If you are anything like me you are sick and tired of shoveling and wondering where on earth (or at least on my little patch of it) am I going to put more snow. The snow banks on either side of our driveway are already 5+ feet high.

Now I consider myself a tall strong woman, shoveling through storm 1 . . . 2 . . . 3 didn't faze me much. Storm 4 was a challenge as I had to sling the snow higher and further than before. I am now thinking that I will have to develop some supernatural- gravity fighting- ability to shovel snow over a bank that is taller than I am and far enough out that it doesn't come rolling back down in order to deal with this next one.

Maybe I should have sat down at the beginning of this winter with a large map of our property and drawn out a snow removal plan, maybe I should have gone into this with a strategy, a master plan. But alas, here I am with no plan, snow banks up to my eyeballs and wondering if I will see my grass ever again.

There is a lot to be said for being prepared. Even though a master snow removal plan has eluded me it has had me thinking a lot about all of my family and friends out on the road driving around in these snowy ice conditions and has inspired me to share a couple of things you can do to make sure you are prepared when you head out on the road this winter. A few of this tips I learned from my Grandpa, who was never without some preventative advice, and others I have learned from experience and heard on the news.

1. Never let your gas tank go under half a tank (thanks Grandpa). He always told me to pretend that half full was almost empty. This way no matter what the conditions, traffic accident on the highway, emergency in the middle of the night or unexpected (or expected) bad weather you are never at risk for running out of gas. Certainly the night before a storm it is a very good idea to fill your tank.

2. Never leave the house without a warm jacket (again thanks grandpa) Even if you are just running to the store or gas station, your car is already warm or you already have a jacket at the office, there is no guarantee that you will make it where you are going. Even if someone were to rear-end you at the traffic light you don't want to be standing out in the cold in just a t-shirt. Having gloves and a hat in your car is also a very good idea.

3. Cell phone charger in your car  (okay grandpa has been gone for a few years and didn't have a cell phone, but if he did I am sure he would have advised having a car charger) I am the worst culprit of running around with a half charged cell phone and have more than once been on my way home late a night with a dead cell phone and no charger thinking what if I were to get in an accident, I would have no way of calling for help. Buy a car charger - keep it in your vehicle at all times.

4. A warm blanket - if you get stranded on the road and your car won't start or you run out of gas (see #1 on how to avoid running out of gas) it will get chilly, having a warm blanket could help you survive freezing temperatures.

5. A candy bar/ protein bar of your choice - This way if you get really, really stranded, like the kind of stranded that makes national news where you are undiscovered for days and days, you can nibble on your candy bar of choice and when you are finally rescued you can attribute your survival to said candy bar and probably get a million dollar endorsement deal.

6. Flares - I just heard on the news about how important it is to have some. I always assumed the police put them out for you, but if the conditions are bad it make take the police a while to arrive and if you are in an accident that has compromised your cars electrical system your four way flashers may not work. I will be stopping at the store tonight to pick some up, if you have a vehicle emergency kit they might be included.

7. Flashlight - Again if your cars electrical system fails and you need to see stuff it would be helpful to have some light. Don't take the sun or your dome lights for granted.

8. A Bag of sand - Next time you're at the beach, okay just kidding and seriously I am doubtful that this snow will clear in time to go to the beach at all this summer. Don't take sand from the beach, its probably illegal, but do try and have a bag of sand or some rock salt to sprinkle under your tires if you get stuck in the snow/ice.

9. An ice scraper - I just ran my last one over and cracked it to pieces (another good idea is to not throw your ice scrapper on the ground and then decide to move your car so you can get around it to get the snow off). If you are like m you might want to carry an extra.

Well there you have it, 9 really good ideas on how to be prepared. This list is not meant to be all inclusive, I am sure there are a lot of other things that could help save you in a bad situation, so do some Google searching if you really need a complete list. Listen to the news and the forecast and try to avoid going out in the storms if at all possible.

Of course do the proper vehicle maintenance to keep you car running smoothly and if you have a fender bender, an unfortunate run in with a snow bank (but I thought snow was soft?!?) or mechanical failure this winter call East Coast with your OEM replacement parts needs. We will be here, rain, snow, sleet or hail!

1-800-231-9121

Monday -Friday 8am-5pm, Sat 8am-12Noon

Parting out... call 1-800-231-9121 for parts requests or questions and all of your used auto part needs.

Visit us on the web at www.ecautosalvage.com where you can view more pictures and check out our large inventory of used OEM domestic and foreign car and truck parts.

Please note these photos show parts on vehicle at time of inventory.

