I learned something today :mad:

S

Scottwax

New member
AutoZone sucks *** at rebuilt starters....or at least sucks *** at chosing rebuilders.



My original starter finally died about 4 weeks ago on a Sunday. The only place close that had a starter for my Accord in stock was at AutoZone. Pulled my old one, took it down, paid $99.99 and went home to put it in. Car started up immediately, but it just didn't sound like a Honda starter. Anyone who has a Honda knows what I am talking about. They have a distinct sound.



After a day or two, I could here a slight grinding after the car would start, like the bendix gear was not pulling back quickly enough. Other times it would start fine, other times it would make a clunking sound as it started. Finally, it starting grinding after starting about every 3rd start so I took it back. They bench tested it and said it seemed fine to them but they would exchange it. Put in the 2nd AutoZone starter and it made the clunk sound the very first time it started. At this point, it was almost dark and I had gotten the last starter anyway.



The past two days, this new starter has also started grinding after the car had started. I went by my Honda mechanic's shop and he started it several times and said to him is also sounded like the gear wasn't pulling back quickly enough.



I went down to Honda Heaven (all Honda/Acura wrecking yard) and got a used one for $35, plus $6 for a 12 month warranty. Swapped it out, starts perfectly. I started it about 10 times in a row and each time it sounded perfect.



Now I have to see if AutoZone will either refund my money (I have my receipt plus the one from the wrecking yard to show I had to buy anther one), or at least give me in store credit.



Oh well, at least an Accord starter is pretty easy to r/r.





:mad: :mad:
 
i HATE Autozone! Here are two of my experiences I cut and pasted from another site were I was complaining about their crappy service. The first one happened a year ago and the second one a couple months ago.



so i just called autozone for a half shaft for the hatch. here is how the conversation went.

hello, autozone can i help you?....yes i need a half shaft drivers side for a 90 honda civic...half shaft?....yes....there is no such thing. do you mean the drive shaft that transfers power to the rear wheel?....it is a front wheel drive car.....oh......ok, let me check the computer.......ok.......honda civic 1990?......that's correct......is that a truck or a car?........ car......ok, (yells at the girl for help) where do i find half shafts on this thing....(girls reply)under cv....he comes back on and says "nope, can't get that part."......click.





I bought metric hex drivers instead of standard, went to exchange them for standard, and they fought with me telling me that I used them and then brought them back even though I had the standard set in my hand waiting to exchange. I would of never used them but they were a last resort.
 
S, if you can't get a refund, maybe you could add a shim or two so the grinding one would be useable, if you needed it. Some rebuilt Chevy starters needed a shim so the gears would mesh right. I remember putting one in and hitting the key-it sounded like a Mopar product. I took it out , added a shim, AHHHH, much better. A bit of blueing on the gear will tell the tale of the mesh. If they're too tight, it can't pull back like it should... This is just a guess on my part, because all of my cars have been GM.
 
Yep, grinding noise means you need to add a shim. Very common issue. Kinda late to help now, but AutoZone should refund your money.



Jeremy
 
You cannot shim a Honda starter. It fits into the engine block in a way that makes shimming impossible. The problem is that the bendix gear is not retracting quickly enough once the engine starts.
 
I've had nothing but good experiences at my local AutoZone (including a few rebuilt starters (different cars)). I had a lousy experience with a couple Pep Boys starters (replacing a replacement that didn't work). Ended up losing my core and going to AutoZone for a good one.
 
My favorite Autozone experience:

The clerk was going thru the pages on the computer when I was trying to get parts for a 78' Firebird. Unfortunately, when he got to the screen that asks what engine size, it didn't have the 64' 327cu engine I installed. So, we just picked any V8 (usually worked). The best part was when he looked up from the computer and asked, "Is that a 2-wheel or 4-wheel drive?"

I couldn't resist, I told him four.:D
 
KevinA said:
I've had nothing but good experiences at my local AutoZone (including a few rebuilt starters (different cars)). I had a lousy experience with a couple Pep Boys starters (replacing a replacement that didn't work). Ended up losing my core and going to AutoZone for a good one.
Click to expand...



I've gotten horrible rebuilds at Pep Boys which was why I didn't even call them.



