Opinions on auto part stores.

[RobbieD]

I told the kid working at AZ I needed a Balljoint removal tool a couple of weeks ago (While purchasing a balljoint)... After trying to look it up, he actually asked me what it was used for. I told him "for duck hunting."

Good one!

 

[Mac]

It really is a crap shoot at times. Have three NAPA stores in town and I would only go to one. One of the guys has an S-10 V-8, the young woman behind the counter knows her stuff. The local Ford dealer parts department has their stuff together but the service department sucks big time. I once when to a local parts store for a clutch replacement for my Dodge Dart, wanting something better. The old guy behind the counter, not even looking in his computer, said "What you need is '54-56" truck clutch". That's info just not tought or learned anymore.
Dave

 

[dougs3.0L98]

the managers have a lot to do with how well everything goes at the AZ stores. i worked for auto zone for a couple of years and they sent me to a few different stores and they ALL did things differently.

some of them should be burnt to the ground and others are great.

for example one store i worked for has a fellow that only has one arm, one day on HIS LUNCH he was in the parking lot changing a starter for an older woman that was stranded.

 

[HareRazor]

Check and see if there is a place that rebuilds them locally. I took my starter to a place about 10 minutes away and he rebuilt it while I watched. Took him about 20 minutes. It cost me about $60 but at least then the money stays local and I know everything was replaced. He doesn't like his rebuilt starters and alternators coming back.

 

[srteach]

Find out who the repair shops in your area get their parts. Go there. Usually where the shops get their parts has decent counter guys, good quality, and decent selection. The ford and chevy dealers around here some of their parts from Car Quest.

 

[snake]

O'reillys' parts are OK- better than vatozones... I usually go to advanced. I agree with MAKG, napa is riding on their name and nothing else. Most of their rebuilt stuff sucks big time.

 

[DeanMoriarty]

VatoZone.... Lol. I'll have to use that one on the Mexican guys at work.

Thanks for all the input and advice guys, I definitely feel better educated to make a decision after hearing about everyone's experiences.

 

[mhughes165]

lol, i wouldnt if i were u, most of us dont live around u, and it really just depends on what kind of people u got where, parts are usually about the same quality

 

[Jason]

If you go from one parts store to another you will hear customers saying the same crap about every other store. They all suck, it just depends where you are standing as to which one sucks. Skilled counter people are almost non-existent in the aftermarket anymore. Unless you find a semi-retired guy or some motorhead with no ambition to move on to better pay you will not find a technician working in Autozone. They do not pay enough to have skilled and knowledgeable people. Would anyone with knowledge really work for 25 grand a year? Just use the website and get the parts info yourself, then go to wherever you please.

 

[Will]

Rebuilt alternators and starters are shipped to Mexico in the truckload, disassmebled, thrown into a caustic tub, painted, assembled with cheap components and packaged and trucked back. It's very cheap for them to do this. They could give a damn if it lasts for 5 minutes of 50 years. Once they have the cores they have a gold mine. They would love to suck the cost of a lifetime warranty out of it as well, getting more money up front and counting on you losing the receipt in the clutter of your beer bottles and parts cartons in the bed of your truck.

On the other hand, the alternator on my B2 is original, as is the starter. It's been on there without trouble for 17 years. If it fails, I'll suck it up for a fabulously expensive Ford part and get another 20 years out of it.

Another thing I used to do when I didn't have any money was rebuild them myself. I think you can still get the internals.

 

[klogtruck]

never had a problem with o'reillys'.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Never been impressed with O' Reilly's. I put two alternators on my Laser in 2 years, not a fun process. More often than not the only reason I go there is because they are open on Sunday.

Napa is ok, I use their oil in my trucks.

Carquest is where I go when I need something freaky, like when I durasparked my Ranger. They have a guy there that is really good and hunting down what you need and doesn't get lost in the meantime.

Kind of funny, I was at a CaseIH dealership a couple months ago getting a PTO part for a late 60's 1206, a younger guy had looked up the parts and dropped them off and one seal was wrong. So I happened to be going to that town again (for a dentist appointment) and dropped in to get the right one. The parts guy I got was in his 70's, looked it up in the computer and it was what the computer called for. Then he said that one had been wrong in the computer before and reaches down and grabs the well worn factory service manual for the tractor and gets the right part. The way he did it was kind of funny.

 

[DeanMoriarty]

Yup... Best you can hope for is an older guy that knows his stuff. I had an 86 Laser, years ago, I remember replacing the alternator on it.

I can see that it's sort of luck of the draw... but I can also see a trend of the places that are more trusted than others, for whatever reason. What I've heard here pretty much mirrors what I've heard from other people around where I live. Could be useful information, could be bullshit... but the odds are that there is a reason why more people seem to trust certain stores over others. I was curious sort of overall which store people like anyway, not solely for an alternator.
I looked into rebuilding the thing myself, but it needs a new bearing and possibly center shaft, the kits I've found only have the brushes. I like the idea of trying to have it rebuilt locally, I'm going to look into that.

As far as things being rebuilt in Mexico... In the six years I worked on the assembly line for Chrysler, most of the parts I put on were from Mexico, Taiwan, China, Pakistan... No doubt mass produced in the same environment and manner that you describe. Quality control in that place was a joke. You'd say "Quality" and the foreman would think you were speaking Chinese. "Kwaa-li-tee... What a funny word. Never heard of it."

 

[hunt-n-fish]

Not all auto parts stores have idiots behind the counter. And I insist on buying parts from guys who have a clue.

...

A parts store that has an attached garage can be helpful for technical questions. These aren't all that common anymore, but they aren't completely gone.

+1

I know of one parts store like this and I have been going there for years. Grew up with the owners kids and the parts guys kids. This is the only store like that i have found in my county. I have another store that is closer to where I live that also has extraordinary people behind the counter. Both stores are privately owned and i won't shop anywhere else.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Yup... Best you can hope for is an older guy that knows his stuff. I had an 86 Laser, years ago, I remember replacing the alternator on it.

Mine was a '90, from what I understand they are a different car. Mine was a Plymouth, the earlier ones were Chrysler. Mine was a rebadged Eclipse/Talon.