Spare Parts Proffessionals?

[VXEXEC350]

I just called my local dealership because I need a new O ring for the camshaft position sensor, after waiting 20 minutes on hold I finally spoke to the parts interpreter. She was friendly enough but had no clue. First she said I must meant a crankshaft seal, then a camshaft bearing kit, eventually she found it on the exploded diagram because I talked her though it, describing exactly where she can find it...whew. Then I am told I need to purchase the whole sensor at $227.00 plus GST, COME OFF IT, it's an O ring surely they have a bloody box of them on a shelf? The mechanics in the workshop MUST use them. What really annoys me though is I bought a complete engine gasket kit for it and that must be the only O ring not included.
I am glad to see this lady has a job and I wish her well in it, however, I used to work at a dealership in Victoria as a Spare Parts Interpreter, also befor ethat in Adelaide at CMV Trucks, I had to do a course...and some mechanical knowledge and experience was a prerequisit and some hands on mecanical work was part of the course, so I don't understand how she did not know what an O ring is...
rant mode off
sorry if I bored you LOL
Pete

[255-LS1]

Why did you even go through holden. Its only an o-ring.... Just go to bearing shop take the sensor and the old o-ring and get a replacement..

Cos as you said thats probably what the service department would do lol

[Smitty]

well when I worked at GMH, I used to help put the parts books together (for VB-VK Commodore ...still have a set)
and I have no mechanical qualifications at all... don't think a BBus qualifies me

re the ORing, its really up to the Supplier (in this case...GM Powertrain) to state how/in what state parts are supplied.
The original cam sensor (inc the oring) may be supplied as just one part/assembly for engine manufacture in the US...
and thats all that will be shown on the drawing. .. that is supply = whats in the parts manual (or computer drawing these days)

That of course does not preclude you from nicking down the local bearing place for a similar oring (as previously mentioned)
The problem with that is you don't know what its made of...nitrile, viton or what? Buy a same size oring of the wrong material
type and its bound to fail in 6 months

[HSV590]

The problem is "experienced knowledgeable" parts interpreters don't grow on tree's and unfortuneatly in this day and age, the customer expects and demands prompt, efficient and accurate service. Nothing wrong with that, I expect the same, BUT, believe it or not, it's a quite a difficult job to "know it all". As you say, ideally, trades qualified people would be advantageous to put in these jobs, but try and get some one with any level of mechanical knowledge to take on a crap paying parts interpreting role. That said, just because you know what an inlet valve is or looks like doesn't mean that much anyway. That young lass was probably most appreciative of your assistance to her, being able to help you.. I too work in spare parts, in a wholesale industry dealing direct with the trade and trying to find experienced parts interpreters is impossible, hence you end up with kids trying to work out what people want and they have no idea. Sure they can be trained to answer the phone politely, say the right things, but you can't teach them in 6 months or 2 years, what I've learnt in 30 years To your problem, like someone said you may be better off trying to macth an o'ring to your sample one, and yes, the workshop would use all manner of parts that aren't available as a "genuine" item..

[blackvussii]

I had a good search around for one of these recently (states as well) but had the same result. Could only find the whole assembly, not the o-ring itself, hadn't thought of taking it to a shop and getting them to match it up but will be giving that a go.

[planetdavo]

Well said HSV590.
The automotive trades are facing some issues that many other industries are facing too. It's called Gen Y...
Specifically in the automotive field, the kids these days would (mostly) rather spank their load over a new iphone or ipad than over a new car. In the past, people with an interest in cars regularly followed their interest into automotive jobs. By having a strong interest from leaving school, they had a head start in what all those THOUSANDS of parts that make up a car actually all are. So, being a nerd has become cool. What hasn't become cool though is being expected to "survive" on an auto trade apprentice wage when you've got new iphones to buy every year, a new ipad, expensive clothes and salon visits to make themselves pretty. Many want stupid money as an inexperienced employee, which isn't sustainable when you can't charge someone $80 like a plumber does for just walking in the front door. In many cases they expect this pay packet because they've had pretty much everything given to them all their lives by their hard working, rarely home parents to try and keep them happy. So, many have either gone to well paying jobs in construction, plumbing or electrical, or gone to cooler nerd type jobs, because they can get the bigger bucks NOW.
We live with the NOW generation, and many industries are paying the price...Dealers are having to employee very inexperienced people, then try to train a decent employee out of them. Most dealers will do whatever they realistically can to hold onto their good parts interpreters, because they know how hard they are to replace.
As for the o-ring being unavailable genuine, that is correct for this part. The dealer has no say in what is or isn't available. If it's not available through GM internationally then Holden the company has no say either.

