SA Electrical Help

[infernosg]

Originally Posted by FC Zach

Is there some type of stigma toward Advance that I don't know about? I can see this being said for Auto Zone because of their separate search and check-out lines as well as poor service in my area but why Advance, does your store have bad customer service?

I must say I'm a little biased since I worked for the company for five years, best store in the district too

I have no problem with them either, but there seems to be a negative overall opinion of Advance, AutoZone, O-Reilly's, etc. in general. I have no affinity for any one and usually go to whichever is closest, which happens to be Advance now. I accept the fact it's just an auto parts store with some limited services. Sometimes there's a knowledgeable guy behind the counter but most of the time it's just a kid following instructions.

Yesterday I verified the display and all its connections checked out. I've got a couple more grounds to check but it looks like at least the alternator is to blame. I'm thinking the alternator isn't outputting enough voltage to cause the voltage regulator to kick in, which causes the idiot lights to go out and the tachometer to activate. I won't be able to determine if the regulator is bad until the replacement alternator comes in.

[t_g_farrell]

Originally Posted by FC Zach

Is there some type of stigma toward Advance that I don't know about? I can see this being said for Auto Zone because of their separate search and check-out lines as well as poor service in my area but why Advance, does your store have bad customer service?

I must say I'm a little biased since I worked for the company for five years, best store in the district too

Besides the fact that they charge 2 - 3x what I can get the part for from
rockauto and they are prone to handing out unwanted and wrong advice about
my car and the fact that they try to upsell you on everything. No, no issues.

I go to the bricks and morter stores only under duress. Heres the process to
select the store to goto:

Is it a specialty part or something needs to be fabricated, CarQuest/NAPA
because they can do things usually close to right and here they do some
of this for the race shops so they have a clue.

Otherwise its like this:

Oriellys - not bad and have good stock
AdvanceAuto - I can walk to it so sometimes it wins, the dog likes to go there
AutoZone - desparate, only if I see they have and the other two dont
WalMart - to get cheap consumables oil, etc
PepBoys - never

[FC Zach]

Originally Posted by t_g_farrell

AutoZone - desparate, only if I see they have and the other two dont
WalMart - to get cheap consumables oil, etc

Yes and Yes!

[GySgtFrank]

Originally Posted by infernosg

The car won't be going anywhere for a while as I've got the steering column pulled apart to replace the upper bushing, which had crumbled to pieces causing play.

Mine was the same way when I got it. The bushing was little bits and pieces, that which wasn't powder. I solved it by going down to a bearing specialty place and was able to source a metal bearing that fit the steering shaft. It was slightly large on external diameter so I had to do a little filing on the plastic for the turn signal piece and used a socket to expand the metal tube slightly so the bearing would slip in. It is solid and turns easily now. No more slopping around when you try to turn the wheel.

[infernosg]

Originally Posted by GySgtFrank

Mine was the same way when I got it. The bushing was little bits and pieces, that which wasn't powder. I solved it by going down to a bearing specialty place and was able to source a metal bearing that fit the steering shaft. It was slightly large on external diameter so I had to do a little filing on the plastic for the turn signal piece and used a socket to expand the metal tube slightly so the bearing would slip in. It is solid and turns easily now. No more slopping around when you try to turn the wheel.

I thought I was going to have to do the same until I found the OEM part is still readily available and fairly cheap. Your option is definitely more robust and likely will never fail, but for the use this car is going to see the stock plastic bushing should last me a long time.

[infernosg]

It turned out to be the alternator. Threw in the reman'd unit from RockAuto and everything worked as it should. Well, except for the speedometer, but that was because I forgot to reconnect the cable after inspecting the dash.

[FC Zach]

Awesome