rockauto.com vs local parts store?

98zjstroker

98zjstroker

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 14, 2009
Location
concord nc
I have seen a lot of stuff on rockauto for way cheaper then local advanced and AutoZone. Not sure if the quality is worse/same/better then the local parts stores. Anyone have experience with them? With our jeeps I know there are a lot of complaints about the local parts stores regarding sensors.

I am needing a crank position sensor amongst other things (it snapped in half). Rockauto has them for around $15 while AutoZone is $36. I dont mind spending the extra money but it is a pain in the arse to replace because of where it is at. there are several complaints about it not lasting long on AutoZone's website. Since the motor has yet to be dropped in I want to do it while its easy and dont want to do it again two weeks after installing the motor.

also does anyone also have experience specifically with crank sensor by "WVE vehicle electronics" VS. spectra?

both of them are offered on rockauto. WVE has a 3yr/36000mi warrantee while spectra has limited lifetime. yet the spectra one is cheaper. Dont care about brand, again just dont want to have to do it again anytime soon so quality is important while avoiding the dealerships $300 price tag.
 
84jimmy said:
I dont mind spending the extra money but it is a pain in the arse to replace because of where it is at.
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I've bought a lot of stuff from RockAuto and been just as happy with them as I would be from any other parts store.
That being said, I recently had to buy an oil pressure sensor for the wifes 5.3 suburban. It's a pain in the ass to reach, and they're known for issues. The one I bought from RA lasted 6(?) weeks before it went bad. Her car is THE family car for our family so it can't be down for too long. I just ate it and ended up buying one locally (and had my mechanic install because ain't nobody in my family got time for that right now).

Lesson learned, I will probably continue to buy mechanical type items from them, but electrical items (sensors, etc), I will buy locally due to the shear amount of lemons that are due to poor manufacturing. There are four auto parts stores within 2 miles of my house, if I get a defective sensor I can just run in and replace it quickly rather than wait a week or so for a new part.
 
I've used Rock Auto a few times and never been disappointed with the product, but usually I find myself ordering online at Advance Auto and using an online coupon. They regularly have coupons for 20 to 30% off.

Duane
 
I have had good luck with rock Auto and the shipping has gotten better than it use to be. Even now in this mess, I get stuff in 2-3 days.
O'Reilly auto parts will price match Amazon or rock Auto just fyi... Or at least mine does. You do have to include shipping if you want to price match RA.
On the Jeep I was just working on I got them to price match the coil they wanted $40 for to the $9 one I found on Amazon. I didn't want to wait on shipping but didn't know they'd come down that much.
 
If you have the time go for it. Ive had good luck with rockauto. Need to place an order myself
 
Rockauto is awesome. I had to send some parts back once and it was a PITA bc I had to pay return shipping, but other than that I've been very satisfied with my transactions with them. They generally have super quick shipping too.
 
Rock Auto usually gives me results in several price tiers....I have learned through personal experience the really cheap parts are that way for a reason.

Having said that it only matters if its plan ahead or right now most of the time. I also like being able to put my hands on something, even when special ordered. This have saved me some previous ugggggggaahhs before.

25/75 split for me.
 
I’ve used Rock Auto many times. One time had a problem . The wrong pump was installed in the assembly. I don’t think it was their fault. I buy stuff at super prices When ever the part is super critical or requires a lot of labor I buy it at the Chevy dealer. I get a discount which puts it a little above parts store prices. How would you like to to change a fuel pressure regulator on a big block Suburban twice because the one you got at Auto Zone didnt work correctly and had to drive 45 mph from Charleston WV to Rocky Mount NC towing my buggy
 
If I plan ahead, I’ll order from rockauto (with the discount code posted in then vendors forum). I normally procrastinate and end up ordering online from advanceauto with a googled discount code. I’m of the opinion that no matter where I order from, they all come out of a shipping container from China.
 
I never plan ahead so I end up buying everything from local parts stores.
 
