Buying auto parts online

[hbarcat]

Try driving a car that's 30+ years old and you'll find online parts are the only things that keep it running. Parts stores don't stock stuff for my 1983 280ZX Turbo, but I can get most stuff online.

I have this same issue. 2 cars from the 70's and 2 cars from the 80's. I've been ripped off online by supposedly reputable sellers.

For example: I once bought a "genuine" Bosch OEM fuel pump for $125 when auto parts stores wanted $300. The fuel pump I received was obviously a Chinese forgery and it lasted less than a month before it failed. I've been burned this way more than once and trying to get a refund from these fly by night "stores" is virtually impossible.

 

[DWBass]

I buy from here www.1aauto.com all the time.

 

[Mike N]

. To me, there is also a value to being able to speak to someone who knows more than I.......

Find the oldest person behind the counter if you want to talk to someone who likely knows what the parts business. Most of the kids I've encountered at parts stores couldn't tell a roller cam from a roller skate.

 

[Mike N]

For some parts I'll strictly use a salvage yard. A good site I've been using for over 15 years is Car-Part.com--Used Auto Parts Market .

Great site. I've used it for years both at home and at the shop.

I buy from here www.1aauto.com all the time.

That's the best site I've found for loaded strut assemblies.

I've had really good luck with rockauto.com.

Rock auto is great, too. Good prices and fast shipping. They're a sponsor of the Camaro site I moderate so I try to use them when I can.

 

[Aberdumbie]

Wife used to drive a Jeep Liberty. Exact same deal. She (me really) cracked the lens. Was super expensive at the dealer and I did the very same thing. Bought the unit on line for a third of the cost. All was well until one day I was driving behind her at night. There was a DRAMATIC difference in the left and right side markers. All's well that ends well. I never told her and we traded the Jeep in last year.

 

[slobake]

Slo, Slo, Slo.

Nice, I love it when people talk down to me like a stern grandfather.

 

[buldog5151bass]

Nice, I love it when people talk down to me like a stern grandfather.

I was going for humor. You should know me by now.

 

[slobake]

I was going for humor. You should know me by now.

You are right I should know better. My apologies if I overreacted.

 

[buldog5151bass]

You are right I should know better. My apologies if I overreacted.

No biggie. The day anybody (including myself) starts taking me seriously here I'm in trouble.

 

[Hopkins]

I never buy any parts from a dealer if I can help it. They always want megabucks for their stuff. They just slap the automaker brand name on everything and then charge way more than you'd pay for the same product at an auto-parts store. Like even a bottle of windshield wiper fluid for example.

Sometimes it's better to buy once and cry once. Found out the hard way after the second auto parts store AC compressor locked up on my mothers Jeep

 

[ZenG]

Sometimes it's better to buy once and cry once. Found out the hard way after the second auto parts store AC compressor locked up on my mothers Jeep

Just because it's from the dealer doesn't mean you're getting a quality part.

My previous before last vehicle was new under warranty. It was in the dealer shop for repair more times than you could shake a stick at.

 

[Pilgrim]

Any part from any source can fail. Given the millions of parts created, rebuilt, etc., that's gonna happen. I often opt for remanufactured parts rather than new.

When it comes to parts like starters, alternators, steering racks and such, I'd rather go to a local rebuilder if possible. There are still people in the business of doing that work, and I know it will fit back in the place it came out of.

 

[grinx]

I'm trying to find parts for a 96 Nissan Pickup. Any recommendations for online junk yards, do reliable ones exist?

 

[geegeedemocracy]

i dont trust online auto parts.

 

[Stewie26]

Try driving a car that's 30+ years old and you'll find online parts are the only things that keep it running. Parts stores don't stock stuff for my 1983 280ZX Turbo, but I can get most stuff online.

One of my hobbies is sports cars. I refurbished a 1971 Opel GT. I could find all the parts online. There is even an online Opel supplier that has all replacement parts even down to the emblems and radio knobs and everything in between. Prior to online suppliers, I would have never attempted such a project.

 

[Tom Lane]

One of my hobbies is sports cars. I refurbished a 1971 Opel GT. I could find all the parts online. There is even an online Opel supplier that has all replacement parts even down to the emblems and radio knobs and everything in between. Prior to on line suppliers I would have never attempted such a project.

Really nice work!

 

[shadowtippy]

Just because it's from the dealer doesn't mean you're getting a quality part.

My previous before last vehicle was new under warranty. It was in the dealer shop for repair more times than you could shake a stick at.

I agree with your opening statement. A friend of mine needed a windshield wiper motor. The dealership installed three of them before they found one that lasted more than a week. It rains here almost every day, so wipers are more than an accessory.

 

[slobake]

B.T.I. (Before the internet) if you had and old car your best friend was the J.C. Whitney catalogue. Just for the heck of it I checked to see if they have an internet site. Sure enough they are still around.
Auto Parts, Truck Parts, Truck Accessories Online | JC Whitney
I was curious so I did a search for a 1949 Mercury. Lots of parts came up.

 

[shadowtippy]

B.T.I. (Before the internet) if you had and old car your best friend was the J.C. Whitney catalogue. Just for the heck of it I checked to see if they have an internet site. Sure enough they are still around.
Auto Parts, Truck Parts, Truck Accessories Online | JC Whitney
I was curious so I did a search for a 1949 Mercury. Lost of parts came up.

I had a friend that kept them in business by buying parts for his Willys Jeep.

 

[tlc1976]

I still get JC Whitney catalogs once in awhile. Ordered a few things from them in the past. One time I ordered over $300 worth of exhaust parts. One adapter missing, and about 25% of my clamps missing by the time I pieced together everything that was spilled in the box. Later on I ordered a set of crowfoot wrenches. Several sizes I needed were left out, and the quality of them rivaled tools from the dollar store. Never was able to use them for anything. That was it for me. No offense to anyone, but IMO a lot of their offerings still appear like they're catering to a broke high schooler from the 70s.

Next time I needed exhaust parts not available locally, I went thru Summit Racing and no issues.