by The Roadie » Tue Oct 08, 2013 11:22 am
I don't know what it is about part number questions that bothers me more. Partially it's that the question has been answered a hundred times on the three forums I've been on for nine years. So the repetition doesn't bother each new person with the problem, because it's all new to them. But it bothers me, and I'm usually not shy about advising a search. How to use ones computer or smart phone to get the answer is a required life skill nowadays, and (as a Dad and old fart) I prefer to encourage people to fish instead of giving them the fish. Yes, tough love and double standard.
That said, part number questions can be an indicator of excessive nervousness and scaredy-cat caution, and that's a definite hot button for me. (Remember the cranky old fart status?) Bad traits to display on a dangerous trail ride, and a good thing to work on overcoming. I see it all the times in noobs, and want to encourage them to grow as well. Yes, I know you're not that kind of noob, but I also write for the unseen future audience that lurks and finds posts like this in years to come. Often a thread is seen by 10-20 times as many lurkers and robots than active members.
I've learned a secret that escapes some folks who always want the cheat codes to life: You can buy parts at the parts stores without walking in knowing the number. In this case you can even bring in a sample to compare. A sample that also has the OEM part number printed on it! If their data base is so lame that they can't come up with a match, they're not a worthy store. Go down the street to a better one. If you're willing to use the fan clutch solid state relay as a swap for a while, and can take the time for mail order, Rockauto has a wonderous data base that lists most (not always all) aftermarket alternatives.
I mock many stupid and unhelpful parts store clerks as being failed mechanics, but that's exaggeration. Unless they're total stoned slackers, they know they succeed only by selling parts. The good ones look things up with skill and speed, and offer you the choices from stock and can look up what's their sister stores have if they've run out. If you know the part number, you might shave ten seconds off the search time, but they may not be able to offer alternatives. Knowing that the fan clutch relay is the same (a tidbit I *did* throw out there) can save you a trip in case they have a lame data base that claims the low and high beam relays are the same, which we all should know isn't true.