No VIN, no parts

Just called the local dealership to check on some plug wires for the Subaru.

"If I don't have your VIN, I can't check on your part."

Oh well.

We are sinking under the ever rising waters of ignorance and indifference.

That's dumb.

Go to a local parts store, especially for that car. I'm sure whatever they have will be fine, especially since it's going to be flying off sweet jumps and stuff.

It was torture trying to get belts for the race car after I swapped sides for the alt.

The service deck jockeys look offended when I asked them to go in the back and look at the stock for something that was x " long.

I miss the good old days.

David S. Wallens wrote: Just called the local dealership to check on some plug wires for the Subaru. "If I don't have your VIN, I can't check on your part." Oh well.

You should have told him to guess your VIN based on year, make, and model and you'd tell him if he got it right. "Ooooh, close! Keep guessing."

Seriously, try a different Subie dealership or an online Subie distributor with a decent rep. My local Subie parts counter never hassles me...the guys usually know part number for most the stuff I get off the top of their head. Good thing, I don't think my Saabaru VIN would show up in their system like an '05 WRX would.

Bryce

I've run across this for cars with mid year changes, though I can't imagine that being true for spark plug wires.

Sadly, it's the manufacturers and their catalogs that make this hard. Some REQUIRE a VIN to look anythign up. As retarded as that is. Mid year changes, VIN splits, model choices, different options..... it's not as easy as it once was. Some of us "old timers" still know some things, but they don't make it easy for us. Technology is great, and it allows uis to do so much more...... bust sometimes it's a step in the wrong direction.

I usually prefer the vin when looking up parts for customers. I will often look up parts without the VIN but if the catalog shows different parts for different options or split years I will ask them to call back with the VIN.

There are many retail customers, and even shops, that call in and don't know for sure what year, model, or engine they need parts for.

No tickee, no laundry!

Magnecor. No VIN needed. (GRM Advertiser, too.)

I have two JDM cars with no VINs. Some brick-and-mortar shops in the US insist on getting a VIN. I give them VINs from wrecks of the same model (you can get these from many scrap yard websites). No trouble so far.

Bobzilla wrote: Technology is great, and it allows us to do so much more...... bust sometimes it's a step in the wrong direction.

I called the local parts store to order eight spark plugs for a Mercedes 450SL. The kid asked me if it was a diesel. Dumb question, even if the computer did 'ask' for that information. I miss the days when the counter guys knew cars and car parts.

I hate when I get asked for a VIN. Most of my projects are mixed and matched parts from different vehicles. I remember needing a fender bracket for the 97+ Cherokee front end conversion on my Comanche and having to give the dealer a VIN. I ended up just going on Ebay, looking up the correct year Jeep, grabbing the VIN from the listing, then calling the dealer back.

Last time i ordered turbo-to-manifold gaskets for the MX6 from my local Toyota dealer and they asked me for my VIN, i gave them the VIN from the MX6.

They were less than amused.

Too bad, because i sure was when i saw the look on his face. It was even more sweet because the dude was almost having an aneurysm when i told him that i just needed the gasket for a 1991 Supra Turbo. Don't see why it was a problem in the first place. It's a 20 year old car i was asking about, not like everything has changed in terms of parts numbers.

Half of my customers don't even know what year their car is, let alone the VIN. That is ridiculous.

Sometimes, especially with newer vehicles, I do need a VIN to determine different color packages and trim, but not always. Few and Far between.

I went to go get an oil filter from the dealership. I had the part # for the filter. They wouldnt sell it to me unless I provided them a vin # to check it against.

that was the last time I did that.

Also recently I was at a mazda dealership cross referencing some parts for my 98 MPV. I had the part # I wanted to check, and upon request provided my VIN. I was told the vin # I provided was missing a digit (17 digits, they claimed there should be 18). I guess all the vin markings all over the van must be wrong then.

Yep any time I call up the dealer to check parts pricing they always want to know the VIN. Makes it kinda difficult when I'm checking the price for a part from a different Subaru that I want to put on my GC chassis Impreza, like say the rear sway bar from a GD chassis WRX. I think there aree a couple threads on NASIOC where some guys have offered up their VINs for those needing parts.

During the build last year it was always fun to go to the local flaps and have them ask for year make and model.

Ok then, 1958 Wartburg 311....yeah, I thought so. After about the 3rd trip they got to recognize me and just said "go in back and hunt for whatever it is today"

Mandatory VIN lookup is the stupidest damn idea ever for parts sellers.

On the other hand, I used to sling parts at a NAPA, and some of our customers didn't even know what make their cars were. We also had the old codgers with 1979 Chevy's ordering crap for 68's and then complaining when they returned the stuff that didn't fit.

EvanB wrote: I usually prefer the vin when looking up parts for customers. I will often look up parts without the VIN but if the catalog shows different parts for different options or split years I will ask them to call back with the VIN. There are many retail customers, and even shops, that call in and don't know for sure what year, model, or engine they need parts for.

tHIS.... hell, I literally JUST had one. It was a call for an Acura ACUR. Yep... that's going to help me find interior parts. In all honesty, most of my retail customers couldn't tell me the year, make or model, and when they do they are wrong. So asking for a VIN is easier. Or better yet, ask them for their phone number and pull up their vehicle if it's been in the shop.

I think the thing that annoys me the most is the "kids" that call in with alphabet soup wanting parts. Guess what, I don't know all 34 different engine codes that may or may not have been used. My computer doesn't reconize them either and while I may remember that a B18C5 is likley a Type-R engine, I can't be sure. We need make, model and year.

There are still a few of us that remember the old ways. Using books and microfiche to look up parts, Production dates, VIN breaks and color tags on the doors. But the new generation doesn't understand any of that and is good for following on screen prompts.

Javelin wrote: Mandatory VIN lookup is the stupidest damn idea ever for parts sellers. On the other hand, I used to sling parts at a NAPA, and some of our customers didn't even know what make their cars were. We also had the old codgers with 1979 Chevy's ordering crap for 68's and then complaining when they returned the stuff that didn't fit.

I remember my time at AutoZone when old farts would come in.... " I need a starter for a SBC. They're all the same." Bring them up a newer Vortec style gear reduction starter for $300. They quickly give you the year and application.

never been asked for a vin... then again the last time I ordered from a dealer was a clutch cable for the neon and before that an exhaust O ring gasket for the grand damit

Bobzilla said: I think the thing that annoys me the most is the "kids" that call in with alphabet soup wanting parts. Guess what, I don't know all 34 different engine codes that may or may not have been used. My computer doesn't reconize them either and while I may remember that a B18C5 is likley a Type-R engine, I can't be sure. We need make, model and year.

Last time I was at the BMW dealership ordering a thermostat for my E30, the cranky parts guy asked for my VIN. I told him I didn't have a clue what my VIN was, but the thermostat was for an 87 E30 with an M20 that was built after the 9/87 changes. He got way nicer and thanked me for making his job easier. And I actually got the right thermostat, unlike those bastards at Autozone...

thank heavens no one has started asking me for VIN's.. I really don't have them memorized.... the Honda dealer found the rear wiper with nothing more than yr make model ... wow .... they must be either way behind the technology curve or smarter than most... it is sorta bothersome when the local parts houses can't find the correct wiper blades for my Impreza without knowing which engine it has

It is easy enough to look up parts using year make and model but when you get a customer who says "I think it is a 2003 or 2004 Saturn" it is much easier to have them go to the car and look at the VIN.