Can I rant about Auto Parts stores?

[bgeddes]

I house and maintain an old Army jeep for my father-in-law. He restored it 25 years ago. It was fired up yesterday after a few months of dormancy and was running a tad rough. I added fresh fuel, no help. Time for plugs.

So I pull the spark plugs and find a couple in bad shape (who knows the last time they were changed). Off to the auto parts store to get new ones. Web says a local store has them in stock. Off to the store...

I get there, ask for Spark Plug XYZ 4 each, and get, "What year vehicle?"

I'm thinking, "AHHHH!! It's a '44, my guess is it is not in your superautopartsfinderthingy!"

A casual "1944", and he types it in, wow, nothing came up.

He tells me, "We don't have them."

Now dag gone it, I have reason to believe you do, and my bet is you can not find them, based on your skill set. An alert co-worker to the genius helping me asked about the certainly noticeable look on my face. Mr.Mensa explains they have no parts for an old car, and I am out of luck. The new guy, types in the part number and gets my parts in seconds.

So I wasted a lot of time and energy today, no good deed goes unpunished.

The plugs were right and she ran like a top today.....

</Rant>

[andrewjs18]

they looked at me when I bought Mobil 1 5w40 turbo diesel truck oil for my Ford Thunderbird Turbo Coupe. =P

[dman]

Going through life with high expectations and thinking that man kind has equal intelligence and abilities can be some-what dis-hearting at times.
I am amazed and speechless at times. It's amazeing that some of these people had the ability to dress them-selves but then again, they may have had help ? Good luck with man kind and may it always be a state of wonder and patients. We have no choice, it is what it is !

[thirtyonebravo]

but more importantly... more details! Willys? Ford? You got some pics of that MB?

[Paradigm]

Read Technopoly. It's not a long book, but a very interesting read.

Basically, we've become so dependant on technology that we've abandoned our own ability to reason. "The computer doesn't list your vehicle, therefore we don't have the spark plugs." So much for intuition.

[CommonHighrise]

Had a trouble code pop on my mom's minivan. Took it to a parts store to have them pull the code for me. Came back that the coolant temp was continuosly too low. Girl behind the counter assured me it was the thermostat, despite the fact there was no issue with the heater, and even pushing the engine hard I couldn't get it up to temperature.

Asked about a temperature sensor. She said they were a 'nightmare' to get to on that model minivan, and again assured me it was the thermostat, and it would be an easy fix. At which point I bought the temp sensor and bid her good day, because anyone who has seen the thermostat setup on a GM 2800 knows it's no easy swap.

And yes, was the temp sensor. Took 45 seconds to replace.

[markheck1]

As long as the rant can go both ways!
You meet some real winners on the other side of the counter too

2 things
NO they are not "All the same"
and
If you don;t know what you have...how am I supposed to know?

I am into Lawnmower/Tractor/Chainsaw/Trimmer parts now, and some days I think it's even worse than auto parts.

FYI just cause someone works in a parts store, that doesn't make them a mechanic.....we see a lot of stuff, and can usually guess pretty good, but some I know don't work on their own cars. It helps to find the gearhead

[blaster668]

As long as the rant can go both ways!
You meet some real winners on the other side of the counter too

2 things
NO they are not "All the same"
and
If you don;t know what you have...how am I supposed to know?

I am into Lawnmower/Tractor/Chainsaw/Trimmer parts now, and some days I think it's even worse than auto parts.

FYI just cause someone works in a parts store, that doesn't make them a mechanic.....we see a lot of stuff, and can usually guess pretty good, but some I know don't work on their own cars. It helps to find the gearhead

Haha Mark,
Funny you should mention that.... I was the person who ordered some Echo trimmer fuel tank parts from you a few days back. I didn't know what I had, because I figured the parts would be the same for that Model number.

[Paradigm]

Haha Mark,
Funny you should mention that.... I was the person who ordered some Echo trimmer fuel tank parts from you a few days back. I didn't know what I had, because I figured the parts would be the same for that Model number.

Ouch!

Good stuff right there...

[AxiTech]

As long as the rant can go both ways!
You meet some real winners on the other side of the counter too

2 things
NO they are not "All the same"
and
If you don;t know what you have...how am I supposed to know?

I am into Lawnmower/Tractor/Chainsaw/Trimmer parts now, and some days I think it's even worse than auto parts.

FYI just cause someone works in a parts store, that doesn't make them a mechanic.....we see a lot of stuff, and can usually guess pretty good, but some I know don't work on their own cars. It helps to find the gearhead

__________________________________________________ _______________
Great! Maybe you can help me, The guys up at Weaver's in Seneca told me you might have the part I am looking for. I have a McCullough two cycle, three piston , rotary ass hammer. I need the left side articulating joint for the scrotum cupping attachment. Any chance you have that on the shelf?


Bwahahahaha. Sorry, just an old Grease Monkey taking a shot at a Bin Lizard.
Have a great day, Bob