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I'd say without a doubt. Most of the big Tier 1 suppliers (like Nippondenso, Bosch, TRW, etc.) maintain different divisions for OE and aftermarket parts...most likely due to contractual obligations. That said, I've never had a single issue with Denso (new or reman) across the many starters and...

Wholeheartedly agree with using OEM when able. The key is determining the OEM. There isn't a large "Motorcraft" plant building starters and alternators. These are very likely Nippondenso or Bosch components with FoMoCo tags.

During normal operation, the oil is evenly distributed throughout the entire system. The lines will have a coating inside, but the oil mostly settles in the main components after the system rests. Drain as much as you can from the old compressor, making sure you tilt it and work the clutch at...

You can get a real small bottle of the neon yellow dye from most auto parts for a few bucks. Just drop some into the oil. It can be a huge help if you develop any leaks down the road!

Back in 2001-2002, my AF Security Forces unit had two S-10 flight line patrol vehicles that had conversion kits installed on their Vortec V-6s. Ran like absolute crap, and had to drive about 10 miles off base to refuel at a truck stop. They were thankfully switchable systems that could also...

You're pretty spot-on with your past and future oil analysis. Serious internal failure (versus normal wear) would be obvious in the oil, which would turn silvery-gray. Did you notice any off-colored oil when you pulled the expansion valve? It would be helpful to know the pressures before &...

Do these systems still feature Sanden compressors? R-134a? Do you have to fabricate condenser brackets? A buddy used one of these systems in a '63 Galaxie about 20 years ago and I was quite impressed with the simplicity and functionality. The "crotch cooler" unit under the dash didn't look...

Curious if the weights were the crimp-on lead weights or the stick-on type. With the latter, I always remove the weights and clean the insides of the wheels before every installation. About a decade ago an installer scraped off the old weights, but left a ton of old tape residue and gunk...and...

This is an indictment of your particular city...not W-M or Costco. We don't have such issues at these places in my town. In fact, when we have out-of-town visitors they always comment, "Hey...your Wal-Marts don't have everything all locked up!"

I've had the same thing happen on different vehicles. In most cases I was able to lower the glass, use a small wooden wedge to slightly spread out the gap between the door panel and door, and fashion a tool to manually work the latch/latch rod. You'll have to get some light in there so you're...

I hadn't seen that. The 366 SFS at Mountain Home was my last enlisted gig before I commissioned. Used to be a pretty sleepy place. Ms. Gonzalez seems to be an early-issue Karen with all the pertinent terminology: "Don't touch me!" "I'm pregnant!" "You're not police!" To her last point...

I'll be the odd man out. Once you get used to the rhythm of Homeric poetry, it's anything but tortuous. I initially read The Odyssey in high school. As a college sophomore our literature class spent an entire semester on The Iliad and The Odyssey. They remain two of my favorite works of...

I think that's the case with modern formulations. Simonton offers a transferable lifetime warranty on the vinyl. The original windows I had were non-impact rated aluminum. After many years of non-use by the original owner, they actually galled shut, with 8 out the 10 unable to open at all...

You said "not South Florida" but didn't relate your particular area. Perhaps the most important consideration here is whether you want (or require) impact-rated hurricane windows. You simply cannot compare standard windows as found in the Midwest to hurricane glass. Any why not vinyl...

Bingo! A lot of this started when merit-based promotion ended. Your FedEx story reminds me of my local post office. Despite living here for over 3-1/2 years, we still get loads of mail for the previous owner...to include packages! She's no rocket scientist and basically neglected to change...

My primary concern with a new battery is buying something made in America. The flood of Chinese batteries over the past decade or so is just plain sad. The majority of batteries a few decades ago came from Johnson Controls or Exide. Now it's almost anyone's guess as to who makes what and it...

It's nothing more than proof of Mike Judge's prescience from 2006 -- we are living in Idiocracy. It seems most people are now so dumb that basic societal functions are suffering under the weight of their stupidity. And trying to explain this to a world of dummies is met with complete...

Ensure you check to ensure you have the proper threads for your task. Most of the older Toyotas used 1/8 British Pipe Thread (BPT) for their senders (28 threads per inch). You might have to buy a BPT-to-1/8" NPT (27 threads per inch) adapter. They're pretty easy to find online. After the...

I'm going to replace an old and oversized shelving unit, which is about 7 feet tall by 24" deep. It was great in our last house, which was pretty large, but is now too often in the way in our much smaller 1400 sq. ft. home. The plan is to create a simple floor-to-ceiling frame (likely a combo...

This is the key. Break off the entire top part with channel locks, vice grips, etc. and use a normal 6-point socket & breaker to remove the threaded end. Heating the stub with MAPP gas (not butane) until cherry red will make it easier.