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Author
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Topic: Is Advance Auto Parts liable for this?
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masterrh
Journeyman Posts: 70
From:
Registered: Jul 2004
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posted 10-28-2005 09:47 PM
   
Well, the stories never end and they get juicier and juicier. I wonder if everyone back in the 60s had this many problems with their daily drivers as I do. I have a 1966 289 4 barrel 4spd stang. I was going to Walmart to pick up some stuff to make a costume (in college) when in the parking lot, when I'm pulling into a parking space I hear something banging underneath my hood and start seeing smoke. Great.
Get out and see that my fan had come off the water pump and spliced my (NEW) radiator down the middle, gutting her. Looking closer I saw that it wasn't my fan and pulley that came lose, but the bearing that is attached to the water pump came off (and is now MIA). I just recently installed that water pump from advance back in August/July and still have the warranty. My current line of thought is that this water pump they sold me is defective... the bearing itself came lose which unleased a ping pong game of destruction inside my engine, so they owe me a new water pump, radiator, and not sure what to do about labor costs. Any older, wiser inputs would be appreciated. Thanks!
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DidgeyTrucker
Gearhead Posts: 1681
From: Greenbrier, TN USA
Registered: Oct 99
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posted 10-28-2005 10:17 PM
Check the ticket and see what Advance says about warranties.Ask for the stars and settle for the moon (ask for more than you really want so when you back down you get what you really want). Tracy
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Scott H
Gearhead Posts: 1038
From: Chicago area
Registered: Mar 2005
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posted 10-28-2005 10:42 PM
I would venture a guess to say the warranty covers replacement part only.Since they have no control over the quality of the mechanic who installed it or what may have happened to it while it was being installed, they are probably only limited to the cost of the replacement part. On the other hand, if they installed it, then they would also be liable for the installation and any problems their installation caused, within a reasonable amount of time.
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masterrh
Journeyman Posts: 70
From:
Registered: Jul 2004
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posted 10-28-2005 11:22 PM
quote:
Originally posted by DidgeyTrucker:
Check the ticket and see what Advance says about warranties.Ask for the stars and settle for the moon (ask for more than you really want so when you back down you get what you really want). Tracy
I would venture a guess to say the warranty covers replacement part only. Since they have no control over the quality of the mechanic who installed it or what may have happened to it while it was being installed, they are probably only limited to the cost of the replacement part. --> But my thinking is... the piece on this water pump that broke is not installed or affected by the installation so who put it in shouldn't matter..
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kcode
Gearhead Posts: 3318
From: alvaton,ky,usa Suburb of Bowling Green, M&M #79, MCA #29208
Registered: Jun 99
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posted 10-28-2005 11:27 PM
My guess is similar to Scotts response. If you hire a lawyer and with out any reasonable doubt prove that the water pump was defective and not the fault of installation or application, you would still lose. Advance will probably give you a replacement water pump, but don't espect anything else. Their liability is limited to the price of the part. It would not hurt to go back to them and see what they will do. Just keep your cool while explaining the situation. V-belt tension will be a critical factor.Mike [This message has been edited by kcode (edited 10-28-2005).]
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exlocal
Gearhead Posts: 1121
From: hacienda hts., CA, USA
Registered: Dec 2004
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posted 10-28-2005 11:32 PM
Hope you win and get everything you're entitled to. I can just imagine what their reply is going to be though. Just be firm. My GF bought a new battery from Kragen today for her car, but when she got it home, the posts were in the middle of the battery instead of the outside edges. They messed with the wrong woman on the wrong day! ------------------
reliving youth [This message has been edited by exlocal (edited 10-28-2005).]
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mustangboy
Gearhead Posts: 1198
From: Ont, Canada
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 10-28-2005 11:39 PM
Yes I'm sure they can come up with lots of excuses that would be hard to prove one way or the other.Fan belt tension,was the fan out of balance,were you running straight water for coolant???..Just throwing out some idea's so you'll be prepared.I had the same thing happen to me once but in my case it was a very old waterpump.The clutch fan and rad were new though  ------------------
68 J-Code,Sprint,306 4 speed,4.11s 13.69@101...............
66 coupe 289 4 speed, 3.20 cruiser http://mustangsandmore.50megs.com/MembersPics/mustangboy.html http://mustangsandmore.50megs.com/MembersPics/mustangboy2.html
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bbjay351
Gearhead Posts: 306
From: DeSoto, Mo Us
Registered: May 2004
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posted 10-29-2005 01:24 AM
Usually if you raise a big stink about it they will take care of you. They are a big company and have always taken care of me through the few years I've been going to them. Hope they take care of you, but just don't take no for an answer.
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68 Coop
Gearhead Posts: 4040
From: Mesquite, NV. 89027 M&M# 4256
Registered: Oct 2004
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posted 10-29-2005 03:16 AM
Just curious, but what kind of radiator was in the car??? I think they owe you both myself, and I hope they do the right thing, and take care of it for you. Labor is another story.------------------
William 68 Coupe "It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog."
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masterrh
Journeyman Posts: 70
From:
Registered: Jul 2004
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posted 10-29-2005 04:15 AM
quote:
Originally posted by 68 Coop:
Just curious, but what kind of radiator was in the car??? I think they owe you both myself, and I hope they do the right thing, and take care of it for you. Labor is another story.
It was a 3 row column, from them too actually so hopefully this will work out.
