A rant about auto parts store computers...sort of.

[cleandan]

I'm working on a car that is getting a T5 manual transmission conversion.
Today I needed a conversion U-joint (1310-1330) and while I was at the auto parts store I thought about getting a transmission output shaft seal.

Because the auto parts computers need a reference vehicle to look up just about anything I used a 1988 Mustang GT with a T5 manual as the reference vehicle.

Before too long we (I know the parts counter guy) were looking in the computer to be certain we were seeing what we were looking at.

We scanned the range of 1987-1993 Mustangs looking for any reference to a T5 manual transmission....
The NAPA computer only lists two different automatic transmissions, and does not even have a reference to a manual.......No manual for a fox body Mustang.........Ummm, okaayyy.

Now I know the slip yolk for the T5 is the same as the AOD, as well as many other 28 spline, 1.500" dia yolks used in quite a few other makes and models.....but that does not mean the counter help knows these things.
The computer parts look up should include a reference to a T5 manual for fox body Mustangs because it was a VERY popular option.

How in the heck can NAPA not have any reference to a manual transmission in the Fox body Mustang and claim to have a useful computer parts selection program?

I have long advocated, or at least sympathized with, the limitations of the parts computer info used at various parts stores....but this seems ridiculous, and it is certainly an unnecessary burdon on the counter clerks.

Not having some rarely purchased part for an obscure make and model of vehicle, while irritating, is understandable.
Not having a listing, or look up reference, for a super common, very high production number vehicle and transmisson seems stupid and bad practice.

Do you know of anything that can be done to help with this?

[gregaba]

There is a small parts store Roys auto parts in Lawton Oklahoma that I have been using since the early 60's.
I went in a few years ago after looking everywhere for some engine mounts for my 428 and not finding any for sale anywhere.
I was talking to the counter guy and said I know you don't have them but this is what I need, He looked at me and said wait a minute, went into the back and came out with the pair I needed.
In stock and $8 a piece.
I can mostly find what I need there as he has almost everything still in stock for my old stuff.
No computer anywhere in the store.
Greg

[Joe-JDC]

Just this week, I needed a 1/4" pipe plug for an oil passage, and I went to O'reilleys, Advance Automotive, and Lowes to try to fine one.  The first words out of the counter person's mouth was what vehicle does it go on.  A pipe plug?  I asked if they had a Dorman cabinet with fittings, and they took me back to look for the item.  Talk about clueless.  Simple parts that are generic, and fit anything, and they are lost without a vehicle, year, and model.  Joe-JDC

[Diogenes]

I think the best thing to do, if going to a parts retailer, is to find your part numbers for yourself. If you know who manufactures the part you are looking for, often times you can go to their website for parts lookup. I have bookmarked many manufacturers for just this reason. Another helpful resource is Rock Auto, whether you buy from them or not. They often have multiple brands listed, and their catalog is pretty good. You can always use Summit or Jegs as well, as they sell anything automotive, not just speed parts. I always have part numbers on hand if I am forced to buy at a retailer, but fortunately that is a rare occurrence. If you have anyone's P/N, you can often go to a different MFG's website and interchange. There are many resources online to assist you with finding P/N's.I also have a decent collection of old parts books, which often helps as well.

https://www.drivparts.com/
https://www.rockauto.com/

[cleandan]

Thanks for the replys, I appreciate the conversation.

I'll have to admit, my post was not a bid to figure out how to find parts in todays auto parts world...I know how to play that game very well.

My post was more about being surprised the NAPA....NAPA fer cryin' out loud....computer simply does not list a Fox body Mustang as having a manual transmission.....it just does not exist as an option, question to ask the customer, or anything.

The T5, in all its iterations, is probably the longest running production option manual transmission ever produced for the Mustang (1983-1993 I think)....and NAPA does not even acknowledge it exists in their parts look up.

This really surprises me.

[1964Fastback]

So I went to napaonline.com and allowed Firefox to share my location, so their website could detect my nearest store which it did, about a mile or two away.  I then clicked on "add a vehicle" and put in a 1988 Ford Mustang.  Then I went to the search bar and typed in clutch.  One of the automatic entries that came up below the bar as I was typing was "clutch kit".  I clicked on that and got a number of clutch/pressure plate/throwout/pilot results, followed by A/C clutches, and other non-matching results.

Now, some of the clutch kits were out of stock, some were in stock and some could only be shipped directly to me.  All of them had a blue warning next to them that said they could not guarantee fitment without additional info.  I clicked on the blue warning on one of them, and it popped up asking me for the engine.  Two choices, the 6 or 8.  I picked the 5.0 V8.  It then popped up asking the transmission.

Sure enough, there were two 4 speed automatics listed and no manuals.  BUT at the bottom of the list were "I don't know", "Not listed", and maybe another one that I forget.  I chose "Not listed".  The popup closed and I was back at the search results page showing the clutch kits and now all of them had green check marks by them and said exact fitment guaranteed where the blue warning was before.

