[fastfredracing]

Any of you getting inferior parts in your manufacturing/repair/service businesses ?
I just finished up what was really a simple job, but made super difficult by some unknown amazon parts .
2011 Tiguan, customer reads his own code, p0087, low fuel pressure. Fires up his google machine, and orders a new direct injection fuel pump on amazon . First one he gets is damaged. he never tries it. The second pump shows up the next day, and he installs it , but still same code, hard starts, and low power .
They took it to the local Euro expert. He bills 5 hours diag time, but comes up with no answer for them . They declined further diag time .
They called me and asked me to take a look at it . I know who had it before me, and I would say his shop is about the best in the area, but I reluctantly agreed anyhow. Its been slow, I like a challenge sometimes . I spent, about the same 5 hours and then went long on this one . I checked every possible scenario for no fuel pressure, and had no solution for them either . It was not making any fuel pressure over and above the electric pumps output.
First time customer, I could tell she was getting frustrated with me, and the whole situation . I had the car for over a week.
She asked me , " what would you do it it was your car ?". I told her, I would purchase a good quality german made pump from a known vendor. If that did not work, I had no other solutions .
She at first declined ,they were already $700 in at this point, and still with a broken car .
A day later, she calls, and says her husband and her decided to punt and give it one more try.
I installed a Bosch pump this am, and it fired right up, full pressure, and runs perfect . So, long story short, they got 2 bad fuel pumps from an amazon seller . Probably chineese knockoffs .
I have been pretty lucky , but have had a few similar situations over the last 2-3 years.
I got 2 bad bosch alternators for my 930 a few years back. Spent an entire evening checking every possible scenario for low voltage, and alt light on , Everything spot on where it should be . I was replacing the alternator due to bad bearings, I put the old one back in, and it still worked . Returned the 2nd Bosch alt, bought a Valeo, and it is still in there working today .
Any of you run into sub par materials or products lately ? Is it getting worse ? I buy lots of el cheapo stuff on e bay for myself ,and have had pretty good luck thus far .