Partsgeek.com cheap parts OK?
03-20-2010, 05:04 PM
#1
Three Wheelin'
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Partsgeek.com cheap parts OK?
Hi folks,
I've got a number of things to fix on my new-to-me '88 S4. Among them are the oil pressure sender, A/C, and maybe the fuel level sender.
The oil pressure sender definitely looks bad, as the gauge needle is at the bottom with ignition off, but jumps to about 1.5 just by turning the key on. When running, the oil pressure is always pegged.
The fuel level I need to investigate more, as it looks like bad contacts or bad reguated voltage from the gauge system could also be a problem. The symptoms there are that the gauge reads short of 4/4 with a full tank, and reads well below the bottom line with five gallons left in the tank. The light below the bottom line also does not come on when the needle drops below it, though it does come on when all the indicator lights are test lit during pre-cranking (when the ignition is first turned on).
The A/C, according to the last owner's mechanic, has a large leak somewhere at the back (maybe at the rear evaporator). It had a lot of work done a few years ago, including a new expansion valve, so I probably wouldn't change the expansion valve, but I would change the drier and convert to 134a.
For all of these things, I am finding some pleasantly cheap prices on partsgeek.com. The questions I have are
a) has anyone dealt with them?
and
b) why, for example, would I want their $48 FAE oil pressure sender rather than their $36 APA sender that looks nearly identical?
In the past I used to deal with Vertex for most of my parts. And they still seem to have good prices on factory and OEM parts, but how's the quality of these aftermarket parts?
Thanks,
Paul
I've got a number of things to fix on my new-to-me '88 S4. Among them are the oil pressure sender, A/C, and maybe the fuel level sender.
The oil pressure sender definitely looks bad, as the gauge needle is at the bottom with ignition off, but jumps to about 1.5 just by turning the key on. When running, the oil pressure is always pegged.
The fuel level I need to investigate more, as it looks like bad contacts or bad reguated voltage from the gauge system could also be a problem. The symptoms there are that the gauge reads short of 4/4 with a full tank, and reads well below the bottom line with five gallons left in the tank. The light below the bottom line also does not come on when the needle drops below it, though it does come on when all the indicator lights are test lit during pre-cranking (when the ignition is first turned on).
The A/C, according to the last owner's mechanic, has a large leak somewhere at the back (maybe at the rear evaporator). It had a lot of work done a few years ago, including a new expansion valve, so I probably wouldn't change the expansion valve, but I would change the drier and convert to 134a.
For all of these things, I am finding some pleasantly cheap prices on partsgeek.com. The questions I have are
a) has anyone dealt with them?
and
b) why, for example, would I want their $48 FAE oil pressure sender rather than their $36 APA sender that looks nearly identical?
In the past I used to deal with Vertex for most of my parts. And they still seem to have good prices on factory and OEM parts, but how's the quality of these aftermarket parts?
Thanks,
Paul
03-21-2010, 03:53 AM
#3
Rennlist Member
Re the fuel level sender, I had almost identical symptoms, and managed to fix all - check out Sharkskin's pages here - very good pics of what to expect and how to fix. A good clean and dismantle of the sender will do wonders - BTDT.
jp 83 Euro S AT 52k
jp 83 Euro S AT 52k
03-21-2010, 06:04 AM
#4
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partsgeek.com = not good
I ordered some parts from partsgeek.com and never heard a word from them or recieve anything from them. Even after repeated calls.
I had to call Amex and cancel the order.
Joe
I ordered some parts from partsgeek.com and never heard a word from them or recieve anything from them. Even after repeated calls.
I had to call Amex and cancel the order.
Joe
03-21-2010, 09:05 AM
#5
Rennlist Member
The 928 is a bit of a special beast, much lower volume parts, very spotty coverage by non-specialists.
Fast and reliable for me for normal replacement parts have been 928sRUS and 928 International and 928 Specialists. If you shop them a bit and try them out you might establish a preference. The dealer is too high in my town, far too high.
Occasionally I'll find an oddball very low price for a part somewhere else, then its a crapshoot whether it will be satisfactory. Rockauto had inexpensive window switches and 944 CPS at one point, for instance and that worked. Vertex had brake rotors, but on further comparison on of the suppliers showed me they were likely an off brand, but, also matched the price anyway. Rennbay had power steering rebuild kits and odo gears at one point, and pintle caps that worked better on the bosch early injectors. Little stuff, odd stuff.
