BEWARE O'reilly's auto parts!

[The70RT]

Saturday I decided to do something with the alternator on my 70 Cutlass. I had some rebuild kits somewhere but couldn't locate them. Instead of buying a kit and then trying to make the old one look nice. I called Advance and they had a reman for 39.95. I called O'reilly's and they had one for the same price. I decided to go to O'reilly's. I picked one up and put it on.....well almost. I had everything connected except for the battery ground, and I went to put it on I had an arc instantly. It startled me and I jerked back but the arc was so intense it fused the terminal to the post. I reached back and grabbed it but it was too hot.

By this time the damage was done. The hotwire to the alternator that comes from the horn relay junction and secondary power wire from the positive cable that meets other wires at the horn relay junction melted and luckily the wire to the alternator melted through before it passed that point. I ran for the extinguisher but didn't need it. I am also lucky the battery didn't blow. I took it back to O'reilly's and they tested it and yeah it was fried. They acted like no big deal and well they were sorry. They didn't have another one......so off to another O'riellys. Yeah I know I should have went else where. I got another one and went home. The case needed rotated for my wires would be in the correct place. I figured why not do an inspection. As soon as I pulled it apart I seen the used brushes and thought WTF! The diodes were spray painted and the armature had a small groove. I bought a lifetime so I went withit and it forks fine for now but one brush was 3/4 the way gone. I replaced a couple wires and re-taped my harness and that was all the damage. I called both store and didn't get much sympathy.

I called the main office in Springfield Monday and asked for a supervisor, the guy couldn't hardly believe what happened and kept asking questions to see it I knew what the hell I was doing. In the end he said what do you want me to do about it? I should have said buy me a new front wiring harness. I told him they needed to start checking the mexicans out and make sure the shit they was getting was worthy. He says no, they are rebuilt on the east coast somewhere. I said then why was there stickers on both that said made in Mexico? He said they will look into it. I always heard stories about the starters and alternators were blasted and repainted to look new and fix the minimal to make it work.......now am convinced all the stories were true.

[Silver R/T]

sorry about your bad luck. You get what you pay for.

[moparguy01]

That's what all remans are unfortunately. When I can I take my stuff to a guy who bench builds the one I brought in. Never had an issue with his stuff. They make them look new and replace only the bad parts.

[Rolling_Thunder]

Honestly guys - I work at Autozone at the moment and I see very few alternators or starters come back...     I always test the parts for the customer before he leaves just to make sure he's getting a good part...        don't get me wrong - i'm not saying Autozone is way better than anywhere else - I just know what i see at the store...   

Hell I run a ton of parts from AZ on my cars and have had zero problems thus far...      My only complain are the brake pads...   they make a TON of dust on my Tacoma..    but hey...    where else do you get a lifetime warranty on brake pads?  haha    I decided $20.00 will cover my brake pads for the next 10 years or so  haha

[klutch]

I worked for CSK before Orielly's sucko parts took over and CSK wasn't that great to begin with but now Orielly's has taken over and is even worse with even more poorly made, cheap parts and they treat their employees even worse then CSK did!

[ACUDANUT]

 ASK RD. He works there !!

[451-74Charger]

Again, OEM parts can be just as bad (but at least they are new)
I have gone through 4 OEM starters on my Wife's Jeep Grand Cherokee since we got it 3 years ago. 2 replace under warranty, so I have 2 spares at home, only a few months old as there is no core charge and the dealer was cheaper than AZ or O'R's.

Pay for OEM if you want, at least you know its not refurbished. but it does seem that you get what you pay for in this hobby, especially with Mopars.....

[RD]

yes i do work there, and klutch i have seen the former CSK stores in person, not too impressed.

lastly, i know you may not want to hear this dennis, but the first thing O'Reilly's will say (and i dont make this up, i am just an employee) is they do not warranty installation practices, just the part.  When you installed your alternator, you should have disconnected your positive cable from your battery.  This way, there would be no unnecessary voltage transfer to your alternator.  In most cases, there was an issue with your charging system prior due to you needing a new alternator.  There may have been a short in your wiring and when you attached the new alternator it was the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back.  So, the argument can be said that it was not the alternator but a faulty wiring harness.

