Running The Lemon Car Gauntlet
Use your gut instinct. Whichever methods you use you should always go with what feels right, if the salesman seems a little pushy then walk out the door.
When the roadside assistance service arrives, they can give your battery and get you going again. Many times this is all it will take, but it is wise to go straight to the first auto parts store you see or a department store that sells car batteries so that you can have your battery tested and replaced if it must be. Sometimes a dead battery is just a fluke and it will charge right back up. However, it is always good to get it checked and the battery assistance that is provided by your auto club can get you on your way to running like normal in no time.
Over the years, I learned another little handy trick that seems to help when it comes to saving money on parts for my car. You know all of those old "buy here, pay here" car lots? Well, if you run into one that is locally owned, you may get a little deal on any spare parts that they have laying around. Many times, these spare parts are just lying around and cannot be used for anything in the lot. The owners of these little side car dealerships love to make a fast buck and are often more than willing to part with a few vehicle parts to make some fast cash.
It is always better to search for used parts on the Internet. You can finds a number of deals online, compare prices and specifications and wind up with the best fitting OEM used part at one-third the price of a new one and that too without any hassles. There are a number of websites dedicated to sales of junk my car for cash and most of them even provide free home delivery, money back guarantee and customer support. Furthermore, there are websites even dedicated specifically to Jeep Wrangler Parts. What else could you possibly ask for!
You should also not rule out refurbished car parts. Many people write them off because of the fact that they have been used. They may have been used but since being taken off their previous vehicle they have been inspected and brought back up to a good standard. Many people don't realize that reconditioned auto parts often come with a warranty or guarantee. They are also at the middle ground when it comes to prices because they are between new and used parts.
I just want to caution you. Please do not go to your dealer for parts. Obviously, you want to go there to get your basic maintenance taken care of and that should be just fine. But for more serious servicing you should stay as far away from your dealer as humanly possible. At least as far as your TDI car parts are concerned. Many dealers actually mark up their prices by as much as 300%, and will let you pay the price without batting an eye.