At least one of these suppliers can also easily quickly and less expensively buy all Porsche parts and many Mercedes as well. Very professional.
Whatever you do, do not buy a water pump on the cheap. Get very specific recommendations here before you buy.
Fast and reliable for me for normal replacement parts have been 928sRUS and 928 International and 928 Specialists. If you shop them a bit and try them out you might establish a preference. The dealer is too high in my town, far too high.
Occasionally I'll find an oddball very low price for a part somewhere else, then its a crapshoot whether it will be satisfactory. Rockauto had inexpensive window switches and 944 CPS at one point, for instance and that worked. Vertex had brake rotors, but on further comparison on of the suppliers showed me they were likely an off brand, but, also matched the price anyway. Rennbay had power steering rebuild kits and odo gears at one point, and pintle caps that worked better on the bosch early injectors. Little stuff, odd stuff.
At least one of these suppliers can also easily quickly and less expensively buy all Porsche parts and many Mercedes as well. Very professional.
Whatever you do, do not buy a water pump on the cheap. Get very specific recommendations here before you buy.
03-21-2010, 11:41 AM
#7
Three Wheelin'
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On the '85 S I had, the water pump that came with the car (and probably was not original) was replaced along with the timing belt belt, as that was my mechanic's 928 SOP (replace WP while "in there" doing the timing belt). It was not leaking, but they found that the shaft had migrated inwards and the metal impeller was chewing into the block.
On my '93 GTS, the original water pump went out at 24K miles. It also was not leaking. But, it had a plastic impeller that was just spinning freely on the shaft, so the car would quickly start to overheat. I had to shop around quite a bit to find a non-rebuilt water pump with a metal impeller from Vertex. I replaced that one myself, along with the timing belt.
I tend to lean towards the theory that these WP's should be replaced along with timing belts.
Paul
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03-21-2010, 12:22 PM
#8
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I get my 928 parts from the vendors listed by Landseer.
They specialize on the 928 and knows tons more about parts for these cars than discount parts houses or Ebay vendors.
If the 928 vendors go away, wonder how long I'll keep a 928.
They specialize on the 928 and knows tons more about parts for these cars than discount parts houses or Ebay vendors.
If the 928 vendors go away, wonder how long I'll keep a 928.
03-21-2010, 02:42 PM
#9
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Never used partsgeek so I cannot say anything good or bad.
They do not seem to list anything by Porsche part number but only by the OEM part number.
Oil Pressure Sender 77 to 88 - As for the difference between the APA/URO and FAE. I have had some problems with the APA/URO unit and only sell the FAE unit. Both companies claim to be OEM.
Part number changed from 928 606 203 01 to 203 04 so difficult to know if you are getting the latest part and not an old unit.
Price wise we sell the FAE unit for $36.95 and could if I sold them sell the APA/URO unit for less than $20. So based on that fact I would say partsgeek are very expensive.
They do not seem to list anything by Porsche part number but only by the OEM part number.
Oil Pressure Sender 77 to 88 - As for the difference between the APA/URO and FAE. I have had some problems with the APA/URO unit and only sell the FAE unit. Both companies claim to be OEM.
Part number changed from 928 606 203 01 to 203 04 so difficult to know if you are getting the latest part and not an old unit.
Price wise we sell the FAE unit for $36.95 and could if I sold them sell the APA/URO unit for less than $20. So based on that fact I would say partsgeek are very expensive.
__________________
Does it have the "Do It Yourself" manual transmission, or the superior "Fully Equipped by Porsche" Automatic Transmission?
George Layton March 2014
928 Owners are ".....a secret sect of quietly assured Porsche pragmatists who in near anonymity appreciate the prodigious, easy going prowess of the 928."
Does it have the "Do It Yourself" manual transmission, or the superior "Fully Equipped by Porsche" Automatic Transmission?
George Layton March 2014928 Owners are ".....a secret sect of quietly assured Porsche pragmatists who in near anonymity appreciate the prodigious, easy going prowess of the 928."