Why did I say the above?  Well, that is either exactly what you heard from Springfield or you are going to hear it.  Sorry to say it, but it is the truth.  As much as you dislike O'Reilly's at this moment, many autoparts stores go by the same warranty principles.  Reason being, is that many people who know they have issues with their car, will buy parts, then return them saying the part caused the problem.  Their fraudulent activities dilute the capabilities of the stores to accurately take care of "legitimate" claims.  I hope you understand.

There are three types of alternators that are sold at O'Reillys:

1 Year - Remanufactured, replaced only the part that was damaged
Lifetime Remanufactured, replaced part(s) that were damaged plus basic parts to ensure proper working
Lifetime brand new - as you see it.. it is a brand new item

Ultimately, you get what you pay for.  I recommend lifetime remans (1 in every 100 are returned) and brand new ones just for the added insurance of knowing I only have to pay for the part once, ever.

Which store did you go to Dennis?  Curious how they treated you and please provide me with names.  I know the district manager personally and if you feel you were not treated properly, I can give you his number.

[451-74Charger]

I ONLY use O'Reilly's for parts now when getting non-OEM parts
My brake pads on my Grand Cherokee are lifetime replacement and have worn down in about 12 months due to "Cut-In-The-Hill" driving (Cincinnatians and NKY members know what im talking about).
O'Reilly's will replace the pads under warranty as many times as I have to replace them even due to normal wear and tear.
For this reason, I have stopped shopping AutoZone and Advance Autoparts as they dont always back thier warranties.

[Rolling_Thunder]

I have stopped shopping AutoZone and Advance Autoparts as they dont always back thier warranties.

thats strange...     according to company policy Azone has to replace the pads even if they are down to the metal backing plates     

just an FYI

[RD]

I ONLY use O'Reilly's for parts now when getting non-OEM parts
My brake pads on my Grand Cherokee are lifetime replacement and have worn down in about 12 months due to "Cut-In-The-Hill" driving (Cincinnatians and NKY members know what im talking about).
O'Reilly's will replace the pads under warranty as many times as I have to replace them even due to normal wear and tear.
For this reason, I have stopped shopping AutoZone and Advance Autoparts as they dont always back thier warranties.

to be honest about this, O'Reilly's only offers a limited lifetime warranty on their basic lifetime brake pads (and those of higher quality).  This warranty, as stated by O'Reilly policy, does not include the everyday wear and tear as associated with vehicle usage.  This warranty, by the manufacturer, is for manufacturer defect only.  It is NOT for a froze up caliper or warped rotor or bad brake hose or bad proportioning valve or bad master cylinder causing your brake pads to wear prematurely.

Now, saying that, each store is allowed a certain amount of levity in regards to what they will warranty in order to maintain an appropriate level of customer satisfaction.  The store, in which I work for, will warranty a set of brake pads for "wear" only once.  After that, you must pay for another set.  So, in reality, you are paying only 1/2 the actual cost of brake pads since you are getting a second set free on the warranty of the first set.

[The70RT]

I disconnected the negative but that shouldn't have mattered. I guess I was guilty of having a dirty battery cable so when I put the cable on I didin't get a connection till I had it on and turned it. There wasn't a previous problem with the system. The other one just wasn't charging enough. The guy in Springfield asked what I wanted him to do like maybe he would have compensated me??? The store I got it at the manager is Byron (17th & Kansas) and I have known him for years.. I did talk to him after I called Springfield just to let him know. He didn't react in anyway, he is nowhere near friendly though either......ever. When I got the alternator the guy went back and got it and I asked is the 1 year warranty the same one as the lifetime.......he said yesssss! I said add the 10 bucks on it and make it a lifetime. When I called they said they had the one year and the lifetime. After I went back to return it they didn't have another one. I was directed to the north store. When I got there they looked at my receipt and brought one out. That is the one with the nearly gone brushes and a groove in the armature. What good would it do to talk to any other manager? The problem I have is they need to open some of them up for inspection....which I doubt if anyone will care to do so. I will be having them test the next one I get when I go back......which will be in the near future with the low brushes.

[Silver R/T]

I had bad experience when I was installing a starter on my cousin's car. He got a remanufactured one and I bolted it on, didn't start! So I take it off and take it back and we test it, sure enough, it wasn't working.