[qwigybo]

I don't even bother will my local holden as they're all incompetent in my dealings there previously.. there's only 2 people I will deal with at bursons and autobarn as they know what they're talking about and are actually interested in cars themselves not just there for a pay check

[Xjas]

PD has pretty much summed it up.
I have never seen anything like it for Holden or GM but with Nissans sold in the US you can go online and look up your own parts at nissanpartszone.

[VX-300]

Why did you even go through holden. Its only an o-ring.... Just go to bearing shop take the sensor and the old o-ring and get a replacement..

German metric 15 x 2.5 in Viton 75

[255-LS1]

German metric 15 x 2.5 in Viton 75

You want a job at old mates local holden dealer?? Lol

[VXEXEC350]

Thanks for the replies guys, very informative and amusing. I ended up getting a new sensor from my local Sprints. $108 including. I took the O ring to CBC, Repco, local mechanics, Ultratune, Sprints Supercheap Auto and then decided that before I spent as much on fuel as I would replacing the sensor I would just get a new one.
Pete

[bricat]

Having worked in the parts trade for the last 15 years calling on workshops I see many many parts being returned to the suppliers because they are the wrong part. Mostly it is about listening to the customers request but in some cases the customer just wants part A for a VT commodore say. There could be several different part A's for a VT ie 6 cylinder, V8 5.0 ltr, V8LS1, or HSV etc. Both parties need to communicate effectively. JMHO

[Woodchukka]

I agree with HSV590 and Planetdavo. I am in the mining industry and the attitude of a number of the apprentices and young blokes just out of their time is terrible. Such a poor work ethic but expect to be left alone and get paid very good money to do as little as they can manage.

As for Holden dealers I really don't like mine. The number of jobs they either screw up or complete in my opinion to a poor standard (on my cars) is unreal. I take my cars there as little as possible and went elsewhere when had to be serviced for warranty purposes. One interpreter there who has been there for years is unreal. He will find you any and everything you need. The other 2 well not been there so long and are not so good. I had issues getting parts for a coolant leak where incorrect parts were ordered then not all of them took 3 goes to get it right. However I did not loose my cool and before the order was placed I ensured all parts required were identified. Sometimes you just need to lead the horse to water. If you give these people a hard time they will not stick with it and move on and the cycle starts again.

As for o'rings I used to work for a Cat dealer and used One Safe Source to find o'rings for my car before (see link below for a PDF download). It has a section for o'rings (an a lot of other stuff you will never use) and also tells you at the end of the list what each is suitable for. So if your local bearing place does not have anything maybe an OEM dealer like Cat, Komatsu or the like might have something that suits.

http://www..com.au/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CHsQ FjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fworkshop.catdealer.com%2Fsys tem%2Fresources%2FBAhbBlsHOgZmIjoyMDExLzA2LzA4LzA5 XzMxXzM4XzgwOF9PbmVfU2FmZV9Tb3VyY2VfMjAwOF8yMDA5Ln BkZg%2FOne_Safe_Source_2008-2009.pdf&ei=W2OoT-T_E6HAiQesgN2tAw&usg=AFQjCNHvyYamFmTAbywLBQjYPbssS js_Lg

[VXSSgen3]

Was thinking of one safe source myself-very useful, and not just for o-rings (Cat also make good bolts etc at a very good price!)

My sister has been in the spare parts industry for 11 years now, she would definately concur with the gen y issue, as would I (diesel mechanic in the mining industry). Some prove you wrong, but most seem to want to get the most money for the least effort.

Again, you also get what you pay for (and the auto industry needs to catch up big time with this, hence why I work in mining!)

[Souljah]

you also get what you pay for (and the auto industry needs to catch up big time with this, hence why I work in mining!)

You pay peanuts, you get monkeys. That is what it all boils down too. I know a few lads i work underground with are mechanics by trade and they all say the same thing. They liked there job but the money for the hours worked was shit house hence the move into mining.