I got a bad exhaust manifold (non clean-up on gasket face) and a bad flywheel (non-clean up on lining face) from Rockauto, the return process made it cost prohibitive to send either back. I buy the small stuff that I can save 35% or more on (after shipping). Anything that I might need to warranty comes from Napa.

Autozone is a joke, customer service is horrible, pep boys and advance is my second in line after Napa closes for the day.

On a personal note, I had a 4.0l jeep thermostat housing crack during install, walked it into Napa, they remembered me, grabbed me a new one and sent me on my way....no questions asked, no second guessing, nada!
 
moldman05 said:
I’ve used Rock Auto many times. One time had a problem . The wrong pump was installed in the assembly. I don’t think it was their fault. I buy stuff at super prices When ever the part is super critical or requires a lot of labor I buy it at the Chevy dealer. I get a discount which puts it a little above parts store prices. How would you like to to change a fuel pressure regulator on a big block Suburban twice because the one you got at Auto Zone didnt work correctly and had to drive 45 mph from Charleston WV to Rocky Mount NC towing my buggy
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I completely agree with you and normally do this. But I can not justify spending $300 which was what I was told it cost from the dealership for this part. any other time I would be doing exactly what you do.
 
So this is a pretty timely topic. I need to change the oil and fuel filter in my truck. I checked eBay, RockAuto, Advance Auto, AutoZone, and Napa. Once you factored in the discount code on Advance Auto and the fact that they had the oil I wanted on sale for 20 bucks a gallon instead of 30, it was no brainer to go pick it up today.

It was also went exactly how I expected once I got to the store. The website said ready in 30 minutes, so I went about an hour after I place the order. Of course I get there and have to wait for 5 or 10 minutes for the urbanite in front of me to figure out what model of Escalade they had. Then I get up to the counter, and they don't have my order ready yet. So he goes to look for the oil, which I had ordered 15W40 rotella t6 synthetic, and of course they don't have it, but he can substitute 5W-40 so I say okay fine. Then he spends 5 more minutes looking for the oil filter that happens to be sitting out on the shelf in the store, which I would have guessed, but what do I know? I don't work at Advance Auto. :shaking: Then he can't find the fuel filters, even though their in store system says they have two boxes in stock and I only need one. After a few more minutes, he looks up a couple other part numbers and ends up giving me the Ford one which is $125 for the same price as the $68 carquest one, and then minus 25% off of that. So I guess it worked out, but everything was just a ridiculous hassle and I don't understand how they can have such an inaccurate system.
 
It just depends on how big of a rush I'm in and if I want to spend the extra money. For example, rear brake spring kit for my c50 was $40 at Oriellys and could pick it up that day. Rock auto had them on clearance for $5 so I bought all 10 kits and waited an extra 2 days :)


I Only buy brand name/OEM sensors and electronics. Alot of times rock auto will have the OEM part and not list it under the vehicle catalog. BUT you can search that number and find it on their site.
 
Jody Treadway said:
ZJ crank sensors are nowhere near $300 at the dealer
Buy a name brand one. Whether OEM, RA, AZ or BTL, you don't want to be digging for a 7/16" wobble socket on the side of the road.
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So I was able to find what I think is the correct Mopar part number for my jeep online for $100 before shipping. I guess the price quote I saw was incorrect if that's the case. I will call the dealership tomorrow and see. I still dont want to spend $100. BTL?
 
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I am also wondering if it would be worth me making a trip to the junkyard and pulling a few of the original Mopar ones. There was just a lot of complaints from autozone and advanced that these things have weak magnets that fail 4-6 weeks later at the most. I just dont want to keep dealing with that. But I also dont want to pay $100+ do get the mopar OE
 
I can drive 4 miles north and pass an Autozone, NAPA, Advance, Oreilly and a local independent. I can drive south 5 miles and pass another Autozone, NAPA, Advance and Oreilly. I’ll still price shop the PN and buy everything (except fluids) online. Specifically regarding Rockauto, there were times I’d order parts there that were cheaper than I could get from my chain store accounts. And the only ‘problem’ I’ve ever had out of rockauto are returning cores...always seemed like I wasn’t getting credited and would have to call.
 
