Bad parts
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Instructor
Joined: Feb 2016
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Bad parts
H:i just thought I would post this just for the heck of it. Always thought : "parts is parts", but just not so. My 96 base threw a couple codes the other day, and i ordered some parts. The one-way valves for the secondary emission air/pump/ stuff, was ok, my old ones were rusted shut, and that is fine. My oil pressure gauge was jumping around, so I ordered a new one from ROCK AUTO, # 1924497 AC Delco, and as soon as I hooked up my negative battery cable, the fuel pump kicked in, and would not stop, anyway bought another oil pressure sensor from O'reilly, and works fine. Had a code P1351, so ordered an Ignition Control Monitor, ICM from A-1 Auto, I think, real cheap, so that is good, but didn't come with the "heat sink grease", so spent 3 days trying to find some of that crap. Finally found it at an electronics supply store, Radio Shack ain't around anymore, you know. So, the car would start up, and idle real good, but as soon as you would give it a bit of gas, it would start fartin, and run real bad. So, put my old ICM back on, and still idles like crap, but will take the throttle. Anyway, important I guess to just replace one thing at a time when you fire the "Parts Cannon" at it
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2013
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From: Greater Cincinnati Area.
I've experienced that too. Seems like name brands we used to trust (and spent more money for, by virtue of that trust) don't matter either. Not anymore.
There's a lot of really good brands (not just in car parts, either) being destroyed right now.
It is troubling because, growing up, establishing that brand loyalty and the trust, the market share which accompanied that, was EVERYTHING to companies. There was literally no length they wouldn't go to, to become the household brand and name.
Now? It is the opposite.
I understand the reasoning behind it, but it still bothers me.
There's a lot of really good brands (not just in car parts, either) being destroyed right now.
It is troubling because, growing up, establishing that brand loyalty and the trust, the market share which accompanied that, was EVERYTHING to companies. There was literally no length they wouldn't go to, to become the household brand and name.
Now? It is the opposite.
I understand the reasoning behind it, but it still bothers me.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 1,014
Likes: 85
From: socal
I've experienced that too. Seems like name brands we used to trust (and spent more money for, by virtue of that trust) don't matter either. Not anymore.
There's a lot of really good brands (not just in car parts, either) being destroyed right now.
It is troubling because, growing up, establishing that brand loyalty and the trust, the market share which accompanied that, was EVERYTHING to companies. There was literally no length they wouldn't go to, to become the household brand and name.
Now? It is the opposite.
I understand the reasoning behind it, but it still bothers me.
There's a lot of really good brands (not just in car parts, either) being destroyed right now.
It is troubling because, growing up, establishing that brand loyalty and the trust, the market share which accompanied that, was EVERYTHING to companies. There was literally no length they wouldn't go to, to become the household brand and name.
Now? It is the opposite.
I understand the reasoning behind it, but it still bothers me.
Last edited by jay23ls; Oct 28, 2016 at 09:31 PM.
Oil Producer
Joined: Apr 2014
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that day should pass with more and more reviews. just make sure you leave a review on the parts so others dont buy them.
i consider it a civic duty for myself now. save people the wasted time in buying crap.
amazon carries most products. even if you dont buy from them u can read the reviews.
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Just remembered, I also ordered a NEW AC Delco water pump from a GM dealer in Missouri I believe, off Ebay. Arrived in a nice new Red/White/Blue AC Delco box, and on the body of the pump: "Made in China"
I would have at least been as well off with an Autozone or O'Reilly rebuild for half the price. Rebuild is just a bearing,seal and impeller, course those parts would have probably came from China as well. Even OEM parts, if you can find them, use sub assemblies, and pieces mfg. in China, so all you can really do is keep swapping the crap out until you find parts that work; although, I do believe you are better off with Delphi or AC Delco, because good shops don't need the "hassle" of doing rework because of defective parts, so the Wholesaler/Jobber has an incentive to provide the best quality to the repair shops. Beyond that, it is a "crap shoot"
I would have at least been as well off with an Autozone or O'Reilly rebuild for half the price. Rebuild is just a bearing,seal and impeller, course those parts would have probably came from China as well. Even OEM parts, if you can find them, use sub assemblies, and pieces mfg. in China, so all you can really do is keep swapping the crap out until you find parts that work; although, I do believe you are better off with Delphi or AC Delco, because good shops don't need the "hassle" of doing rework because of defective parts, so the Wholesaler/Jobber has an incentive to provide the best quality to the repair shops. Beyond that, it is a "crap shoot"
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Team Owner
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I doubt it. Ever play "Whack a Mole"? Besides, there is always someone stupid enough to buy it thinking they can get a chance of a $50 part for $5 and the other guy that wants to get this through the hump and let the next guy worry or basically, kick the can. As long as mankind is greedy, these things will continue. The seller is greedy and wants more for less and the user is greedy wanting the same thing. To change it, mankind has to change and that hasn't happened, isn't happening and won't ever happen.
