it for parts. A junk car buyer will give you top dollar for your totaled vehicle, so long as you do business with a reputable and experienced company. These companies can also offer you free services, like pickup and haul away, estimates, and more.

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Call GC’s Junk Cars at 317-608-2188 to sell a totaled car for cash in Indianapolis. We offer free towing with our in-house tow truck, so all you have to do is call and accept our offer! We will schedule a time to pick up your vehicle and pay you cash. Request a free estimate, today!

Can I Sell a Car That Was Submerged in Water?

Posted on May 8, 2018 by junkcars17

Water damage is never a good thing, whether it be a house, a cell phone, or something else of high economic value. When it comes to your car, the same principle applies. Continue reading to learn more about vehicular water damage, including your options for resale and how to get started.

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Water damage can greatly affect the resale value of a vehicle, especially if essential components no longer operate properly as a result. The extent of water damage plays a large role in the overall effect it has on value. For instance, if you spill a cup of water on your dashboard, it may cause defects in the built-in navigation system or computer board, which ultimately lowers the vehicle’s value; but if you drive into a pond, the damage can render a car totaled by the insurance company.

A car that has been entirely (or mostly) submerged under water is not likely to come back to a safe and operational condition. You see, automotive engines are not designed to withstand water submergence or flooding, with the exception of specialty aquatic vehicles. Flooding the engine will cause irreversible damage to the drivetrain, starter, and much more. Even if you let it dry out before starting it, the damage is already done and it is too late to fix. Furthermore, major automotive parts like motors and catalytic converters are very expensive to replace, which is why most vehicles are labeled as “totaled” by insurance companies when their engine no longer runs.

Various other car parts can experience problems from water damage. For example, anything made of metal will rust, which leads to accelerated corrosion. Also, any electrical components will not be repairable after being submerged or damaged by water.

In addition to motors, converters, and similar critical car parts, flooding will also cause extensive damage to the interior upholstered components in a vehicle. Anything upholstered with fabric or leather will develop a musty smell as a result of stagnant water and mold growth. It could be resolved with an intensive upholstery cleaning and conditioning, but it is very unlikely that the damage will reverse entirely.

Selling a Flooded Vehicle

You can sell a car that has been flooded or submerged in water under a few conditions. The most important and influential condition is that you are 100% honest. You have to understand that a vehicle that has incurred such damage will likely be considered totaled since the cost to repair it back to industry standards would exceed the cost of the current market value. So as long as you are honest about the extent of damage the vehicle has incurred, you can lawfully sell it without being criminalized for fraud. Just keep in mind that you will not get as much money in return.

The other condition has to do with your car insurance company. You need to ensure that the title and paperwork for the vehicle is adjusted correctly to show the water damage and current value. If you alter the car title to make it appear clean, you can faced fraud charges.

How to Get the Best Deal for a Totaled Car

You can sell a water-damaged or totaled car to an individual buyer by listing it for sale in a local ad or directory, but this may not get you the most money. With such damage, it will be difficult to challenge a potential buyer’s offer and negotiations. But if you sell to a professional junk car buyer, you will get a fair deal for the value of your vehicle. They retain specialized equipment like electronic weight scales and XRF metal analyzers that accurately detect the worth of a vehicle. They couple their findings with the current economic values of metal, and then pay out cash on the spot regardless of a vehicle’s age or condition.

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Why is My Check Engine Light On?

Posted on December 8, 2017 by junkcars17

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Most people can relate to having car problems. Squeaky brakes, poor suspensions, broken headlights, and more are common issues experienced by drivers and car owners every day. Although these problems are a concern, the engine is the scariest of them all. When you see your check engine light illuminate, it is easy to feel some degree of panic. You might be envisioning outrageous repair bills, or worse, discovering that your car is completely totaled.

Unfortunately, when a malfunction indicator lamp (also known as your check engine light) comes on, immediate action is required, whether that means paying for repair or not. That is because it is not safe to drive a vehicle with potential performance problems.

This is especially true in the case of major engine damage. In this case, it is in the best interest of your safety to either have your engine repaired, or to junk your car entirely. So learn why your check engine light might be on, and what to do if it is too expensive to repair.

Professional Diagnostic Testing

There are countless reasons for a malfunction indicator lamp to illuminate on a driver’s dashboard. Because there are so many different variables involved when it comes to determining a problem, a person needs professional assistance. The first step in figuring out why your check engine light has illuminated is diagnostic testing. Usually, an automotive repair shop is the obvious place to get this type of analytical testing. They retain the proper tools, training, and equipment to accurately diagnose readings derived from diagnostic examinations. This service can cost anywhere from $50 to $75, depending on the particular provider.

On the other hand, if you are familiar with automotive service and repair, you can purchase a diagnostic test kit and perform the assessment yourself. These are available at any local automotive store, and come in a wide range of options and prices. Keep in mind that you may need to learn how to read codes and pinpoint all contributing factors to accurately diagnose the underlying problems.