03-22-2010, 04:56 PM
#10
Three Wheelin'
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So far, I've cleaned up, tightened, and greased (with electrical contact grease) the pins on the sender connector and that seems to have helped. At full the gauge now points to the middle of the 4/4 white line, and the reserve light came on just below the red line. Will keep an eye on it....
03-22-2010, 07:57 PM
#11
Rennlist Member
Sounds good. If you need to adjust further, rennlister Dwayne did a dash disassembly and adjusted his gauge, so search that if needed.
Nice fix, BTW.
Nice fix, BTW.
03-22-2010, 08:34 PM
#12
Rest in Peace
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Gotta sort of disagree with you on that.
On the '85 S I had, the water pump that came with the car (and probably was not original) was replaced along with the timing belt belt, as that was my mechanic's 928 SOP (replace WP while "in there" doing the timing belt). It was not leaking, but they found that the shaft had migrated inwards and the metal impeller was chewing into the block.
On my '93 GTS, the original water pump went out at 24K miles. It also was not leaking. But, it had a plastic impeller that was just spinning freely on the shaft, so the car would quickly start to overheat. I had to shop around quite a bit to find a non-rebuilt water pump with a metal impeller from Vertex. I replaced that one myself, along with the timing belt.
I tend to lean towards the theory that these WP's should be replaced along with timing belts.
Paul
On the '85 S I had, the water pump that came with the car (and probably was not original) was replaced along with the timing belt belt, as that was my mechanic's 928 SOP (replace WP while "in there" doing the timing belt). It was not leaking, but they found that the shaft had migrated inwards and the metal impeller was chewing into the block.
On my '93 GTS, the original water pump went out at 24K miles. It also was not leaking. But, it had a plastic impeller that was just spinning freely on the shaft, so the car would quickly start to overheat. I had to shop around quite a bit to find a non-rebuilt water pump with a metal impeller from Vertex. I replaced that one myself, along with the timing belt.
I tend to lean towards the theory that these WP's should be replaced along with timing belts.
Paul
I am never going to put another metal impeller pump on any 928.
Roger is coming out with a plastic impeller pump and others are working on new designs.
03-22-2010, 10:51 PM
#13
Three Wheelin'
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So, it's metal impeller chewing up the block or plastic impeller spinning on the shaft and not doing anything. Both options leave something to be desired.
10-28-2010, 05:30 PM
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I just ordered a set of 4 Bilstien HD shocks for my Mercedes from Partsgeeks and they had the best prices by far. I placed the order at 1pm PST they shipped out the shocks the same day overnight for a $25.95 shipping fee.
1991 Mercedes 420SEL Steering Damper Steering Price: $22.94 Core: $0.00 Qty: 1 Part #: W0133-1628326
1991 Mercedes 420SEL Shock Bump Stop Suspension Price: $10.94 Core: $0.00 Qty: 2 Part #: W0133-1629453
1991 Mercedes 420SEL Shock Absorber Suspension Price: $63.94 Core: $0.00 Qty: 2 Part #: W0133-1613080
1991 Mercedes 420SEL Shock Absorber Suspension Price: $62.94 Core: $0.00 Qty: 2 Part #: W0133-1612941
Sub Total:$298.58
Shipping:$25.95
Handling:$0.00
Tax:$0.00
Core:$0.00
Total:$324.53
Delivered to the door 23 hours after the order was placed.
But for 928 parts 928sRUS is cheaper on 98% of the parts I looked at on Partsgeek.
1991 Mercedes 420SEL Steering Damper Steering Price: $22.94 Core: $0.00 Qty: 1 Part #: W0133-1628326
1991 Mercedes 420SEL Shock Bump Stop Suspension Price: $10.94 Core: $0.00 Qty: 2 Part #: W0133-1629453
1991 Mercedes 420SEL Shock Absorber Suspension Price: $63.94 Core: $0.00 Qty: 2 Part #: W0133-1613080
1991 Mercedes 420SEL Shock Absorber Suspension Price: $62.94 Core: $0.00 Qty: 2 Part #: W0133-1612941
Sub Total:$298.58
Shipping:$25.95
Handling:$0.00
Tax:$0.00
Core:$0.00
Total:$324.53
Delivered to the door 23 hours after the order was placed.
But for 928 parts 928sRUS is cheaper on 98% of the parts I looked at on Partsgeek.