Last edited by aklim; Oct 31, 2016 at 01:13 PM.
Team Owner
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From: Hartford WI
Just remembered, I also ordered a NEW AC Delco water pump from a GM dealer in Missouri I believe, off Ebay. Arrived in a nice new Red/White/Blue AC Delco box, and on the body of the pump: "Made in China"
I do believe you are better off with Delphi or AC Delco, because good shops don't need the "hassle" of doing rework because of defective parts, so the Wholesaler/Jobber has an incentive to provide the best quality to the repair shops. Beyond that, it is a "crap shoot"
I do believe you are better off with Delphi or AC Delco, because good shops don't need the "hassle" of doing rework because of defective parts, so the Wholesaler/Jobber has an incentive to provide the best quality to the repair shops. Beyond that, it is a "crap shoot"
But if Delco is made to poor spec, what is the difference? I can cook you anything you want but if you tell me to use cheap meat and veggies that is what I will make. If you want only the best, I can do the same. If cheap crap is all that is there, eat it or not, I can't do anything.
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Hi Farmer. Actually, the upstream O2's are pretty new, not sure about the downstream. The previous owner had the driver side replaced at a dealership about 1000 miles and 3 yrs ago. I replaced the passenger side O2 about a year, and few hundred miles ago. I was under there at the time changing out the pan gasket, so decided might as welll replace the 02, and seemed to make it idle a little better, but could just be my imignation, as I have been desperately chasing this "lopey" idle in open loop for some time, and believe that the previus owner was chasing the same Gremlin. I got the car from his Widow (probably what killed him) and could tell from some of the parts receipts that he had replaced quite a few "tune up" type parts, and very little driving.
I think the exhaust smells "funny", kinda like old gasoline. Not sure what a "rich" injected/catalytic converter exhauset would smell like, or how to compare it to the smell of a carburetor-ed exhaust. This is the 3-4th tank of gas since I bought the car, and the tank looked clean when I changed the fuel pump, so not bad gas, but the smell ain't right. Maybe a bad converter ?? No codes, of course.
I think the exhaust smells "funny", kinda like old gasoline. Not sure what a "rich" injected/catalytic converter exhauset would smell like, or how to compare it to the smell of a carburetor-ed exhaust. This is the 3-4th tank of gas since I bought the car, and the tank looked clean when I changed the fuel pump, so not bad gas, but the smell ain't right. Maybe a bad converter ?? No codes, of course.
Team Owner
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I replaced the passenger side O2 about a year, and few hundred miles ago. I was under there at the time changing out the pan gasket, so decided might as welll replace the 02, and seemed to make it idle a little better, but could just be my imignation, as I have been desperately chasing this "lopey" idle in open loop for some time, and believe that the previus owner was chasing the same Gremlin. I got the car from his Widow (probably what killed him) and could tell from some of the parts receipts that he had replaced quite a few "tune up" type parts, and very little driving.
I think the exhaust smells "funny", kinda like old gasoline. Not sure what a "rich" injected/catalytic converter exhauset would smell like, or how to compare it to the smell of a carburetor-ed exhaust. This is the 3-4th tank of gas since I bought the car, and the tank looked clean when I changed the fuel pump, so not bad gas, but the smell ain't right. Maybe a bad converter ?? No codes, of course.
I think the exhaust smells "funny", kinda like old gasoline. Not sure what a "rich" injected/catalytic converter exhauset would smell like, or how to compare it to the smell of a carburetor-ed exhaust. This is the 3-4th tank of gas since I bought the car, and the tank looked clean when I changed the fuel pump, so not bad gas, but the smell ain't right. Maybe a bad converter ?? No codes, of course.
What killed him? The gremlin or the wife.
Melting Slicks
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From: Greater Cincinnati Area.
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Used to be if the decals where on race cars it usually meant well made parts, not these days. So far I've been lucky using (with exception of a Mexican AC alternator) AC/Delco replacement parts doing a 25 year service on my 91. I bought some brake rotors Raybestos brand...made in China....It is worse with British sports car parts, Chinese seal kits for brakes/clutches are junk along with the majority of non British made parts. This is my first Corvette and I thought replacement parts would be US manufactured, oh well. At least the car was built in Kentucky and I'm still keeping and driving my Vette
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It isn't where it is made that matters. I can commission the Chinese to make anything you want to any spec. It is the seller that demands the spec. I have seen expensive stuff come out of China and cheap stuff too. If you don't like the Delco stuff, it is because GM told them they wanted it cheap and the buyers told GM they wanted it cheap. Sorry you happen to be in the minority.