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97 98 99 00 01 TOYOTA CAMRY LH Rear Door    US $169.99

1997 TOYOTA CAMRY RH Front Seat Belt    US $54.99

97 98 99 00 01 CAMRY Steering Column    US $69.99

04 05 06 TOYOTA CAMRY Gray Steering Column    US $69.99

05 06 TOYOTA CAMRY Speedometer cluster MPH 4 cyl    US $99.99

00 01 02 03 04 TOYOTA AVALON AC Compressor    US $104.99

1997 TOYOTA CAMRY LH Rear Door Trim Panel    US $54.99

1997 TOYOTA CAMRY RH Rear Door Trim Panel    US $54.99

04 05 06 07 08 09 10 TOYOTA SIENNA Starter Motor    US $69.99

97 98 99 00 01 LEXUS ES300 30L Alternator Generator    US $59.99

1999 TOYOTA CAMRY Glove Box    US $59.99

99 00 01 LEXUS ES300 30L RH Rear Exhaust Manifold    US $69.99

94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 LEXUS ES300 Harmonic Balancer    US $59.99

94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 LEXUS ES300 30L Lower Oil Pan    US $69.99

02 03 04 05 06 07 08 TOYOTA SOLARA 24L Steering Pump    US $69.99

2003 TOYOTA CAMRY RH Front Power Window Switch    US $54.99

1998 TOYOTA CAMRY RH Front Power Window Switch    US $54.99

1997 TOYOTA CAMRY RH Front Power Window Switch    US $54.99

97 98 99 00 01 02 TOYOTA CAMRY RH Cylinder Head    US $89.99

97 98 99 00 01 02 TOYOTA CAMRY LH Cylinder Head    US $94.99

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Parting out... call 1-800-231-9121 for parts requests or questions and all of your used auto part needs.

Visit us on the web at www.ecautosalvage.com where you can view more pictures and check out our large inventory of used OEM domestic and foreign car and truck parts.

Please note these photos show parts on vehicle at time of inventory.

2008 Nissan Rogue

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09 NISSAN ROGUE AM FM Bose Radio Stereo Receiver 6 Disc CD    US $199.99

2008 NISSAN ROGUE Steering Wheel    US $124.99

09 10 NISSAN ROGUE RH Quarter Panel    US $419.99

08 09 10 NISSAN ROGUE Heat AC Climate Temperature Control    US $72.99

2008 NISSAN ROGUE Right Front Passenger Power Window Switch    US $49.99

2008 NISSAN ROGUE Left Front Driver Master Power Window Switch    US $64.99

08 09 NISSAN ROGUE Compact Spare Wheel 16x4    US $89.99

2008 NISSAN ROGUE Glove Box    US $94.99

2009 NISSAN ROGUE Right Front Passenger Power Window Switch    US $54.99

2009 NISSAN ROGUE Left Front Driver Master Power Window Switch    US $64.99

2009 NISSAN ROGUE Automatic Transmission Floor Shifter Gear Shift    US $119.99

09 10 NISSAN ROGUE 25L Engine    US $1,449.99

08 NISSAN ROGUE 25L Engine    US $1,599.99

09 NISSAN ROGUE Automatic Transmission    US $1,249.99

08 NISSAN ROGUE Automatic Transmission    US $1,049.99

08 09 NISSAN ROGUE Fuel Pump Assembly    US $95.09

08 09 10 NISSAN ROGUE Starter Motor    US $65.09

08 NISSAN ROGUE Transmission Control Module    US $130.09

08 09 10 11 NISSAN ROGUE Transfer Case    US $450.09

08 09 NISSAN ROGUE Power Brake Booster    US $75.09

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Here at East Coast Auto Salvage we are anticipating the convention, which will be held in Austin Texas October 20-23 at the Renaissance Austin Hotel. Every year the national convention provides automotive recyclers from acorss the country with valubale information about the the industry and how to improve business. The schedule for this year looks promising with topics being covered from employee management to improving customer service as well as training from the ARA University. The networking events such as the BBQ, yard tour and Saturday evening dinner are not to be missed as they provide the priceless opportunity to meet and make connections with other auto recyclers from all across the country.

Besides the convention we are also looking forward to visiting the city of Austin which has so much to offer. We will definitely be taking the opportunity to visit some famous eatieries and BBQ restaurants and hopefully see some live music downtown.

For more information about the Automotive Recyclers Association 67th Annual Convention and Exposition please visit www.araexpo.org. See you there!

Now 25 years later here we are going stronger than ever. We're stocking over 600 salvaged late-model vehicles per year, adding hundreds of quality tested used parts to our inventory daily, utilizing all of the latest in parts locating technology and employing more talented and knowledgeable staff than ever,  all to bring our customers the best parts and service in the industry. We recognize that every single day is a chance to improve what we offer and take every experience as an opportunity to better our operation and our service.