Anyway, I went down today to get my money back on the starter. I've had it less than 30 days and I had proof I had to purchase another one. The clerk asked why I didn't exchange it again and I told him I wasn't going to keep on removing and installed starters until I got a good one, especially since they only carry one in stock at a time and I also was not going to risk damage to the ring gear teeth. He tested the starter and you could see the bendix gear was not popping back quickly. He then told me only the manager could refund my money and I told him that was pretty funny because when it came to taking my money, any of their employees could. Now I have to go back when the manager is there on Sunday morning. :mad:
 
The first 2 words of your post were correct, Autozone sucks. :) Pepboys's in much better. I've concluded 99% of the people working at these stores know NOTHING about auto repair. I won't, for any reason, purchase parts from these places. Just about everything I've gotten from them has been junk, and I've heard a million stories about their crap parts. About the only thing I will buy from them is fluids.



Funny thing is, I was just in Autozone today to get a tube of grease and the guy in front of me returned a water pump and they refunded his money, no manager needed.
 
ShowroomLincoln said:




Funny thing is, I was just in Autozone today to get a tube of grease and the guy in front of me returned a water pump and they refunded his money, no manager needed.
Click to expand...



That figures. The guy at the store claimed it was their policy on refunds over $50.



When I take it back, I am going to take all my Autozone receipts for stuff like the Turtle Wax microfiber towels (suprisingly good), Eagle 20/20 glass cleaner, belts, hoses, etc. Probably have several hundred dollars in receipts from them and I will make sure he knows I won't spend another dime there if I don't get a refund.
 
I use Autozone. They are two blocks from my house. There use to be a guy there that was a pretty good mechanic but, of course he left. I starting to do more business over the net. I just installed some ceramic brake pads that The stores would/could not get and I purchased some air struts for my Lincoln at about half the cost.



In the past the auto parts use to really know their product and were very helpful but now days it is just pot luck.
 
edschwab1 said:
Goto Zalinsky auto parts they sell Callahan parts, which are the best quality.;)
Click to expand...



:lol Funny movie!



NAPA is usually pretty good, but they didn't have one.



You know what really irks me? An 11-year-old starter (it came out an a '92 Accord with 130,000 miles) that has been laying around a wrecking yard for who-knows-how-long works better than 2 freshly rebuilt ones.



Says something about genuine Honda quality... :xyxthumbs
 
I usually go to NAPA myself. We have a local one that not only has an experienced staff but, they carry the entire Meguiars professional line. It has been around forever and is one of those places where people just go to hang out. They have a long counter with bar stools and gumball machines for the kids. My kids love going there with me. Unfortunately the place burned to the ground two days ago :(
 
After having the Acura now for a few months, I have to agree with you regarding Honda quality. Because of the quality, or rather the lack of it, on parts bought from Autozone, Pep Boys, etc, I have gotten to the point of just purchasing OEM parts for those things that are of a particular type.. such as water pumps, starters, a/c compressors (and most of the other parts) unless I am buying a hi-perf upgrade from a rep manufacturer. There are some things that are not worth scrimping on..

I hope to get as much mileage out of my Acura as you have your Honda. Lets hope my paint holds up as well too..



Dana
 
Dana, if my car wasn't 13 years old, I wouldn't mind spending the money on new OEM parts, but since I hope to get something else by next spring, I just cannot justify spending the premium price you pay for OEM parts.



I would have gone to Honda Heaven in the first place but my original starter died on a Sunday and they aren't open....and I had somewhere to go that afternoon.
 
So, how it doesn't work... have a commuter car, 98 Honda Civic. The exhaust manifold cracked, bummer. I wouldn't pay the $475.00 that Honda wanted for new, instead bought a junkyard replacement for ONLY $250.00 - no guarantee except a 48 hour limited, you can exchange it - IF they have another one in stock, and let me tell you, a used one is hard to find... ok, install it, which is like a jigsaw puzzle in the dark with knives - and all done, very proud of myself, except for the little Check Engine Light... now I need to get the code read, and what do you think my chances that the catalytic converter, that attaches and is a part of the exhaust manifold, will be bad.... so where do I go but to Honda, bringing my total cost in parts alone to over $750.00 - but then, look at the experience I gained!

As far as AutoZone/PepBoys... if a guy doesn't know as much as he should, a good quality parts store can't be beat, you know, the one that the local mechanics use - they usually cost a bit more, but usually know more, and will give refunds on a fair basis.

All the best!
 
PigIron-you could probably have bought a header for your Civic for what the wrecking yard charged you. If your car has less than 50,000 miles on it, Honda should replace the converter for free. There is a federal law that requires car manufacturers to warranty all emissions related parts for 5 years or 50,000 miles.
 
Hello Scottwax - yeah, but no such luck - for two years I commuted 850 miles per week, lived So Cal, worked Northern Cal..

still haven't fixed the Civic, no time and "I love my Truck!" Fortunate to have a 2003 Ram Quad Cab Long Bed.. it is a treat to give it a clay job!

All the best,
 
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