But if Delco is made to poor spec, what is the difference? I can cook you anything you want but if you tell me to use cheap meat and veggies that is what I will make. If you want only the best, I can do the same. If cheap crap is all that is there, eat it or not, I can't do anything.
But if Delco is made to poor spec, what is the difference? I can cook you anything you want but if you tell me to use cheap meat and veggies that is what I will make. If you want only the best, I can do the same. If cheap crap is all that is there, eat it or not, I can't do anything.
You are probably right. I'll bet that for a few million dollars, I could contract with some Chinese scientific instrument manufacturer to make me a decent opti. ----think ???
You can cook ??
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Yeah, wish I had known. I got in touch with the seller, and didn't seem too interested in letting me return it for that reason.
Well, as I mentioned before, I bought a (cheap) ICM from 1Aauto for $23.95, and it was defective. Started the car, and it would idle pretty good, but would not go over 2K rpm, and would miss and totally crap out. When starting, at end of cranking, just before starting, it would kinda kick back, way too far advanced with timing. Put the old one back on, and would start and run o.k. 1Aauto refunded my money for the ICM as well as for a (cheap) MAP sensor I didn't bother to install. They told me not to bother returning the parts, just throw them away. Anyway, I didn't know that an ICM would cause a symptom like that.
So, I ordered another ICM from Rock Auto, a Delphi, and it arrived today. Paid $63 for it----MADE IN CHINA
Well, as I mentioned before, I bought a (cheap) ICM from 1Aauto for $23.95, and it was defective. Started the car, and it would idle pretty good, but would not go over 2K rpm, and would miss and totally crap out. When starting, at end of cranking, just before starting, it would kinda kick back, way too far advanced with timing. Put the old one back on, and would start and run o.k. 1Aauto refunded my money for the ICM as well as for a (cheap) MAP sensor I didn't bother to install. They told me not to bother returning the parts, just throw them away. Anyway, I didn't know that an ICM would cause a symptom like that.
So, I ordered another ICM from Rock Auto, a Delphi, and it arrived today. Paid $63 for it----MADE IN CHINA
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How hot a female are you and how likely am I to get laid with you determines what I can cook. If you are a guy, Domino's delivers.
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From: Hartford WI
That said, IDK if it is made to Delco specs or just in a Delco box.
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I usually replace all at once. I had been chasing a slow O2 sensor code on another car. Replaced the upstream one and left the downstream one at the advice of the mechanic who said it might be rusted in. Nothing would fix it and the code points to the front. After a bit, I got pissed and changed the back one. Code went away. More importantly, the downstream reading changed by 0.2V.
What killed him? The gremlin or the wife.
What killed him? The gremlin or the wife.
I think this damned car killed him. Looks like he replaced a lot of stuff: plugs & wires/intake gaskets/EGR Valve/PCM/02 Sensor/ bought a scanner, but that didn't come with the car. Also, looks like he bought an engine stand. Guess he was going to pull the engine.
I've replaced the opti., and all other sensors, fuel pump, injectors, etc. and the thing still idles "lopey" when cold. When it first starts, revs up to about 1200, and runs really smooth for about 6 seconds, then starts "adjusting", and running crappy for about the next 10 minutes or so. Can't figure it.
Thought only the upstream 02's affected how it runs, and then only in closed loop ??
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Hartford WI
I think this damned car killed him. Looks like he replaced a lot of stuff: plugs & wires/intake gaskets/EGR Valve/PCM/02 Sensor/ bought a scanner, but that didn't come with the car. Also, looks like he bought an engine stand. Guess he was going to pull the engine.
I've replaced the opti., and all other sensors, fuel pump, injectors, etc. and the thing still idles "lopey" when cold. When it first starts, revs up to about 1200, and runs really smooth for about 6 seconds, then starts "adjusting", and running crappy for about the next 10 minutes or so. Can't figure it.
Thought only the upstream 02's affected how it runs, and then only in closed loop ??
I've replaced the opti., and all other sensors, fuel pump, injectors, etc. and the thing still idles "lopey" when cold. When it first starts, revs up to about 1200, and runs really smooth for about 6 seconds, then starts "adjusting", and running crappy for about the next 10 minutes or so. Can't figure it.
Thought only the upstream 02's affected how it runs, and then only in closed loop ??
I'd get a scanner and see what the IAC counts are after I cleaned up the TB by removing the IAC. IAC housing, TB top plate, clean all passages and reassemble with fresh gaskets.
One would think so. In fact 2 experienced MB techs did. Results don't lie. Reading immediately went up by 0.2 volts and upstream warning went off? It doesn't influence the fuel mixture but it might inform the ECM in ways we don't understand