Common Reasons:

⚉ Loose Gas Cap The job of the gas is to seal the fuel system and retain pressure inside the fuel tank. It prevents gasoline fumes, or hydrocarbons, from being admitted into the atmosphere and polluting the air and surrounding environment. If a loose gas is not fastened properly, gasoline within the tank will evaporate causing a drivers fuel level to decrease substantially. Considering the high gas prices these days, this is a very undesirable situation for any driver to have on their hands. The good news is that a loose gas is simple to fix. Simply type of backup or purchase a new cap that will fit and seal your fuel tank properly. ⚉ Oxygen Sensor Oxygen sensors, also referred to as O2 sensors, measure the amount of oxygen that is unburned in a vehicle exhaust system. They will cause a check engine light to illuminate when it’s time for them to be replaced. Again, if a driver fails to replace their O2 sensors, they will begin to lose a significant amount of gas mileage because the engine will burn more fuel than it needs to. Fuel economy loss can reach up to 40% or more if an oxygen sensor problem is ignored for too long. Defective oxygen sensors can also cause problems with a vehicle’s spark plugs and catalytic converter; a much higher and costly automotive repair. ⚉ Mass Airflow Sensors A mass airflow sensor, or MAF, is the center that determines how much fuel your engine needs to run properly. It accomplishes this by measuring the amount of air entering an engine. All recommendations for O2 sensor replacements are the same for mass airflow sensors. Failure to replace MAF sensors can cause damage to a vehicle spark plugs or Lytic converter as mentioned before; as well as, reduced engine performance and fuel economy. Again, if caught early on and replaced on schedule, these repairs will cost less than if damages were to occur. ⚉ Spark Plugs We mentioned above that failing to replace sensors can cause damages to a vehicle spark plugs or plug wires. Well, when a malfunction indicator lamp turns on it could mean that your spark plugs or plug wires need replaced. This is also a fairly inexpensive repair, so it is important to catch this early on as well and have them replaced by professional automotive repair shop or licensed mechanic. Failing to replace plug wires can cause damages to ignition coils and O2 sensors, clog catalytic converters, and much more. ⚉ Catalytic Converter

The most costly and expensive reason behind an illuminated check engine light is a malfunctioning or damage catalytic converter. Catalytic converters convert carbon monoxide into carbon dioxide; protecting our environment and reducing harmful exhaust emissions. Neglecting to replace or repair a damaged catalytic converter will cause your vehicle to fail the state’s vehicle emissions test. Your car will lose fuel economy, experienced reduced gas mileage, poor engine performance, and operate at a higher temperature. This can lead to engine overheating and more.

Total Loss Vehicles

Some of the above-mentioned automotive issues may render a vehicle a total loss. Then occurs when the total cost of the repair exceeds the total current value of the vehicle. For instance, if your vehicle has a current market value of $2500, but the cost to replace your engine is $3500, your car is considered a total loss. This means it is totaled. In this situation, you can redeem the insurance money for it, or sell it to an Indianapolis junk car buyer for instant cash on the spot.

Get Paid Cash On the Spot for Your Totaled Car!

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Call GC’s Junk Cars at 317-608-2188 to sell your totaled car for cash in Indianapolis. We offer free towing with our in-house tow truck, so all you have to do is call and accept our offer! We will schedule a time to pick up your vehicle and pay you cash. Call 317-608-2188 to request a free estimate, today.

What Can I Do With a Totaled Car?

Posted on July 10, 2017 by junkcars17

Learn your options after totaling your vehicle in an accident.

If you have just recently totaled your vehicle, you already know that you were faced with the decision of having it towed to your home, to an auto shop, or straight to the salvage yard. If you chose to take it home with you, then you are now faced with some more decisions. What are you going to do with your totaled vehicle? Continue reading to learn some helpful and some lucrative options.

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🚗 Dismantle It for Parts

You can have a mechanic dismantle your totaled car so that you can salvage its spare parts that still work. You can even do this yourself if you are handy in the automotive field. Once you have your car dismantled, you can either use the spare parts you saved for another vehicle, or you can sell them one by one for a profit. The downside to this option is the time and the cost. You have to pay a mechanic to dismantle your car if you cannot do it yourself; and since they charge by the hour, that can be expensive. However, you make most of the money back if you can successfully sell the parts. If you dismantle the vehicle yourself, it takes a long time and a lot of effort that many people are not enthusiastic to give.

🚗 Sell It for Cash

There are countless cash for cars companies out there that will pay you cash for your totaled vehicle. However, it is important to know which company to choose for the best service and highest profit. Choose a company that has experience in the industry, and that offers free services, like estimates, pickup, towing, and more. Most importantly, you want to find a company that pays cash on the spot so that you do not have to wait for your profit.

🚗 Keep It and Repair It

This is probably the most expensive and time-consuming option, but sometimes, it is also the most fun. If you are someone who enjoys automotive work and is in need of a challenging project, keeping and repairing your totaled car could be the best option for you. Just be sure to save all the spare parts that still work to save you some money!

Some Additional Options…

✓ Insurance Claim – Turn it into insurance and wait for your check.
✓ Metal Art – Turn it into a piece of unique artwork.
✓ Donation – Donate it to a junk yard or salvage center.
✓ Scrap Metal Recycling – Recycle it at a scrap metal center.

GC’s Junk Cars Will Pay Cash On the Spot for Your Totaled Car!

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Call GC’s Junk Cars at 317-608-2188 to sell your totaled car for cash in Indianapolis. We offer free towing with our in-house tow truck, so all you have to do is call and accept our offer! We will schedule a time to pick up your vehicle and pay you cash. Call 317-608-2188 to request a free estimate, today.