gm280
Supreme Mariner
- Joined
- Jun 26, 2011
- Messages
- 14,597
Not sure if this is where to post this, but here goes. The folks in the know can move it if it is not the proper forum...
Within the last few weeks I had a water pump become an issue in my Blazer. And being how it is so old and many miles, I really wasn't too ill about its life expectancy. So I removed the idler pulley and tensioner pulley as well to get to the bolts. And each type pulley I removed also seems a bit noisy. They still worked but obvious many miles on them as well.
So off I go to the auto parts store(s). I took the water pump, both pulleys AND I also took the alternator as well to have it checked. I got to the auto parts store and bought a new water pump, both pulleys and had them check the alternator. Well they claimed the alternate was bad. I was shocked about that because it actually worked perfectly without any issues. But they insisted that it was indeed bad. They said the bearings were gone as well as the electrical shot! So I didn't buy another one but left with the new parts in hand and my old alternator.
Most of the time I buy their lifetime warranty replacements parts, and I made the statement that my old sells recipe(s) were all so faded out now that I couldn't even read them anymore. They agreed with that, stated that the customers should photocopy their recipes and keep them in the vehicle for future need, but they never state that to any customer! I said, well you guys have my parts purchase history on your computer so I really wasn't worried. They said NO we don't! The history files automatically all disappear after about two years, and if the customer can't verify their original recipe, too bad! That did shock me to say the least!
But wait there's more!
After replacing the bear in the rear of my alternator, because it was bad, AND after cleaning and testing the diode pack, winding, and brushes and armature, I return for them to once again test it. Again it failed...again! But they took one off the shelf and tested theirs with a totally different code number then mine. And of course theirs passed. So I watch as they tested both. Seems my alternator used a different code and also they push an on screen button stating it was a "Customer's Unit". It again failed, but they changed the code AND pushed a different on screen button stating it was a "New Off The Shelf" unit, and theirs passed again! He tried to sell me their new $130 dollar alternator, but knowing this unit worked perfectly on the vehicle I refused to buy their unit as a replacement and left.
I drove to another auto parts place, this time O'reilly's Auto parts. I walked in and asked them to test it without any background info. They tested it and it passed every test they could run against it twice without any problem in the least! Now I was really PO'ed! I guess I'll be changing auto parts stores now... I'm sure I can't post the first auto part store's name here, but if I could I would most certainly! Just be aware of such things for your future purchases! And know that other stores may have similar life time warranty issues about dropping customer histories as well...
Oh...and the vehicle IS all back together and working perfectly again. I even tested the charging system since with no issues what so ever!
Within the last few weeks I had a water pump become an issue in my Blazer. And being how it is so old and many miles, I really wasn't too ill about its life expectancy. So I removed the idler pulley and tensioner pulley as well to get to the bolts. And each type pulley I removed also seems a bit noisy. They still worked but obvious many miles on them as well.
So off I go to the auto parts store(s). I took the water pump, both pulleys AND I also took the alternator as well to have it checked. I got to the auto parts store and bought a new water pump, both pulleys and had them check the alternator. Well they claimed the alternate was bad. I was shocked about that because it actually worked perfectly without any issues. But they insisted that it was indeed bad. They said the bearings were gone as well as the electrical shot! So I didn't buy another one but left with the new parts in hand and my old alternator.
Most of the time I buy their lifetime warranty replacements parts, and I made the statement that my old sells recipe(s) were all so faded out now that I couldn't even read them anymore. They agreed with that, stated that the customers should photocopy their recipes and keep them in the vehicle for future need, but they never state that to any customer! I said, well you guys have my parts purchase history on your computer so I really wasn't worried. They said NO we don't! The history files automatically all disappear after about two years, and if the customer can't verify their original recipe, too bad! That did shock me to say the least!
But wait there's more!
After replacing the bear in the rear of my alternator, because it was bad, AND after cleaning and testing the diode pack, winding, and brushes and armature, I return for them to once again test it. Again it failed...again! But they took one off the shelf and tested theirs with a totally different code number then mine. And of course theirs passed. So I watch as they tested both. Seems my alternator used a different code and also they push an on screen button stating it was a "Customer's Unit". It again failed, but they changed the code AND pushed a different on screen button stating it was a "New Off The Shelf" unit, and theirs passed again! He tried to sell me their new $130 dollar alternator, but knowing this unit worked perfectly on the vehicle I refused to buy their unit as a replacement and left.
I drove to another auto parts place, this time O'reilly's Auto parts. I walked in and asked them to test it without any background info. They tested it and it passed every test they could run against it twice without any problem in the least! Now I was really PO'ed! I guess I'll be changing auto parts stores now... I'm sure I can't post the first auto part store's name here, but if I could I would most certainly! Just be aware of such things for your future purchases! And know that other stores may have similar life time warranty issues about dropping customer histories as well...
Oh...and the vehicle IS all back together and working perfectly again. I even tested the charging system since with no issues what so ever!