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sigtauenus
Gearhead Posts: 3406
From: Va Beach
Registered: Jun 2000
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posted 10-29-2005 08:58 AM
I think company policy will probably be to only give you a new waterpump, but a careful and calm explanation to the local store manager may get you a common sense replacement of the radiator too. Give the store manager a chance to excercise some discretion and see how it goes before getting into a huff about it.
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n2oMike
Gearhead Posts: 2899
From: Spencer, WV
Registered: Jan 2001
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posted 10-29-2005 10:02 AM
It may be your first automotive lesson in...Cheap isn't always good, and good isn't always cheap. ------------------
Mike Burch
66 mustang real street
302 4-speed 289 heads
10.63 @ 129.3
http://www.geocities.com/carbedstangs/cmml_mburch.html
http://www.fortunecity.com/silverstone/healey/367
http://www.mustangworks.com/cgi-bin/moi-display.cgi?220
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masterrh
Journeyman Posts: 70
From:
Registered: Jul 2004
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posted 10-29-2005 11:46 AM
quote:
Originally posted by n2oMike:
It may be your first automotive lesson in...Cheap isn't always good, and good isn't always cheap.
Oh I know, the problem is, I'm a poor college student and this is my daily driver, so a year ago when she broke every day I had to fix it with the quickest parts I could get my hands on. And now I'm stuck in a the cycle of replacing all their parts that break every month. So let this be a lesson to all STAY AWAY FROM LOCAL PARTS STORES.
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SteveLaRiviere
Administrator Posts: 46598
From: Saco, Maine
Registered: May 99
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posted 10-29-2005 12:02 PM
They may be Advanced, but their parts are retarded...Although... I had a weird experience at a Advanced Auto Parts this summer. I needed to buy two pushrods and I went in and asked the counterman what brand of engine parts they carried. The guy acted like it was the oddest question he had ever heard and asked me why I wanted to know?  I replied "So I can know if they are worth buying or not." He then went in his magic computer and looked up my application and said it was a brand he had never heard of before, "Sealed Power!"  He probably never heard of a pushrod before either. He wasn't a kid, either, he was at least in his 40s. I think I'm going to stick to NPD, Mustangs Plus, Moneymaker and Summit in the future. ------------------
'70 Mustang Mach 1 351C 4V/FMX/3.25 Open
'70 Mustang Convertible 250 I6/3 speed/2.79 Open
'72 Mustang Sprint Hardtop 351C 4V/FMX/4.30 Trac Loc
'94 F-150 XL 5.8L/E4OD/3.55 Limited Slip
'05 Mercury Sable LS 3.0L DOHC 24V Duratech V6
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travs69
Gearhead Posts: 150
From: Bethalto, IL, USA
Registered: May 99
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posted 10-29-2005 05:39 PM
I've only bought one part from AA. A fuel pump that brand new wouldn't put out the correct fuel pressure. So I removed it, bought one from GM (for almost the exact same price) and tried to take the AA one back. They swore up and down because it said bosch on the top that it was a GM part (never mind the very white screen that you could tell had never been in gas long). The basically called me a liar and started pulling other fuel pumps out of their packages (which didn't say bosch!) and called some parts distribution department right in front of me. Basically calling me a liar. I waited till I got my money back and then gave them a ear full. Course I've gotten bad parts from AZ also (had a nice alternator that put out 24 volts.. fried my voltage regulator and a battery). I may be mistaken by I think my father said because he has a commercial account that they re-imburse him the labor for any parts that have to be returned because they are faulty (gotta think brakes and stuff don't count).
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masterrh
Journeyman Posts: 70
From:
Registered: Jul 2004
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posted 10-29-2005 05:53 PM
Well I stopped by advance today, they are going to replace my radiator and water pump. I'll just have to get a new pulley and fan, and re-install everything. Sucks but at least I don't have to buy another radiator that is what I did not want to do. I'll take some pics later of the busted one and post them.
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Scott H
Gearhead Posts: 1038
From: Chicago area
Registered: Mar 2005
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posted 10-29-2005 10:22 PM
Congratulations on a decent outcome!
I would bet you handled it well and caught them on a day when they felt like doing the responsible thing to try to keep you as a future customer. Having purchased your radiator from them probably helped as well.
I think this situation shows the difference between them handling it in an empathetic way versus trying to determine things such as 'liable' and 'owed'.
I think that everyone, individuals and companies, makes mistakes and I expect to run into them once in awhile. And then I think the true nature of the company shines through in how they handled the problem. I will continue to do business with a company that made a mistake or had a problem, but only if I feel they truly took responsibility for it and were willing to make an effort to set things right.
Glad it worked out well for you.
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fred
Gearhead Posts: 142
From: berea ky
Registered: Oct 2004
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posted 10-30-2005 09:15 AM
Glad to here about the outcome sounds like they tried to be fair, I buy many of my parts at Advance, whenever there is a problem they try to work it out, I personally feel that the store manager sets the tone for any adjustments to be made and varys from store to store, hope any other suppliers reading this realize that customer service is a large part of thier business, and an adjustment of $100.00 can later bring a much larger profit at the bottom line, really cheap advertising as far as I am concerened[This message has been edited by fred (edited 10-30-2005).]
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DidgeyTrucker
Gearhead Posts: 1681
From: Greenbrier, TN USA
Registered: Oct 99
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posted 10-30-2005 09:22 PM
Glad to see the major $$ parts will be replaced.Based on the performance of parts purchased, I drive past Auto Zone and Advance Auto on my way to O'Reilly's. Tracy
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