when I called advance auto for the price on my a/c clutch, the guy asked if I wanted the kit. I asked what was in the kit, he said the throw out bearing and all the other stuff.....

 

How many people go into CompUSA and ask for Office XP? How many people were pointed to Windows XP?

Just because you ask for Office XP and get pointed towards Windows XP doesn't mean the person helping you doesn't know the difference. Mix ups are common and very human, but I'm confident that nobody here ever gets ahead of themselves at work, or mis-hears a question.

 

well the guys behind the counter at Auto Zone and other places should know something, it is their livelyhood. I went to autozone and asked about ATK engines, one guy said he never heard of them, another showed me ATK's catalog. The ATK catalog didn't show rotary engines. Funny thing is that ATK's web sites shows rotaries. ATK gets them from Atkins though. Free advice sometimes isn't worth what you paid for it.

I test drove the RX-8 at the dealership. None of the salesmen were aware that my RX-7 had a rotary engine. The younger two didn't recogize that my RX-7 was a mazda. My RX-7 pulled better than their new Miata did. I just went in for the $50 gift certificate anyway.

"does your rotary engine have a chain timing belt or rubber" "how many cylinders does this have, you need a tune up" Like hell I was going to let that Sears Battery installer do a tune up !!

Muffler bearing, elbow grease, left handed screw driver, bucket of steam??

 

1. VIA ( all three computers )
2. Refridgerators have a single compressor. Copeland, Tecumseh, and Aichi are quite common. Mine is a Tecumseh.
3. My TV's all work well and have excellent detail, thank you !

 

Most of the things we know about rotary engines are because somewhere along the line we got an interest in RX vehicles. The only reason I learned about rotary engines was because I liked the lines of the first gen and bought one. Most people don't know much about them because they are not exposed to them in everyday life and therefore have no interest.

As for salesmen... Most dealerships did not sell that many to start with and those that did, did so ten years ago when most of these salesmen were still just a gleam in the sales managers eye.

If you are assuming that most people should have detailed knowledge about all subsets of their profession, you are giving most of these people too much credit. They are not enthusiests, they are just making a buck.

In additon... If you put a camshaft in front of a salespersons face, I would bet that at least 40% of them would have no idea what it is.

Ok, You got me! But I think you are one of few exceptions.

 

moral of the story....go to NAPA

 

. . . and then buy it cheaper someplace else =p.

 

a professional auto mechanic made the camshaft comment. Salesmen at a Mazda Dealership should be an enthusastic and knowlegable about their product.

I blame Mazda USA which also had to look up a nut for the catyltic converter on microfiche, special order the damn thing, and then try to charge me $18. On the other hand, the AutoZone guy showed me a nuts and bolts bin

 

I have found the metric and stainless bolt/nut/screw specialty section at Lowe's to be very handy. I've got my share of stainless metric fasteners in my 7. Why not ?

 

Ditto. I like replacing Philips with hex-heads, too.

 

FYI- the experience of most auto parts salespeople only goes as far as what they have personal experience with, if any. NAPA included.

I am ASE Parts Certified, I have had many rotaries, and I just hired another (Fero313 from this board) rotary guy. You can't blame the parts guy, most of them were in middle school when the FD died here in the states. I come across more older, professional parts/tech people whp don't know **** about rotaries than young people. So don't anyone talk **** about anyone until you have walked in their shoes.

DJ

 

Want to hire me?

 

I agree to what everyone is saying, but is fun to make them look up a brake booster for a early beetle or some rotor return springs or some muffler bearings although my brothers ford zx2 does have muffler bearings

 

If the rotary engine is so unknown to them, then they shouldn't try to act knowledgable.

And don't blame me if I get a chuckle out of "how many cylinders does this have? it needs a tune up" "...if the timing chain is metal" "...cylinder heads" "...sounds like a bent rod" "the rx-8 has a rotary, does your rx-7 have one too?"

All these "knowledgable tips from professionals" are more justification to hang on to my old car.

 

I agree that people shouldn't be expected to know ANYTHING about my car unless they own one or are really gung-ho about learning rotaries.

However, I also agree with the person that said "If they don't know anything, they shouldn't act all knowledgable". That is very true. When the guy at the Mazda parts counter strikes up a conversation about your car, then tells you that you're full of crap if you think your car is *supposed* to burn oil, it really doesn't inspire any confidance.

People who act like they know *exactly* what to say, and know how to diagnose "problems" with your car, but are really speaking out their *** annoy me. I've had someone tell me "I had one of these cars, I rebuilt the engine on it and everything" and then ask you if you've blown your head gasket yet are just proclaiming "I'm ignorant, and I want you to think I know what I'm talking about".

I can respect people who say "I realize it's different, and I'll admit I know nothing". But more often than not in older mechanics you get the attitude of "you're the 21yr old, I'm the aged mechanic. You don't know ****, I do, so listen to me." before they spurt bullshit that you know makes no sense.

Jon

 

Most people I know say when I pop the hood...

'Jesus thats a small 4 cylinder, where's the heads at?'

'There are no heads, it's got a rotary engine'

'What's that'

'No pistons, a triangle spins in a infiniti type shape of the engine on a shaft, much more advanced that todays engines'

'So, why does it smoke on start up, does it have a blown head gasket?'

'No, it's a rotary engine, it burns oil to lubricate it'

'Well, I think its the valve stem seals'

'You're an idiot...good bye'

 

i used to work there

let me tell you...i live in a "i drive a big truck that could run over your weedeater car" type of town. i used to get guys that would come in and ask for parts for their old tractors...i was just like "uhh...wtf is that?"

all im sayin is...we cant all know everything about everything. yeah, i knew most everything about piston and rotary engined cars when i worked there, but it just goes to show ya, there are other things out there like GINORMOUS u-joints for an old tractor...

 

Lol. Parochialism at its finest.

 

the guy i go to at Napa i have like trained now. plus i get mad discounts. example. got front and rear pads and rotors. the highest quality ones they carry mind you. all for 123 dollars.
connections!

 

I dunno, as a salesperson it usually works the other way around. Person comes in and asks for Windows XP Pro ($299, cheap!) I give them what they want. Next day, I get an angry call as to why it doesn't have Word and Excel on it. And of course, opened software can't be returned.

Back on topic, I guess I'm lucky that the local Advance has a dude with an 83 GSL...who asks ME for parts

 

Dont be so hard on the parts guys that dont know rotaries. I hate the dumbfucks who come into my store just to belittle a parts guy because they dont know much about their old international pickup. I know the type of people, and they **** me off, I honestly dont give a **** about their interTrashional pickup, nor do i have a desire to know more about them. But i do listen and i do learn more everyday, mostly about cars i could give a **** less about.