Help with e-scrap

I work as a mechanic and have been breaking down the PC boards from car ECU's. They are green both sides and look higher in value than say a TV board. Also been saving motherboards when I can find them and RAM. I want to send in a box to e-wasted soon. I seen threads with PC cable ends and CPU's and mylar keyboard overlays. What can I send in besides the ECU boards and RAM? I get confused by the price list. Still to new to e-waste to know what I have.

Ya I don't get much Computer scrap. Mostly automotive ECU's. I've been saving awhile and I have 4 sticks of RAM and one CPU with gold pins. I had maybe 2 Motherboards but already scrapped them locally. The options where I live really suck. There is one scrap yard and they bend you over. For example they pay $12 for a pre cat with manifold. In the city I could get $30-50 for the same thing. They don't grade alum. whatsoever. It's all .30 lb. Cast, 6061, doesnt matter. Clean alum= .30 lb. I had my window framing in a pile, alum. heat sinks in a pile and the guy just graded them all clean alum. and when I said something at the counter it was business as usual sorry that's what we pay. Too late to load it back up.
I could ship them and probably still come out ahead.

I don't know where you're at in Montana, the only places that deal with E-Waste in the state that I know of are in Billings. I won't deal with any of them. Maybe there's a better option somewhere, but I'm not in Montana very often.

For boxes, keep it under (but close to) 70 lbs if shipping to E-Wasted via FedEx. The rates will be cheapest. He'll buy most computer parts. You'll want to ask him about ECMs though. Sort everything, and he'll take care of the rest. Tape or rubber band your RAM together, and group motherboards by socket size and number (Most boards only have 1 socket, but the dual socket ones are worth more). After that, figure out the per pound payout, and the cost to ship (It should be about $0.40-$0.50 per pound to ship), depending on weight, dimensions, and your location.

If you run into something that stumps you, feel free to ask. We're always ready to help!

Car electronic boards have a lot of tanti capactors. They look like a little drop of paint on two wire legs.
They also have different markings on them from normal capactors.
There may be other sorts of tanti capactors too.

The other thing I notice is they sometimes have RAM chips with the little window in the top of them.
The windows normally covered with a sticker. They also normally are plugged into a socket.
Other chips are normally soldered in.

Do a seach here for info about the tanti capactors. Lots good info & pics

There's other electronics in cars that are valuable, I'm just not sure about it. Like I have heard that the resistance wire in the fuel tank is platinium... and similar with the tiny wire that goes thru the intake housing, as a temp probe.
I have found gold wires in the pressure sensor in the intake manafold. But, what its worth ? Dunno. Where to sell it, dunno too.

That chip is called an EEPROM and if it's from a GM ECM do not scrap those, the EEPROMS are getting rare and cost ten bucks each or more for tuners to acquire if they need them. Also don't take the sticker off that window is how the chip is wiped with a UV blast of light.

Post a pic for the rest of us if you'd be so kind.

Might help you get answers on who best to sell them to, grade, etc etc.

Good info in this thread so far. Know More then I knew before I read it.

So thanks OP!

Sirscrapalot - Once again, we come to the Holiday Season, a deeply religious time that each of us observes, in his own way, by going to the mall of his choice. - Dave Barry

Thanks guys. I actually emailed e-wasted and he wants pictures so I'll take some. The ECU's I have are newer so no E-PROMS. Lots of gold plated stuff on airbag ECU's. That stuff should be worth it but I don't get a lot of those. Only replaced when the vehicle had been in an accident.