Best auto parts store.

Since I was a child I have heard that NAPA is the best place to get auto parts. They are a little more expensive but have better rebuilt and new parts. Also employees are more knowledgeable. Agree or not?

For example would a rebuilt alternator, starter etc be better quality if it comes from NAPA?

Is it true that most repair shops get their parts from NAPA?

Reply to
J J
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In general, yes. NAPA is generally the top of the heap when it comes to chains; Carquest is the only one in my experience that comes close. However, you may have a local store that is as good or better.

Possibly. For rotating electrics I'd take them to my local auto electrical rebuilder and pay more yet but end up with a good working unit - and the guy who actually rebuilt the darn thing only a phone call away if something does go Tango Uniform.

I'd imagine a lot of them do, but I'm not "in the business" so I don't really know.

nate

Reply to
Nate Nagel

Tegger wrote in news:Xns98B2C9FBAE35Ctegger@207.14.116.130:

I'm not done yet.

The worst part about all this is that eventually all the aftermarket suppliers get wind of the idea that price sells better than quality, and then *all* of it becomes shit (some shittier than others). And they do end up making much more money selling garbage than they ever did selling diamonds.

Sorry. Rant's over.

Reply to
Tegger

I would only get an OEM starter unless there was some special case.

My list in order of preference:

Motive auto parts (Local OEM motorcraft / Delco distributor) NAPA Carquest Murray's Autozone Pep Boys

The last two generally as last resorts and for things like RTV, which is the same where ever I go. Murray's I've been ok with for some things, but since I bought goodyear rad. hoses there for my Mustang I am not so sure any more and might just go OEM for that in the future. Carquest is mostly for body filler and stuff like that since they carry evercoat. An issue with a distributor I got there for my mav has them off the hard parts list unless I have to. NAPA is ok, but that tie rod end that failed has me concerned they've gone down too. I think that I might be making the effort to get everything I can from Motive soon, despite their hours making it a pain in the ass for me to buy from them. Plus they closed the counter at the wearhouse. I hate going to a store and it's not in stock.

Reply to
Brent P

NAPA is a chain. They have local stores. Some stores are run by idiots. Some stores are run by experts. You cannot generalize.

Better than what? I would not trust alternator or starter rebuilds from ANY of the big chains. I'd go to a local rebuilder that I trusted, who would stand behind their work.

See, if you get a bad rebuild from a chain, they are just out the cost of the rebuild, while YOU are out a lot of time and effort changing the thing out again. The local rebuilders usually have a reputation to stand by.

I hope not, but sometimes the chain stores are the only choice.

--scott

Reply to
Scott Dorsey

i had a bad experience with a starter at Murray's; I bought a starter for my GTI there because they were the only parts store that had one in stock. big mistake, the faston terminal on the solenoid was so flimsy that it broke trying to push the connector on. I wasn't using excessive force, it was just really that thin and spindly. Of course they wouldn't exchange it or even meet me halfway, their only solution to the problem was for me to buy another reman starter at full price. I ended up ordering one from the good import specialist and waiting another two days anyway, and losing $130 or so in the process for the Murray's s**te.

Part of the problem is you can't just buy a solenoid for a Bosch starter, I am not aware of a source anywhere. Whereas a Delco starter you can actually buy component parts for it...

nate

Reply to
N8N

An option would be to buy a junkyard unit and just take from it what you need.

I was having a problem with the starter on my mav when I first bought it. It would sometimes spin and not engage the ring gear. I picked up one at the U-pull and then went under there. Found the case was cracked on one of the bolt holes. I replaced that portion of the case from the junkyard starter. Worked great for a couple months or more and then the problem came back. Got a new pinon with the clutch that's in there from Motive and put it in, been fine since. I think there was a slight design difference with the junkyard starter since I pulled it from a Torino or I just didn't trust it when I could get a new motorcraft one for $10.

Napa was able to provide brushes and bearings for my mav's alternator so I was able to keep the factory unit. I was chasing down a whine and when I opened up the alterator and bearing fell apart, I figured I found the problem... turned out to be air getting in under the carb as the mounting nut/bolt had come loose. Of course the bearing probably didn't have long to live anyway.

Reply to
Brent P

Whether a rebuilt part purchased at NAPA is any better than the one that comes from Auto Zone or Pep Boys really depends on who did the work. If I were going to pick a large chain for remanufactured parts I would probably go with them. Chances are I would just go to the dealer for my vehicles though.

I don't know how one could determine whether most repair shops get parts from NAPA, but I doubt the most (at least 50%) do. For example many of the brand-specific shops I'm faimilar with get their parts through dealers.

I put a lot more faith in the local auto parts shop who I have worked with for over 30 years.

Reply to
John S.

Napa quality has went down hill in the last 10 years. A lot of there stores have even folded up in my area. The trend for a lot of auto parts stores is cheap or cheaper parts. If they offer it in new or rebuilt always go new. And for a one time hurt the dealer OEM quality parts are your best bet.

Reply to
MT-2500

Lauren__C wrote on 01/08/2007 19:36 ET :

NAPA may be a good source to get auto parts, but I have found much more useful online dealer website, where we can find auto parts with less expensive deals. Recently I had purchase engine for my Dodge Coronet car from

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with cheapest deal under 1500$ with a whole year warranty and 90 days money back offer.

Reply to
keithwalter

Lauren__C wrote on 01/08/2007 19:36 ET :

NAPA seems to be the best of the chains in my town. Your town may be different.

You may even have a real locally-owned store run by competent people who know what products they are selling. If at all possible, I would suggest finding a local store and avoiding the chains. But if you have to go use one of the chain stores, most NAPA stores seem okay.

I would never buy electrical rebuilds from any of the chain stores, I'd go to Dixie Electric, a locally owned shop near me, which will rebuild a starter or alternator and show you the parts they're going to use so you can see how they are. And, if something goes wrong, you can talk to the guy who did the work and compare notes.

Always, always look for an actual rebuilder rather than having one of the chain shops sell you something rebuilt by someone across the country or in another country.

Depends on what the parts are and what the car is, but NAPA sells to a lot of shops. So do the other chains.

--scott

Reply to
Scott Dorsey

you make a good point. however, if you're on a time crunch, i have to say that one of the premium napa rebuilds is a good runner up. in principle, you're correct, and it's good to support people who actually know what they're doing, but there may be practical limitations and you need a usable backup.

Reply to
jim beam

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