Now being a second generation family run auto salvage we are looking to the future more than ever. We appreciate your business and value your opinions. If there is anything that we can do to improve please let us know. We look forward to many more years of service!

In the autumn 2009 issue of the Locator UpFront Magazine there was a feature article about our website and e-commerce department. To view the article please follow this link The Locator UpFront Autumn 2009

2001 Trailblazer, 2000 Windstar and 2001 Jeep Cherokee traded in under the Federal "Cash for Clunkers" program headed for the crusher.

getting paid for the vehicles traded in under the 3 billion dollar Federal Cash for Clunkers program they are turning over the vehicles to auto recycling facilities and scrap yards.

What a surprise today when they brought down a load of vehicles including a 2001 Jeep Cherokee, 2000 Ford Windstar and 2001 Trailblazer. Three beautifully well maintained vehicles with moderately low mileage that will be destroyed because the Federal government somehow thinks that this is saving America money.

I do not know a high school or college student, low income family, single working parent or any other average Jane (including myself) who would not mind the opportunity to purchase one of these used vehicles. But as you might already know the Cash for Clunkers program mandates that the engines on these vehicles are destroyed and that under no circumstance are the vehicles resold; they are destined for the crusher.

So now these vehicles will be processed here at our facility just like all other salvage and wrecked vehicles. Fluids drained and other contaminating substances removed, all salvageable body parts and other miscellaneous parts stocked for resale and then off to the crusher to be recycled.

So if any of you out there are searching for a reasonably priced, well maintained used vehicle to get you to and from work or school and are having a hard time coming up with the money or finding a good vehicle think of the 750,000 used, running vehicles like these that were destroyed in the past few months and your hard earned tax dollars that fueled this genius plan.

The dealers then have an execution order to kill the engines of the trade in vehicles with a solution of sodium silicate. This mass killing of engines has left used engine communities across the nation, including the one at East Coast Auto Salvage, horrified and fearful.

“These engines have done nothing to deserve this!” exclaims the 2003 Trailblazer engine that resides in B1 at East Coast Auto Salvage. “These are good running engines that could have provided transportation for people in need of a ride. Not everyone can afford a new car; many people need used engines to keep their vehicles running. That is what we are here for.”

Just today the Wall Street Journal released an article about the increase in demand for the Sodium Silicate solution that is used in the execution process. It describes the killing process and in particular the experience at a dealership in Kansas:

At dealerships across America, mechanics accustomed to fixing engines are battling for the chance to ruin them. "Everybody wants to go first, so I'm probably going to have to make them draw straws," says Jim Burton of Randy Curnow Buick Pontiac GMC in Kansas City, Kan. As service manager, however, he might reserve that thrill for himself. "I can't wait," he says.

Over the weekend, half a dozen mechanics gathered around three clunkers marked for death at Jim Clark Motors in Lawrence, Kan. As Loris Brubeck Jr., the dealership's president, held a stopwatch, the sodium-silicate solution took two minutes flat to kill a 2002 Ford Windstar, and just a few seconds more to kill a 1999 Jeep. But a 1988 Dodge van lasted more than six minutes. "Sometimes those old engines, they're the hardest to kill," says Mr. Brubeck.

“As if the killings themselves weren’t bad enough it is just sickening the great pleasure that these mechanics and dealers are taking in performing the execution,” says the 2000 Expedition Engine that resides in Z2 at East Coast. “These motors are just like us. They probably still have a lot of life in them but the government decided that they should be put to death, it’s a shame really.” 

The article in the WJS describes the effect of the Sodium Silicate:

"The heat of the operating engine then dehydrates the solution leaving solid sodium silicate distributed throughout the engine's oiled surfaces and moving parts," says the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration publication. "These solids quickly abrade the bearings causing the engine to seize while damaging the moving parts of the engine and coating all of the oil passages."

“Reading this makes me cringe, what a horrible way to die,” says the 2004 Durango Engine that resides in A10. “It could have been any of us really; it is just a matter of being at the wrong place at the wrong time.”

Indeed these engines from these “clunkers” don’t stand a chance. Approximately 250,000 vehicles have already been destroyed under the program and if the senate approves more funding another 500,000 or more running engines will be killed. This obviously reduces the number of good used vehicles available on the market and because of the engine destruction will also reduce the number of used replacement parts available for consumers.

“This program just doesn’t make any sense to me,” says the 1998 Deville engine that resides in Z3. ”Valuable resources were used to create us in the first place and the resources used to produce new vehicles costs more in the long run than keeping us old engines running until we naturally expire. All of this killing seems unnecessary and I am glad that I am not a tax payer right now because I don’t see how this is a benefit to the consumer.”

