idler pulley bearing and more auto store clerk fail
 

A while back I'd posted about a strange, staccatto noise coming from the front of my engine. I thought maybe it was the water pump but it didn't make sense as the pump was new at my rebuild which was about 10K miles ago. I also suspected the idler pulley/tensioner on the a/c unit, and my thoughts were confirmed today (at least I believe so, that bearing 'knocks' when I spin it in my hand) when I disassembled things. A quick search of AUTOZONE and O'Reilly's showed me that it was unlikely anyone but the dealer would have the pulley assembly. But I had the bearing number (NSK 6303DU2) so I went in search of one. Turned out that CARQUEST was the only one in town with one, at $35 each but I bought it. The 'funny' thing was, when I went to an O'Reilly's and asked if they had a bearing. The guy behind the counter was like, "No, man...you'll want the whole assembly, let me get that for you." I told him I was 99.9% sure he wouldn't have it as it was from a '93 RX-7. He just sort of shrugged and said, "well, let me look it up." THEN is when I lost a little more faith in my fellow man when he said, "So...what make is an RX-7?" :(
Another guy behind the counter was like, "Dude! Are you serious? It's a Mazda, man." I just sort of cringed inside, you know?
So, after about 5 minutes Mr. Know-it-all brightly says, "Okay, well...I can't find ANYTHING on that pulley, so let me get you a bearing." And he gets out his trusty calipers and takes a bunch of dimensions and goes back and forth between his computer and a book and finally proclaims, "Well, I see that I need a 303 bearing, but I'd have to order it. Only thing is, the one I can get is 1.850 diameter and yours looks to be 1.832, but I bet it would work..."
I laughed and said, "Well, if there is eighteen thousandths difference on a press-fit, I doubt it will work!", and then left the store.

I got to witness a little drama that might explain some of the seeming ineptitude of some of these clerks. While my guy was looking up the bearing, another guy brought some paperwork for him to sign and said, "Okay man, this is it...I'm out of here.", to which my guy said, "You quitting, huh?" And the first says, "Hell yeah, I'm going to work for GDI, they're going to pay me $10 an hour, so screw this."

:dunno:

^lol....enough said. :facepalm:

As for that tensioner pulley, why not just give someone like Fritz Flynn a PM. Don't think they go bad that often. A used one will probably last a long time.

Yeah...but I'm jus an impatient bastard, lol! I want it fixed NOW, even I only drive the car a few times a year! :nod:

I got the new bearing in and will be reassembling stuff today.

Pettit has a cool aluminum 'racing' version that I just about bought, but once again...it was the wait to have it that made me change my mind.

I wonder how I endured almost 3 years of the car sitting on jackstands while I was saving the money for the new engine... :scratch:

lol, I rent a coolant system tester from Autozone and the guy ask me how does it work.

Ya. I don't listen to any of the clerk people. Most people that have the knowledge to help out wont work for that low of pay.

Not sure what the issue is with the chain parts stores. I have business accounts the local NAPA and Advance Auto. A few years ago they both had managers and a few staff people who really seemed to know their stuff. And we knew each other by first names. Now, managers seem to change with the seasons and staff would have trouble as Walmart greeters. If you want anything more complicated than wiper blades and car wax, they're clueless.

I couldnt agreed more with you on this.

I had a business account with Napa and used to deal with an older guy there and knows ALL his stuff. He can even swap parts from one car to another and know exactly it'll work or not.

But as of lately I believe he retired and then I felt like the whole Napa store that I relied know became guys who dont know sh*t about parts and relies on the computers too damn much.

-AzEKnightz

rofl, tell me about it. most of them are COMPLETELY clueless. happened to me a few times

what makes it WORST is some of those "know-it-all" end up knowing LESS than some chick workers in the store ... oh my god I was laughing my ass off ! ROFL.

Took me three trips to get the right alternator belt a few weeks ago. Everytime I tell them the exact length I need it to be. So frustrating.

Scary story, and I hate to say it..... but once Ray Crowe retires, you can kiss any rotary knowledge at Malloy Mazda completely goodbye. Here's to Ray working 'til he's 85 :nod::icon_tup: