# What do you get in an auto parts store? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 28, 2026, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-get-in-an-auto-parts-store/1032643 "2026-08-28T22:53:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2026, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-get-in-an-auto-parts-store/1032643/61 "2026-08-31T02:00:43Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > Whoever needs that part can’t go to an auto parts store. I had to go to the dealer for wiper blades, no one else had them and they were on backorder. No problems with our power distribution control module. But as for maintenance, it literally has needed none since we bought it. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2026, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-get-in-an-auto-parts-store/1032643/62 "2026-08-31T12:09:24Z")
There’s one heck of a lot of parts for late model ICE cars that you won’t find at e.g. Autozone either. The commodity crap like GM alternators for any 1970s through 1990s GM product? Sure. Brake pads and other common wear items for nearly any mass-produced car of nearly any age? Sure. An XYZ computer module for a 2024 Toyota Camry? Little chance. An XYZ computer module for a 2024 low volume production car like a top of the line German or Italian ICE? Zero chance. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2026, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-get-in-an-auto-parts-store/1032643/63 "2026-08-31T12:43:17Z")
I didn’t thoroughly read the whole thread, but I’m surprised I didn’t see one of the main reasons: The dreaded check engine light! Around these parts, the auto parts store has the diagnostic code reader and can get you a print out of the latest code (also shows previous codes that might not trigger the check engine light). I just had to do this recently on my old Subaru: P0420 - Catalytic converter. I wish it were an O2 sensor, but the exhaust is rattling a bit so I’m guessing it is the more expensive part that’s failing. Darn. ---
**Author:** ![Common\_Tater](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/common_tater/32/13846_2.png) [@Common\_Tater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Common_Tater)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2026, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-get-in-an-auto-parts-store/1032643/64 "2026-08-31T16:58:26Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > The commodity crap like GM alternators for any 1970s through 1990s GM product? Sure. Brake pads and other common wear items for nearly any mass-produced car of nearly any age? Sure. Headlights used to be round. 7-11 had them, along with 1157 brake/turn signal bulbs. Fit many makes. Anti-Freeze was green. Oil? 10w30. Cars and trucks are much better now, but a great many things were a lot easier as well as less expensive. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2026, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-get-in-an-auto-parts-store/1032643/65 "2026-09-01T17:19:12Z")
Come to think of it, batteries are the #1 reason I’ve needed to go to the auto parts store in the past 10-15 years. Since I live in Texas where the summer heat wrecks batteries, that’s basically every 3 years or so. Walmart never seems to have anything but the least capable battery model for my vehicles, and I like getting one at least a couple of steps above the very bottom model. AutoZone seems to have a better selection on-hand than Walmart in that regard. ---
**Author:** ![Biffster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biffster/32/339_2.png) [@Biffster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffster)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2026, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-get-in-an-auto-parts-store/1032643/66 "2026-09-08T06:42:47Z")
When I was a kid, I used to get those jelly beans where you had to twist the handle. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2026, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-get-in-an-auto-parts-store/1032643/67 "2026-09-13T16:59:44Z")
> [@Common\_Tater](#): > > Headlights used to be round. 7-11 had them, along with 1157 brake/turn signal bulbs. Fit many makes. Anti-Freeze was green. Oil? 10w30. Cars and trucks are much better now, but a great many things were a lot easier as well as less expensive. It’s all a tradeoff. Your headlights/signal lights are most likely LED or halogen these days, and FAR outperform those old round incandescent ones as well as last far longer. Same thing with the old green antifreeze. The new stuff is good for 100,000 plus miles before it needs changing, unlike the old green stuff. Oils are dramatically better as well. And there’s always been this sort of periodic shift in oil weights; cars haven’t spec’ed 10w-30 in 30+ years. Even tires are notably better in traction and treadwear, and you pay a little more for that than you used to. Usually the griping is that there’s always a consumer segment that’s grumpy that they can’t buy the old technology for the newer vehicles to save a buck right now, even though over time, it’s a wash or even saves money. ---
**Author:** ![Common\_Tater](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/common_tater/32/13846_2.png) [@Common\_Tater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Common_Tater)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2026, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-get-in-an-auto-parts-store/1032643/68 "2026-09-13T17:16:00Z")
Eh, cars were inexpensive to buy and maintain. That was my point. They are far more safer and reliable today, that much is true. But they also are far more expensive to repair if or when something _does_ need service. It’s getting to the point of absurdity. ---
**Author:** ![steronz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steronz/32/11765_2.png) [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2026, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-get-in-an-auto-parts-store/1032643/69 "2026-09-13T17:48:31Z")
When e-commerce was disrupting brick and mortar, auto parts stores chased the Radio Shack model (it helped that the Sport Compact craze was keeping high profit accessories flying off the shelves). They’ve since settled into a 3-part model. **High profit accessories** - still present, but a much smaller percentage of store space **Corporate accounts** - All auto parts stores serve local shops (this justifies the inventories they carry), but NAPA is still the king in most places, especially rural America **The other 50%** - DIY (or maybe neighborhood DIY) is still the default for keeping cars on the room in poor and immigrant communities. Self-service junkyards are still incredibly popular. If I’m working on a big project, I’ll generally order from RockAuto or PartsGeek and take my chances on whether or not I get the right part (or if it’s shit). Autozone and its competitors still stock mostly name-brand replacement parts, even on the house label. They’re not usually the best, but they’re better than tossing the dice on Amazon. You also get a core refund in some cases and you have somewhere to go for returns. And of course, every “this will take me 15 minutes” is going to turn into a 3 day cussfest involving 3 trips to the parts store. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2026, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-get-in-an-auto-parts-store/1032643/70 "2026-09-28T14:57:04Z")
They’re also far more powerful and far more efficient as well. Back in the day, I had a 1976 Suburban with a small block V8 (350 cu in) and a four barrel carburetor. It made 165 HP at 3800 RPM and 255 lb-ft of torque at 2800 RPM. The _very_ best gas economy I ever recorded was about 15 mpg, and I averaged about 12. Fast forward a half-century-ish, and my 2024 Honda Ridgeline has a 3.5 liter (213 cu in) V6 that cranks out 280 HP at 6000 RPM and 262 lb-ft @ 4700 RPM. And on top of that, I get around 20 mpg in everyday driving, and between 25 and 29 MPG on the highway. Even my 2005 Dodge Dakota was more like the Honda than the Suburban- it made 210 HP/235 lb-ft of torque with a 3.7L (225 cu in) V6 and got around 14 mpg in general driving and around 20 on the highway. So performance has dramatically and steadily improved- nowadays, an engine that’s 60% the size of the old one produces 69% more horsepower, virtually the same torque, and almost twice the gas economy of the old carbureted engine. Those are huge wins, even if they’re at the cost of shade-tree mechanics. ---
**Author:** ![Dorjan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorjan/32/12440_2.png) [@Dorjan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dorjan)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2026, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-get-in-an-auto-parts-store/1032643/71 "2026-09-28T15:16:09Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > I thought nobody worked on their cars anymore because you can’t do much in a computerized engine. There’s a lot more to a car than its engine. People (I’m people) still do their own oil changes, brakes, suspension components, electrical work, and component changes like filters, blower motors, starter motors, alternators, etc. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-get-in-an-auto-parts-store/1032643.md?page=3)