NAPA Electrical Parts

[Bad340fish]

I have had my car for 7 years now. All 7 of those years have included low charging voltage at idle. I have been through several... ok make that WAY TO MANY alternators. Alot of them died due to RPM related failure(IE spinning the guts out of them literaly). And some of them would just stop working lol. Well after buying a new voltage regulator from NAPA it helped some. So I go and buy an alternator(the one on the car still worked above idle). Fire it up and whats that... its charging... at idle!! I was as happy as I was mad lol. Happy its working good and mad that I have been getting substandard Reman alternators for the last 7 years. I run way to many accesories to and it still charges a little at idle. With my electric water pump(6amp) Electric Fan(9amp) and electric fuel pump(not sure amp) things would get so bad my tach wouldn't even work at idle. Its all good now . NAPA=good in my book

Clark

 

[Chad Sheets]

Places like NAPA are getting ran in the ground by the Autozones and other cheap-o knock offs. NAPA sells good quality stuff. It might cost a few $$$ more, but I would rather spend the extra cash to know I wouldn't be out changing it 6 months later. If its something small and simple to work on, I dont mind going the cheap route. If its something that is a PIA to change like a starter or something that could leave you stranded, better do it right the first time.



I went through 4 alternators for my Cuda at Autozone before I went to NAPA and put one on. Oh, sure the cheap ones were under warrantee and I never had to spend a dime to get a replacement, but what is my time worth? How many hours did I spend trying to figure out why the alts were dying? I didn't know they were just plain old junk. I thought it was something else. My time is limited. I dont have time to deal with junk that should be good.

 

[bigkid59]

There is a world of difference in the quality of rebuilt parts out there. I was managing a parts store in the 60's and early 70's when almost all the stores were being supplied by one of several parts distribution centers, all of which bought from a nationally known rebuilder, such as Arrow, Cardone, etc. . The quality had to be there because most of our business was with professional mechanics who knew the difference and demanded a product that was right the first time.



With the arrival of the mass marketers in the parts business, with their price is everything attitude, quality has taken a nose dive. Many rebuilding businesses have been started up to supply these mass marketers with the cheapest product possible. Good products are still available but you need to go to a store associated with a reliable distribution system. These would vary in most areas but would include such as NAPA, Carquest, and others.



I had a bad experience about 3 months ago with a cheaply rebuilt item. My girl friend's Dodge van needed an alternator. She went to Autozone and picked one up. I removed the old one and had the new one completly installed down to the last bolt, that being the bolt that locks the adjustor arm. You guessed it, the hole in the alternator was stripped! I took it off and returned it to the store where it was bought. I then waited in line only to be told that they did not have another one in stock. The brain dead "counterman" finally called around and found one at another store about 6 or 7 miles away. I went to get it and the person exchanging it mentioned that he had seen this several times. Where is the quality here?



About 75% of the "countermen" I see in this type of "parts store" would not have lasted a week in a real parts store back in the 60's. I spent about 8 years in the 70's working as a district manager for two parts manufacturers with responsibility for calling on warehouse distributors and parts stores in a 6 state area. I have seen it all and the situation today is as bad as I have seen.

 

[Papa Joe]

If you want a quick fix, shop for price at the cheapo joints.

If you want it to last (i. e. get you to your destination and get your wife home safely), go to NAPA.

Bought a switch at local cheapy franchise for $2. 89. Housing cracked during installation. Bought similar switch at NAPA for $4. 67. Still in tough service after three years. Petty example, but quite typical.



Rings true... ... . You get what you pay for.







Joe

 

[gitchesum]

I flat refuse to go to anyone but NAPA now. Mine even has a full machine shop in the back and my cousin runs it. The thing that I like the most is the fact that I can walk in, tell then what I want, and of the time they don't even have to look it up on the computer. I've even gone as far as going to www.napaonline.com and finding the part numbers myself. That way I can just walk in with all the part numbers I need and I'm in and out in a hurry.

You can tell the quality is better in both the people and products.



Heck we got our own NAPA guy on the TDR. He was nice enough to bring a truckful of those BHAF to the Texas rally and offer a very good price for them as well. Thanks Dan.

 

[Bad340fish]

I have another good example. I used to have an 87 Chrysler Conquest. It was a rear drive car with a 2. 6 turbocharged Mitsubishi, BOMBed turbo and other things it was a fun car. Anywyas the Alternator crapped on me one night. Its mounted on the BOTTOM OF THE MOTOR lol. Ok so I wrestled it out of there. Then went to Orielys to get another one(it was sunday around here most napas are closed on sunday). Lucky me they had 2 on the shelf for this oddball car. Since its such a PIA to replace I had him test it for me first. First one BAD. . ummm he hemm hawwed around and tested the next one... BAD. So he called another store. They also had two of them... well checked one it was BAD but the last one worked fine. If I had not needed it so badly it would have been no problem to go somewhere else. Well I got it fixed and running again only for one of my friends to demolish it beyond all recognition. Crap Happens I guess

Clark

 

[Chad Sheets]

We have an Echlan Gold coil from NAPA that my Dad got from there in the early 70's I think. Its been on about 6 different cars and still works great. Got a coil from autozone and it lasted for 9 months.



Alot of the small business mechanics are putting a good mix of the cheap stuff in the cars they fix here in town. They know if they say "heres your car with a new altenator, bring it back if it fails and we will replace it fore free" that when the customer comes back to get the alt replaced, odds are they will drop the cash to get something else done while they are there, i. e. oil change, fix this squeek, wiper blades, AC isnt cold, coolant etc.

 

[illflem]

Since www.napaonline.com became availible it has even got better dealing with them. Now I can find the part number and order it to be picked up at my local store, usually the next day, on line. Sure beats making a special trip, waiting in line, then getting the wrong part delivered and having to wait another day.