Autozone Sucks

2006_Sport · 11-23-2009, 05:52 PM

So we went out wheeling the other day. Me, Mttrek360, DiabloYJ and Deerhunter1911. Diablo hit a water hole too fast and his alternator dies on the way to hardees. We charge his battery on the side of the road and get him to the hardees in town where we began to diagnose the problem. We knew it was the alternator. So Deerhunter and Diablo take the alternator out and we all drive up to the auto zone 30 minutes away from where we were. They test the alternator and said it passed...which is BS because it clearly wasn't working. For giggles we went across the street where they tested the SAME alternator and it was shot. So Justin (diabloyj) bought a new one and we headed back another 30 mins to put it in. Low and behold it worked and his jeep runs fine.

Moral of story: AUTOZONE SUCKS!

**slafferty** · 11-23-2009, 06:21 PM

thats why i only go to advanced auto

**Unlimited04** · 11-23-2009, 06:26 PM

I never go to Autozone anymore because they never carry what I want. Checker, Carquest or NAPA for me.

2006_Sport · 11-23-2009, 06:28 PM

Carquest usually for me too. Because the guy i know that works there drives a Jeep on 35s..although, he's on a skyjacker lift...

**theducksguts** · 11-23-2009, 06:28 PM

I know the folks at O'Rielys pretty well.

**timatoe** · 11-23-2009, 06:30 PM

Problem with a lot of places now, not just parts stores, is they hire people who aren't qualified to pick their own nose, much less offer any type of technical advice. My local autozone is actually pretty good. I'd rather shop there than Kragen, Napa seems too expensive on a lot of things and the guy that's always working is a crogity bastard that acts like I don't know what I'm talking about when I go in there.

IDK · 11-23-2009, 06:31 PM

O Reilly's is my preferred parts store, there is a child molester that works at CarQuest and I hate him so I stay far away from there, we have a decent Napa here but I go to O Reilly's first one of the guys drives a bone stock 89 YJ!

2000jeeper · 11-23-2009, 08:01 PM

same hear oriellys then napa then carquest. autozone always seems to tell me that part does not exist when i have it in my hand.

Macklin96 · 11-23-2009, 08:07 PM

ame thing happened to me one day. alt went bad, i knew it was bad. Guy tests it-Passed. I told him what was happening and he actually was cool and said dont worry ill help out. he had to have the paper say fail to give me a new one so he left one wire unhooked and guess what it still said passed. He showed the manager and out i went with a new one. I now only go to napa.

**Louie4** · 11-23-2009, 08:10 PM

My local Autozone is pretty decent too. Either way a majority of my jeep has a lifetime warranty so I'm kind of stuck either way.

DiabloYJ · 11-23-2009, 08:32 PM

The funny thing about the situation was, the Hardees we ended up at for dinner after I barely made it there on the little battery charge I had left was DIRECTLY across the street from a NAPA. Of course they were closed though, which is the one and only thing I don't like about NAPA is their hours.

So yeah as Zach said Autozone tested it twice and it passed. I told the kid it had to be the alternator because I just can't see any other problems based on what we had tested so far, he kind of rolled his eyes at me like I was telling him he didn't know how to do his job or something. While I was standing in line at Advanced Auto the cashier that was helping me was actually a former Rubi owner who had to sell it and nwo drives an XJ.

Moral of the story, just like with surgery...always seek a second opinion. I'm just glad we were able to get back on the road heading home (well until Pat's alternator went out too haha.)

Grt_Ape · 11-23-2009, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by timatoe

Problem with a lot of places now, not just parts stores, is they hire people who aren't qualified to pick their own nose, much less offer any type of technical advice. My local autozone is actually pretty good. I'd rather shop there than Kragen, Napa seems too expensive on a lot of things and the guy that's always working is a crogity bastard that acts like I don't know what I'm talking about when I go in there.

That's been my experience too. I went to the local Napa to pick up a dwell meter (no one else in town had one either)...the kid behind the counter had no idea what I was talking about.

If your vehicle is more than 10 years old or you are running something other than stock parts, then best of luck to you at the high volume parts stores. Find yourself a hole in the wall local parts store with people who actually know something about Jeeps.

Imagine the luck I had trying to find anything for my '48 flattie. PO had modded the engine to a V8 Ford, Steering and column out of an Olds of some year, aftermarket swing pedals, what looked like early 70's Ford brake drums, and custom master/slave cylinders. Honest honey...I NEED the new parts

Dmcastino · 11-23-2009, 10:17 PM

I think it all depends on who is working at the specific place. I personally like one particular autozone in my area more than most of the either stores including several other autozones

. There is an old vet that works there who owns a stroked MJ who usually knows what he's talking about with Jeep stuff. He even told me not to buy unit bearings from him once and told me where on ebay to get them for half price, I like salesman like that.

**armyRN** · 11-23-2009, 11:10 PM

I've got two AutoZones near me, and both have always been very helpful and friendly. I've bought lots of parts from them (for my Jeeps and other vehicles) & when I get a check-engine light lit up they scan it for me and so far they've always had the part I've needed. They let me look around "in the back" when I'm trying to find a part for my mix-and-match 46 Willys 2A (Pinto engine, GM charging system, 11" Chevy brake system, etc...) by the "I'll know it when I see it" method of finding the right part. Plus I get a military discount.

deerhunter1911 · 11-24-2009, 12:47 AM

that was hilarious; especially because of what Justin had said about "watch it test just fine" earlier...too funny. Napa is the way to go though when possible. with a AAA discount, MY new alternator (i killed it in the same hole as DiabloYJ did) was $30 more than his, BUT, its a LIFETIME warranty and comes with one free roadside service.

i brought my alternator in and the dude was like "yup, i dont even need to test that..." gotta love NAPA, lol. Put MY alternator in in 10 minutes (love the TJ belt tensioner) and the Jeep is running now, just stops periodically due to a messed up TPS...which will get taken care of tomorrow. Just Empty Every Pocket for sure...