I love Rock Auto. I replaced the entire AC system on my my tow rig for less than $300 from RA and was very happy with all the parts. The compressor alone was that much from the parts store. I also just replaced all the plugs and wires in my truck thru them. Sure they had cheap Ching chow optioned but I was able to select all AC Delco parts. The typically have all the big names.
There’s also a 5% discount code on here for them which I used. They ship fast, always send a fridge/toolbox magnet, and I have no complaints. Certain sensors I might be weary of, but if you can choose a good well known OEM quality brand I don’t think twice.


BrianGreen said:
Local parts store. NOT a chain store. Better service, better parts, better prices. Actual gear heads run it.
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What do you mean by this? In my area I don’t know of anything but the big 4. Advance Auto, Auto Zone, Orielly, Napa, and there might be a CarQuest somewhere? While I’m faithfully loyal to Orielly myself, I don’t know of any mom and pop locally owned “parts stores”
 
77GreenMachine said:
What do you mean by this? In my area I don’t know of anything but the big 4. Advance Auto, Auto Zone, Orielly, Napa, and there might be a CarQuest somewhere? While I’m faithfully loyal to Orielly myself, I don’t know of any mom and pop locally owned “parts stores”
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Our last one in Clayton closed up a few years ago. Old guy ran it forever, had most of the off the wall stuff in stock that you would have to order from the box store, and knew more than all the box store employees combined. Unfortunately he was located in true downtown instead of on the highway so business died. Most of the Napa or Walker stores around here are franchise stores with good guys though, and most of them do some type of extra service like mix paint or make hoses or such.

Duane
 
jeepinmatt said:
So this is a pretty timely topic. I need to change the oil and fuel filter in my truck. I checked eBay, RockAuto, Advance Auto, AutoZone, and Napa. Once you factored in the discount code on Advance Auto and the fact that they had the oil I wanted on sale for 20 bucks a gallon instead of 30, it was no brainer to go pick it up today.

It was also went exactly how I expected once I got to the store. The website said ready in 30 minutes, so I went about an hour after I place the order. Of course I get there and have to wait for 5 or 10 minutes for the urbanite in front of me to figure out what model of Escalade they had. Then I get up to the counter, and they don't have my order ready yet. So he goes to look for the oil, which I had ordered 15W40 rotella t6 synthetic, and of course they don't have it, but he can substitute 5W-40 so I say okay fine. Then he spends 5 more minutes looking for the oil filter that happens to be sitting out on the shelf in the store, which I would have guessed, but what do I know? I don't work at Advance Auto. :shaking: Then he can't find the fuel filters, even though their in store system says they have two boxes in stock and I only need one. After a few more minutes, he looks up a couple other part numbers and ends up giving me the Ford one which is $125 for the same price as the $68 carquest one, and then minus 25% off of that. So I guess it worked out, but everything was just a ridiculous hassle and I don't understand how they can have such an inaccurate system.
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That's why I end up ordering service stuff through Amazon. After working in a parts store for years I trust nothing that their computers say they have.

The T6 I just bought on Amazon was $22/gal btw.
 
84jimmy said:
I am also wondering if it would be worth me making a trip to the junkyard and pulling a few of the original Mopar ones. There was just a lot of complaints from autozone and advanced that these things have weak magnets that fail 4-6 weeks later at the most. I just dont want to keep dealing with that. But I also dont want to pay $100+ do get the mopar OE
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Is $100 too much to spend for the one single sensor that has the highest failure rate on any 4.0? If it fails, you're either stalled or dead in the water. Any other sensor I would (and do) have no issue using aftermarket value ones, but not a crank sensor.
Install the engine and THEN install the sensor. Don't risk damaging it by leaving it in the bell housing upon install. The flexplate will very likely break it.
Install engine, prime oil pump, install sensor (hold it down while tightening the retaining bolt so the spacer touches the flexplate) and fire it up.
Trust someone who spent many, many years as a lead tech/foreman at a Jeep dealership.
 
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