So I did think it was odd that a manual transmission wasn't called out as an option though.  It was like they were saying that as long as you don't have an automatic transmission, then these clutches will work.  Kind of reverse logic. 

Pat

[Diogenes]

Since you say you are parts savvy, then it seems that your local NAPA has some software quirks (not unheard of). Regardless of such a situation, you still walk into a parts store "unarmed"?
 
Apologies... not to imply anything, or to seem "pushy", but do you leave "things" in the hands of others? I'm a parts guy, so I never rely on others--been burned too many times. It is always best to do your own leg work. Never assume the other person knows what they are doing (Like everyone else, I too am fallible--I make mistakes as well--this includes the computer cataloging). Doing your own research is always the best policy.

Again, with respect--I don't wish to come off in a bad light: I just want to communicate my experiences and be helpful.

[Falcon67]

Former parts guy here - before the computers, when you needed to know what line carried what so you could get in the right book.  Also computer guy, no stranger to quirks in the search engines and part store web sites returning lousy search results.  NAPA seems particularly challenged in this area sometimes. I probably have 10 or 12 vehicles in my O'Reilly's account for hunting things. Remember that now, with very few exceptions, that the counter person is not likely to be a "car person", just a reasonable person that has the job.  So be gentle, they maybe ain't wired like you and me LOL.  Here in smaller town Texas, your more likely to find counter people that do know something about the vehicles.

Years ago with the local Car Quest was forced to switch to the company computer system, the owner saved all the books for me so I have a big collection of the good stuff - mfg catalogs with specs, crossovers, etc.  Makes it sometimes easier to scope out a part and then take that number to rockauto or other places to look.  Still, even with a big Wagner and Car Quest catalog, finding something like a non-power brake aluminum master cylinder is a treasure hunt. 

We have a very complete hardware store downtown and that's where I go for plugs, random socket head cap screws and even a few rod ends of all things.  I just ordered some spindle nut kits - Dorman part - and a rethreading die for 3/4-16 spindle threads.  From Amazon.  I actually found the thread specs on the spindle nut kits on the Summit site, not Dorman, but the min order for free shipping is way lower on Amazon than Summit.  I just didn't need enough to justify a Summit order.  Secured the proper Dorman part number, hit the search engine and came up with the best way to acquire.  I tend to order racing oil from either Summit or Walmart as both deliver and one usually has the best price, and way less than any of the local parts places.  Once in a while I find a sale at NAPA.  The double edge sword of technology. 

Yes, I miss the old days working across the counter a few numbers for when point/plugs/condenser covered 80% of your Ford/Chevy/Mopar customers. I have a few pics from those days, need to find and scan LOL. 

[cleandan]

Since you say you are parts savvy, then it seems that your local NAPA has some software quirks (not unheard of). Regardless of such a situation, you still walk into a parts store "unarmed"?
 
Apologies... not to imply anything, or to seem "pushy", but do you leave "things" in the hands of others? I'm a parts guy, so I never rely on others--been burned too many times. It is always best to do your own leg work. Never assume the other person knows what they are doing (Like everyone else, I too am fallible--I make mistakes as well--this includes the computer cataloging). Doing your own research is always the best policy.

Again, with respect--I don't wish to come off in a bad light: I just want to communicate my experiences and be helpful.

I was in the store to get a different specific part and had a thought...."Hey, I should get one of these too"
The spur of the moment part was the T5 tailshaft seal and I figured NAPA will have that info in the computer.
I found out different.

Concerning "arming" myself before going to the parts store....That has become standard fare over the last 15 or so years.
While I hope the parts store will have what I need on hand, I understand when they don't because I am usually seeking parts for 50+ year old cars.

Because of this I try real hard to have a few brand names and part numbers with me, as well as industry descriptions, to help me attain parts as I assist the counter help in searching in the right area of the computer to find the parts.

But sometimes the parts search is spur of the moment, like it was this time.
I am not going home to do all kinds of research to then return to the store to look up a part.

When I am literally at the store, speaking with the help, looking up other parts, it seems reasonable to ask the help at that time to look up a relatively common part such as an output seal for a T5 that was so common without being armed and ready to assist the counter help in that search.....I found out I was wrong and moved on at that time.

I also found out, during my assist to the counter help, the NAPA computer does not even list the T5 as an option for ANY Fox body Mustang, and this struck me as odd based on the sheer numbers of Fox body Mustangs using a T5.

In my opinion this option, on this make, for this model having zero presence in the computer is simply wrong because it is such a common part on a common car.....Literally millions of them out there.

Anyway, like I have already said, this rant revolves around the total lack of any T5 option in the NAPA computer under any Fox body Mustang being weird to me.

It is not about how to navigate the parts store computers, where to look up parts, how to look up parts, or any other helpful suggestion within that realm.

Knowing things like how to find a heavy duty water pump for an FE by using a 1974 F350 truck with a 360 engine options as the reference vehicle so the counter help can "find" it in their computer is great......But I don't think a customer should have to provide special assistance help to the staff so they can find something as common as a T5 in a Mustang as an option in the computer.