Rambling thoughts

[qship96]

Today I noticed my turn signal flasher was going at double speed, so checked bulbs and front pass. side turn signal bulb was dead....off to Advance Auto to pick up Sylvania LL1057A bulb {2 pack was $4.99} and changed it right there in parking lot in 2 minutes.......I am floored that this cheap little bulb lasted over 255,000 miles {yes it was the original bulb installed on the assembly line almost 15 years ago}

While in the store, I priced a Purolator air filter for the Q {$25.99} who are they kidding when I get the factory part from Joe for around 11 dollars???? I opened the box, and it did look identical to the OEM part, right down to the color of the element. Over in the fluids dept Mobil 1 ATF was $8.80/qt....sorry but for 20 cents more I get Redline D4 atf delivered to my doorstep{tax free too}. For you Mobil 1 oil users, they did have a decent deal of 5 quarts plus a M1 oil filter for $29.99 but of course no Advance auto seems to carry the Q filter {#m1-208}

rear wheel bearings.......do not try to order Timken rear wheel bearings for your 90-96Q{part # 511011,511010}.....they wont fit and have been discontinued from timken, even though Amazon{and others} has them still in stock and priced well at about $80 each compared to nissans 250-275 each!!!! A call to Timken resulted in the explanation that their supplier changed the bore diameter of the parts quite a while ago while keeping the same part numbers.....why they wont fit the Q...how dumb was that to keep the same part number?????

[elwesso]

Yeah you have to be careful about some of the over the counter stuff. Hell, Joe charges about half the price for an M1 filter than most auto parts stores do!

[Infinitiguy19]

I wanted to make a new topic to discuss somethings that happened today but if you don't mind.

I went to a local Infiniti today to get a radiator drain c***/plug and the parts guy who has been there for years could not find the part number. I told him he could find it in a Technical Service Bulletin and he said I have to see service about looking that up. I went to the service desk and they said because its a old car they would have a hard time finding it. In other words we don't want to get off are fat asses to over charge you for a part. So I tell the service guy if you have internet I can find the TSB myself and find the part number and he says by all means. I do that instead of waiting a couple of days for them to get back to me and I walk over to the parts counter. The parts guy says he doesn't have it in stock (Big surprise) and he would have to order it (3-4 days). I told him do any dealerships have it locally and I over hear the parts manager say "what you have a roll of nickels here and now" I think he was joking. Turns out local dealer ship does have it in stock and they have not sold one since the year 2000. On top of that they have the drain c***/plug for $10 when Infiniti Of Scottsdale has it for $5 and local parts stores have it for $10 as well. I don't work for Infiniti Of Scottsdale but they have 10 time better attitudes and go the extra mile to keep customers.

So this means that the dealer no longer like G50 (1990-1996) Q45's, the local dealer to me at least.

Also if anyone is thinking about coming to MAssachusetts DO"NT because we have people who don't know what stop signs are, Toyota's with sticky accelerator pedals, roads that make Iraq's roads look good and much more.

[elwesso]

Why do you need a drain, just pull the lower radiator hose, MUCH faster..

[Infinitiguy19]

I looked into that but it was too far down to get too.

[MinisterofDOOM]

how dumb was that to keep the same part number?????

First DIY oil change on my LS (first one I had the dealer do since it was winter) I stopped at Auto Zone and grabbed a M1 oil filter (cross-checking the part number in the paper book hanging on the shelf). I got home, drained the oil, pulled the old filter (filter location on the AJ35 is fantastic, btw) and grabbed the new filter to screw it on. Except it wouldn't thread. Compared old and new side-by-side...the new one had a completely different face...different return holes, smaller thread diameter.

Back at AutoZone, I looked over the book again and discovered than only Bosch lists separate filters for the Duratec 30 and AJ35. Everyone else lists the same part number for both...and it's the one Bosch lists for the Duratec. Bosch lists a completely different part number for the AJ V8. I checked all the brands on the shelf; sure enough only the Bosch matched my motorcraft filter.

Simply moronic, and a huge waste of my time. Turned what would probably have been the quickest oil change I've ever done into a big inconvenience. Lucky I had a 2nd vehicle on hand.
Now I know, though. So it shouldn't happen again.