Auto Zone Expert?

[stevej37]

^^^ Does that mean my 25 year old Prelude needs double platinums??

I don't believe it has a 'waste spark system'

[NutmegCarrera]

SteveJ37
Yep. Did the water pump, timing belt and tensioner.
Aside from being really messy - wasn’t a bad job.
This one is a SOHC so it’s all about making sure cam is in time. Worst was getting the plastic cover back on the right way.
Water pump was leaky so glad we replaced. Timing belt looked fine - but you never know til you’re in there.

Next thing we need to do is rear control arm bushings. That looks like could be a rough job. All depends on how hard it is to press out the old ones and press in the new.

Also did daughters 2007 forester timing belt and water pump. Wasn’t horrible either.

Just need to be methodical and research the job ahead of time.

[LEAKYSEALS951]

The most important thing is to sing "get in the zone...autozone" as you walk in the door. Sing this the ENTIRE time you are there. No matter what happens, keep the beat. Whatever you hear. Whatever you see. Whatever questions they might ask. No exceptions. Stay in the zone...Autozone.

edit- get your free warranty battery and GTFO ASAP and no effn' way to seafoam.

[stevej37]

^^^ Nice work NM Carrera...I don't have enough skills to do that.
I studied the you tube videos many times and finally decided...nope, too much stuff that can go wrong for me.
I ended up bringing the Prelude to the dealer and they did it for less than a grand. I am happy with that...but still wish I would have tried it.

[stevej37]

Originally Posted by LEAKYSEALS951

The most important thing is to sing "get in the zone...autozone" as you walk in the door. Sing this the ENTIRE time you are there. No matter what happens, keep the beat. Whatever you hear. Whatever you see. Whatever questions they might ask. No exceptions. Stay in the zone...Autozone.

edit- get your free warranty battery and GTFO ASAP and no effn' way to seafoam.

The guy today wanted me to sign up for a membership to the 'Zone'
I asked him "how much would that save me on the double platinums?"
his answer was..."nothing...but you would be eligible for other savings"

That sealed the deal.

[Jeff Hail]

Originally Posted by TimT

A few years ago I needed to check the timing on my 911, and found that my timing light stopped working at some point...Off to Auto Zone I went... looked around and didn't see any timing light...I asked the counter guy if they had any.. I just got a blank stare.. the guy had no idea what a timing light was...

Sears still stocked them.

Hahaha, that happened to me. Timing light (Sears from 1979) toasted the Xenon tube. Went to the local auto parts store and got that stare like I was asking for a Prindle or a dashpot. Ended up finding the bulbs for sale for $2.00 and rebuilt it.

[LEAKYSEALS951]

Originally Posted by stevej37

The guy today wanted me to sign up for a membership to the 'Zone'
I asked him "how much would that save me on the double platinums?"
his answer was..."nothing...but you would be eligible for other savings"

That sealed the deal.

I'm getting to the point where they get a simple "No", or if they act like I'm stupid, I just leave. After all, I know I'm a dumbass. I don't need them to point it out.

The other day I was in a mom/pop hardware store. Usually I go to big box to avoid interaction. Sure enough, guy ask me if the bolt I need is metric or SAE. I didn't measure, but is was bicycle related, so I said "Metric"

He looked it up, and sure enough, it was SAE 1/4 by 20. He stated, and I quote "That's the last time I ask a customer that, they are always wrong!"

I apologized for being wrong, explained it was bicycle related, and generally that is metric, and I hadn't taken the time to run it through my thread pitch thingee, and asked if he had the bolt in 1/4 by 20. He looked at his wall of 3 cent bolts and couldn't find it. Right below his fat arse was the 1/4 20 bin, clearly marked. Realizing the next hardware store was well over the mountain, I asked him if that was the right bin. He opened it, and sure enough, it was full of bolts.

I had about 10 zillion comebacks I wanted to floor him with, but, it's a small town, so I didn't. He wouldn't have gotten the irony. I got my 3 cent bolt and left. Next time- big box store. I know where the bolts are and no one hassles me. Usually the smaller stores do well with service. It's all they sometimes have. Sometimes intrusive, but usually helpful. Not that dude.

[stevej37]

Originally Posted by NutmegCarrera

SteveJ37
Yep. Did the water pump, timing belt and tensioner.
Aside from being really messy - wasn’t a bad job.
Just need to be methodical and research the job ahead of time.

When I had the dealer do mine, I stopped in while the mechanic was finishing up.
I asked about the condition of the TB. He fished it out of the garbage barrel to show me. It looked brand new.
I asked about that and he said "I have seen many belts that looked like this one and still broke"
I felt a lot better after hearing that.

[otto_kretschmer]

Going to Autozone for a car question is like going to a butcher shop for a brain surgery question.

[stevej37]

^^^ I didn't go there for a question. I went to purchase plugs...which they wanted to upgrade.
I went to O'Reilleys next to get the ones I wanted.

[LEAKYSEALS951]

O-reilly's btw is the only place I could find a non-resister distributor rotor for the 911 to use for my ignition system (whichever one I installed after the permatune went smokey smoke). They usually do pretty well in the great scheme of things.

[stevej37]

^^^ Yes...O'rielly's has been great for me also. I bring all my waste/drain oil there for recycling.
They are happy to take it.

[john70t]

Cheap corporate tactics leading to membership and subscription.
Whatever. Take note..

Don't let that interfere with keeping your vehicle in the best state possible.

[stevej37]

I sometimes think the best purchases of all are online.

Amazon is hard to beat regarding price, returns, and selection.

[john70t]

Originally Posted by LEAKYSEALS951

I'm getting to the point where they get a simple "No", or if they act like I'm stupid, I just leave. After all, I know I'm a dumbass. I don't need them to point it out.

They are just kids. Or just older kids.

Experience is f'king golden!
"Youth is wasted on the young." "Experience is a cruel teacher because it gives the test first before the lesson." blah blah

Positive reinforcement with patience and communication will make any man (or woman) a better man(or woman) later on throughout life.
Put a dab of good karma into this world.
Two more minutes to fix the problem.

For the most part, I seriously didn't know how to change oil until 19-21yo..
Engine? Transmission? What is this metal mass before me?
Then later with a lot of book time, hard work, and repeating words, and a few mistakes, I eventually became an "ASE cert Master Mechanic."
The theoretical king of any shop. Whatever. Still an idiot.
The idiot still remains, but a few good bits were hammered into this head by people with patience....By people who said "no" and took the few minutes to explain why.

[stevej37]

'hands on' is the best experience of all.
I wish I had it when I was in my earlier years.

[dad911]

Originally Posted by LEAKYSEALS951

O-reilly's btw is the only place I could find a non-resister distributor rotor for the 911 to use for my ignition system (whichever one I installed after the permatune went smokey smoke). They usually do pretty well in the great scheme of things.

Yup, O-reilly's has the obscure parts:

https://www.oreillyauto.com/flux-capacitor

[stevej37]

^^^ still unavailable for purchase.
I'm on the waiting list.

[Jeff Hail]

Next time I am going to ask for a noid, dwell meter and a windage tray. That should send em into an ice cream headache.

[dad911]

Amazon sells timing lights.