Do you all think quality has gone DOWN?

[BlackRuby23]

You wouldn't even be able to buy wiper blades at AutoZone.

You go, keyboard cowboy.

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[Wheelin98TJ]

You go, keyboard cowboy.

That was a joke. Lighten up.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

You wouldn't even be able to buy wiper blades at AutoZone.

They still exist?

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

They still exist?

Are they going away? I haven't noticed.

 

[Supazuk]

Sounds like excessive consumerism. If it works for you, great. I only buy what I need and use heavily.

so you drive with the top and door off everyday?

 

[Supazuk]

I was the service manager for an independent shop for many years. Were you? Mitchell On Demand and Alldata, which all techs refer to, are not going to even have the option to select a Gladiator with a Hemi engine, so the moment a tech goes to pull up the vehicle he's working on, it's NO BUENO. I don't think you understand how shops work.

those are called parts re placers not tech or mechanics ..

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Are they going away? I haven't noticed.

I guess it's Advance Auto that's in trouble.
Still, you don't see but one or two Autozone around here.
Almost everything here is NAPA or O'Reilly's stores and they are a lot closer.

 

[BlackRuby23]

That was a joke. Lighten up.

Got it.

so you drive with the top and door off everyday?

I drive my Jeep every day, yes.

 

[BlackRuby23]

those are called parts re placers not tech or mechanics ..

Actually, the term you're looking for is "parts changers."

 

[ShadowsPapa]

those are called parts re placers not tech or mechanics ..

That's why I literally walked away from one job years ago. Couldn't handle the idiocy - and it ran clear up to the manager. When he advocated creepy brake work and sending a vacationing family on their way - even though I KNEW the real issue was still there, I'd had enough and walked.

 

[Supazuk]

Actually, the term you're looking for is "parts changers."

no we call call they re placers .... they don't change anything ... change means with a different part
If you can't do basic diag without all data, you are a re placer.
alldata is for torque specs and flat rate pay

 

[BlackRuby23]

no we call call they re placers .... they don't change anything ... change means with a different part
If you can't do basic diag without all data, you are a re placer.
alldata is for torque specs and flat rate pay

Not out west. Never once heard anybody in the industry say "parts replacer," always "parts changer." Maybe you guys talk different back there.

 

[Supazuk]

I guess it's Advance Auto that's in trouble.
Still, you don't see but one or two Autozone around here.
Almost everything here is NAPA or O'Reilly's stores and they are a lot closer.

Advance can't get parts right their entire catalog is a mess

Autozone is the walmart of parts if you need it at 7 pm they have it but I'm not gonna trust it for a permanent fix

O'reillys is good can get soem quality parts but they can't handle the commercial side well

NAPA is Napa as the old say goes "Need A Part Ahole"

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Advance can't get parts right their entire catalog is a mess

Some of that is from the actual part makers/suppliers/vendors.
I can point to specifics where you could not get a selector shaft seal for a TF transmission, or the front bearing set for a certain car.
The reason? National was wrong, and most parts stores took their own numbers from National for seals, Timken was wrong - I talked to a guy at Timken and got that straightened out, Gabriel had the wrong steering stabilizer listed for a vehicle - so Rock Auto said "sorry, no return, Gabriel says it's correct and we go by them". I've been screwed several times by RA due to that sort of issue - even if you PROVE their supplier is wrong, they won't admit the problem.
I was able to get a seal from NAPA because they were the only parts house that didn't copy the National seal catalog for transmission seals.
I bet I can dig back and find a half-dozen instances of the major parts people getting it wrong, so the parts stores had it wrong.
Garbage in, Garbage out.

I don't recall which it was - Autozone or Advance auto at this point, but back in about 2011, they were the one and only store that could supply me a new radiator for my car. It was an exact match - made from the same "plans" Blackstone used to make the originals, down to the part numbers embossed in the brass top.
Problem was - the first one was made in Mexico - in minutes, a seam popped and it pumped out coolant.
I took it back, they replaced it with another - another exact match in every way but this time marked "Made in Korea". I'm still running that one. No one else was able to come up with even a "this might fit" replacement.

 

[Stan H]

Some of that is from the actual part makers/suppliers/vendors.
I can point to specifics where you could not get a selector shaft seal for a TF transmission, or the front bearing set for a certain car.
The reason? National was wrong, and most parts stores took their own numbers from National for seals, Timken was wrong - I talked to a guy at Timken and got that straightened out, Gabriel had the wrong steering stabilizer listed for a vehicle - so Rock Auto said "sorry, no return, Gabriel says it's correct and we go by them". I've been screwed several times by RA due to that sort of issue - even if you PROVE their supplier is wrong, they won't admit the problem.
I was able to get a seal from NAPA because they were the only parts house that didn't copy the National seal catalog for transmission seals.
I bet I can dig back and find a half-dozen instances of the major parts people getting it wrong, so the parts stores had it wrong.
Garbage in, Garbage out.

I don't recall which it was - Autozone or Advance auto at this point, but back in about 2011, they were the one and only store that could supply me a new radiator for my car. It was an exact match - made from the same "plans" Blackstone used to make the originals, down to the part numbers embossed in the brass top.
Problem was - the first one was made in Mexico - in minutes, a seam popped and it pumped out coolant.
I took it back, they replaced it with another - another exact match in every way but this time marked "Made in Korea". I'm still running that one. No one else was able to come up with even a "this might fit" replacement.

Same but different situation, my water pump went out on a Friday at work . I had to be back at work on Monday I called dealers ( who said it could be ordered but was on backorder) called many parts houses that I have dealt with then I thought I will call O'Reillys who hasn't been in my area very long. Dude said got one in Washington, DC and I will have it overnighted for you .
I was like is there extra cost?
He said Nope. And it was 100.00 cheaper. I ask the clerk what time trucks arrived she said wee hours of the morning it WILL be here.
I called at 11am friday the next morning at 7am I showed up and be danged if it was sitting behind the counter with my name on it .
Now that is service.!!!

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