A moment of silence will be held by all of the engines at East Coast Auto Salvage this evening in remembrance of those engines that could have lived on to help others but instead were brutally slaughtered by the federal government.

WSJ article at http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124934376942503053.html

Cash for Clunkers Information at http://www.cars.gov/ 

Need to replace a wheel on your car, truck, van or SUV? Not sure how to begin? Below is a quick reference for how to find the size and type of wheel you have on your vehicle.

First you should know the kind of wheel you have on your vehicle. Is it aluminum or steel? What kind of a finish does it have?

See the photos below to tell the difference between kinds of wheels.

This is a photo of a steel wheel without a wheel cover or hubcap. Steel wheels are usually much heavier than aluminum and are black unless they have been styled or painted.

This is a photo of a steel wheel with a plastic wheel cover - also called a hub cap. If you look closely you can see the black steel wheel under the cover.

This is a photo of a styled steel wheel. The wheel is made from steel but formed into a design and painted. You will find this type of wheel most commonly on trucks and some Jeeps and SUVs.

This is a close-up shot of a styled steel wheel. It may look like aluminum at first sight but this is really just a painted steel wheel. You can see a little rust around the edges, this is another way to tell that it is steel and not aluminum.

This is an aluminum wheel with a normal finish. Aluminum wheels can have several kinds of finishes including polished, two toned and chrome.

This is an aluminum wheel with a chrome finish. Aluminum wheels can have several kinds of finishes including polished, two toned and chrome.

After you figure out what kind of wheel you have on your vehicle you will have to know what size it is. This can be done quite easily by looking at your tire. Below is a close up photo of the wall of a tire. You will find a sequence of numbers usually like this P###/## R##. The numbers after the R indicate the size or diameter of your wheel. The most common wheel sizes are 14-18 although they can be smaller or larger depending on the type of vehicle.

This is a close up photo of the wall of a tire where you can find the tire and wheel size. The size of this wheel is 16" (The number after the R - in this case R16)

Once you know the type and size of your wheel there are a few more details you should notice before you look for a replacement. First notice how many lug-nut holes you have in the center of your wheel. The lugs may be covered by your hub cap  or center cap which can be easily removed. The number of lug-nut holes will make a difference for some kinds of vehicles. Next, if you have an aluminum wheel you should notice the design. How many spokes or holes does it have? What kind of finish does it have. There may have been many different wheel styles put on the same model and year of  your vehicle. You should also be aware with both steel and aluminum wheels if yours has a tire pressure sensor.

Once you have gathered all of this information you are ready to begin looking for a replacement wheel for your vehicle.  

And you know a great place to start? Call us at East Coast Auto Salvage! We will certainly try to provide you with the replacement wheel that you need. But if for some reason we don't have we strongly recommend looking at your local Auto Recycling Facility before going to the dealer or another source.

Call us 1-800-231-9121

See our inventory online at www.ecautosalvage.com

Check our our wheels on eBay http://stores.shop.ebay.com/East-Coast-Auto-Salvage-Inc_Wheels-Hub-Caps_W0QQ_fsubZ5945862QQ_sidZ227815158QQ_trksidZp4634Q2ec0Q2em322

When we sell body parts and interior parts we always recommend to our customers that they match the paint or trim codes off of their vehicle to the codes from our vehicle. You might be suprised just how many color variations both in paint and interior trim colors were produced Volvos. 

This is a general guide of where to locate the paint and trim codes for your late model Volvo. We do not have a list of the coinciding names for the colors - but if you are at least able to match the numbers when purchasing a part you will take the guess work out of trying to match colors. 

Below I have listed a few examples of Volvos we have in inventory. The location of the VIN plate is different between models of Volvos. Sometimes it is easily accessible on the top of the fender apron and other times it can be hidden down on the inside behind the battery. See examples below.

On all of the late model Volvos we deal with, the interior trim code is always the four digit number located on the middle right side of the VIN plate. The paint code is the first three digits of the number below it.

On the 1998 Volvo S70 GLT the VIN Plate is located on the drivers side fender apron. On this plate you can find the paint and interior trim codes for this Volvo.

On the 1998 Volvo S70 GLT the paint code is the three digit number located on the middle right side of the VIN plate. The interior trim code is a four digit number right above the paint code.

On the 2004 Volvo XC70 the VIN Plate is located on top of the drivers side fender apron. On this plate you can find the paint and interior trim codes for this Volvo.

On the 2004 Volvo XC70 Cross Country the paint code is the three digit number located on the middle right side of the VIN plate. The interior trim code is a four digit number right above the paint code.

Call us with all of your Volvo parts requests - we have a lot in stock and will be happy to help you out! 1-800-231-9121