[RD]

I disconnected the negative but that shouldn't have mattered. I guess I was guilty of having a dirty battery cable so when I put the cable on I didin't get a connection till I had it on and turned it. There wasn't a previous problem with the system. The other one just wasn't charging enough. The guy in Springfield asked what I wanted him to do like maybe he would have compensated me??? The store I got it at the manager is Byron (17th & Kansas) and I have known him for years.. I did talk to him after I called Springfield just to let him know. He didn't react in anyway, he is nowhere near friendly though either......ever. When I got the alternator the guy went back and got it and I asked is the 1 year warranty the same one as the lifetime.......he said yesssss! I said add the 10 bucks on it and make it a lifetime. When I called they said they had the one year and the lifetime. After I went back to return it they didn't have another one. I was directed to the north store. When I got there they looked at my receipt and brought one out. That is the one with the nearly gone brushes and a groove in the armature. What good would it do to talk to any other manager? The problem I have is they need to open some of them up for inspection....which I doubt if anyone will care to do so. I will be having them test the next one I get when I go back......which will be in the near future with the low brushes.

dennis,

if i were in your position, i would take that one off that you are not happy with, and exchange it.  no sense on waiting for it to go, better just get another that you are satisfied with.  the reason for talking to the district manager is that he will do about anything to make you happy.  if he says do it, the store managers will not argue and just make it happen.  you can call the south store (where i work) at 862-4749 during the day.  Ask for Brad or Traci.  They will let you know if Pernell Peters (district manager) is in the office or not (his office is in the south store).  If he is, just ask to talk to him.  Tell him exactly what happened and he will take care of you. Springfield doesnt really consider you a person who spends money as they do not directly get the sales from your purchases.  The local stores do.  So, especially at my store, we do our best to take care of the customer.  We eat alot of warranty charges and such in order to keep the customer happy.  You would be no different.  I work this saturday if you want to come in and see me.  I will do everything I can to make it right.

Jamey

[The70RT]

Thanks Jamey. I remember Parnell from back in the day. I will contemplate the idea.

[ACUDANUT]

RD is awesome. 

[Darkman]

RD is awesome. 

[Dans 68]

RD is awesome. 

X 

Dan

[jeryst]

Advance Auto offers a lifetime warranty, but many times, the fine print reads that they will only replace it one time. That one time could be
any time during the "lifetime" warranty, but you still only get one replacement. If you happen to get 2 bad ones out of the box, too bad for you.
Once an electrical items has been installed, even for one minute, it is considered used, and falls under that warranty. Been burned on that one,
and it is blatantly dishonest as far as I am concerned. Easy to see how that one works. They invest $10 in a cheap alternator, sell it to you for $40
with their "lifetime" warranty. When you bring it back, they give you another $10 alternator, and their responsibility has ended.
They still make 100% profit on the deal.

A friend of mine owns a garage that he has operated for 35 years. He will only do business with NAPA any more, as he says that
every electrical part he ever got from other places was crap.

[451-74Charger]

For seals and bearings, i ONLY use SKF wherever possible, If O'Reilleys dont have them, i do have another source (NAPA carry them), but havent had to buy any recently

[RD]

Advance Auto offers a lifetime warranty, but many times, the fine print reads that they will only replace it one time. That one time could be
any time during the "lifetime" warranty, but you still only get one replacement. If you happen to get 2 bad ones out of the box, too bad for you.
Once an electrical items has been installed, even for one minute, it is considered used, and falls under that warranty. Been burned on that one,
and it is blatantly dishonest as far as I am concerned. Easy to see how that one works. They invest $10 in a cheap alternator, sell it to you for $40
with their "lifetime" warranty. When you bring it back, they give you another $10 alternator, and their responsibility has ended.
They still make 100% profit on the deal.

A friend of mine owns a garage that he has operated for 35 years. He will only do business with NAPA any more, as he says that
every electrical part he ever got from other places was crap.

O'Reilly's does not use this practice (not saying that you said they did, just making sure all know for posterity's sake).  If you buy a lifetime alternator, and it goes to the crapper, we give you another one free.  If that one fails in time, we give you another one.. free.  The only time O'Reilly's may question warranties is when you need 3 starter's warrantied within a week.  It just may not be the starter but other issues involving your car.

[Todd Wilson]

You buy a starter or alt from a parts store its a crap shoot as to if it will work out of the box or work for any length of time. Try and find an old time rebuild shop. They are getting hard to find anymore though! Them and radiator shops are slowly disappearing.......


Todd