If your beloved car or ute is in need of repairs, it can be a nerve-wracking experience. You don't want to spend more money than you have to, but you also don't want to do anything that might shorten the life of your car or void your warranty. There are quality replacement auto parts out there: the key is just knowing what to look for.
There are essentially three types of parts you can buy: genuine, OEM, or generic. Let's talk about each.
Genuine parts are made by the same company that manufactured your vehicle, and these parts are designed from the ground up to fit and perform just like the original.
The initials here stand for original equipment manufacturer, and these parts are every bit as good as genuine parts. Some vehicle manufacturers don't produce their own parts, even for new cars being built on the assembly lines. Instead, they line out the exact specifications they need and have a third-party manufacturer make the part.
These same parts are available to you, and again, these are made specifically to fit in your car and perform like original parts.
Generic parts are made to fit as many cars and utes as possible. They technically will fit, but they are rarely going to be quite as perfect a fit as OEM or genuine parts. They are sometimes also made from lower-quality materials. That said, some generic parts can be really good, and they are often cheaper than OEM or genuine parts.
The parts you choose are important to the life of your car. If a replacement part is substandard, or if it's not made perfectly to the manufacturer's standards and causes some kind of problem, it could void your warranty. If a poorly fit replacement part causes damage to other parts of your vehicle, even if those other parts would otherwise be covered, they won't be once the poor-quality replacement part has done the damage.
So which parts should you choose for your vehicle? It's important to have a relationship with an experienced parts and repair shop, and especially if they specialise in working on specific car makes, like Mitsubishi or Holden. They will know which parts are the best bet for your vehicle and whether there are any generic parts that would fit your needs or not. They can give you tips and tricks for getting the part installed correctly. In lots of cases, they also have trained technicians who can do the work for you.
The best way to keep your car in good condition and running as expected is to always use high-quality replacement parts, installed correctly. When your vehicle needs a replacement part it's always best to speak to a local car servicing shop in Gladstone. They'll help you identify which parts will best fit your needs and whether there's anything you need to know about the part or your vehicle that could help make replacement easier.