Parts interpreter's

[shinny]

just wondering if anyone has had good/bad experiences with parts interpreters??


just recently found the coolant bypass pipe corroded out and have been trying to track down parts to fix it,
after explaining the part to the guy over the phone for 10 minutes and emphasising that it was an import 4age,
i picked up the pipe couple of days later only to get home and find out it's too long,

took it back and spoke to a different bloke who sorted it out and fixed me up,
turns out the original part number was for an AE82 4age :|


this was sort of a good and bad experience,
just wondering what other peoples experinces are??

[VIC_AE86]

I'm an ex-toyota parts interpreter, and I have around 8 years experience with them, and I would like to comment on this. Its all good and well to rock up and say "I need X part for an import 4agga". Parts Interpreters work with Microcat and PartFinder to look up parts, its just a computerized version of the old Microfiche If anyone knows about spare parts.

Because we live in Australia, we can only look up Australian delivered models with this software, I know its hard for some people to grasp it but it seems logical :P but, we do have a few CD's to look up import stuff, stuff for Surfs and shit.

But in order to get the right part we need an Australian vin number or the vin number for the import, sure its fine to say "Oh they would all be the same" But the thing is it isn't, there are heaps of different variants of the same part, and very very little if not any info to tell the difference.

What I'm getting at is, get the right information the first time, if you don't have a vin, get a model code of the original vehicle.. Sure, its crap when you get the wrong part but provide the right info, and 9/10 you will be walk away with the right part. And trust me, the frustration is painful on the other end as well, as soon as I get a customer that wont provide the right info, they become a low priority when I have a repairer wanting to place an order for $5k+ worth of panels, but when I have all the right info and is a quick 5 minute job, and not have to make 10 phone calls to get the right part, I can get the right part in the least amount of time.

You ended up with a AE82 part proberly because no one could be fucked chasing round for a hose, and took a chance on a aus delivered 4age.. sorry to be blunt..

:)

Just see what Interpreters have to deal with as well.. :)

edit: I noticed your in SA so more than likely you deal with Cornes Toyota, those guys are great to deal with and have delt with them many times without a hassle, both on a Toyota employee side as well as personal.

[RobertoX]

toyota parts as we know it have changed big time here!

all in regency now!

[VIC_AE86]

Try again so I can understand Dave.. I'm from Melb remember :lol:

[puzzigully]

remember that alot of people who work in automotive have no interest in private imports, so they wont know what your talking about.

nissan stock alot of fast moving parts (high demand like hoses, gaskets ect) for imports purely because theres so many of them here. I know theres a few big manuals on the more common imports/older datsuns at work, and there is a seperate software system for imports (pretty certain its fast, but its in japanese so its not very useful)

[shinny]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (VIC_AE86 @ Jul 10 2008, 07:00 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> (index.php?act=findpost&pid=559717)</div>
[/b]


yeah i totally understand where you come from,

i work at holden and we use microcat......which can be frustrating to say the least

i wasn't having a stab at all parts interpreters,
just noticed that one bloke took the time to work out exactly what i was looking for where as the other didn't really go to too much trouble,
same thing happens at my work a couple of guys are really good and others are a bit slack,

[VIC_AE86]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (shinny @ Jul 10 2008, 08:36 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> (index.php?act=findpost&pid=559753)</div>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (VIC_AE86 @ Jul 10 2008, 07:00 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> (index.php?act=findpost&pid=559717)



yeah i totally understand where you come from,

i work at holden and we use microcat......which can be frustrating to say the least

i wasn't having a stab at all parts interpreters,
just noticed that one bloke took the time to work out exactly what i was looking for where as the other didn't really go to too much trouble,
same thing happens at my work a couple of guys are really good and others are a bit slack,[/b][/b][/quote]

Oh cool, well you would know without a VIN it makes things hard, and Infomedia don't differentiate between parts.. and Ive even worked for them as well :lol:

[slide86]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (shinny @ Jul 10 2008, 08:06 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> (index.php?act=findpost&pid=559753)</div>
i work at holden and we use microcat......which can be frustrating to say the least


same thing happens at my work a couple of guys are really good and others are a bit slack,[/b]

i am the king of microcat, i find it pretty good. i can use it better than the actual parts guys.....I'm not even joking.

same at my work, there are a few good parts people here (josh, don't you say a thing) and the rest are so stupid they couldnt find an oil filter if it was jammed in their date hole

[biggo]

how do i explain to a parts interperter that i have a ke70 with a imported 20v 4age, 86 struts, rona LCA's, t18 diff and an ra60 gearbox?

thats the part that shits me every single time. "So what car is it?"

i just give them a blank stare when ive specifially asked for a certain part.

[mech`s blue]

having read the above posts and knowing exactly where your coming from (i'm a mechanic for a small garage) there is more to it than this.

while having a vin is all good and well the majority of the time we ring for parts from different suppliers, ie veales/repco etc. the parts guys there are absolutely f#$king useless. the amount of times they send the wrong parts is rediculous. it isn't hard to find and supply the right parts and they shouldn't be there when they don't know what they are doing

having said that most dealerships are pretty good especially when you get the older guys that have been in the trade for so long.
i used to work at holden and the parts guy there still remembers the majority of torana part numbers of the top of his head

[VIC_AE86]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (biggo @ Jul 10 2008, 09:55 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> (index.php?act=findpost&pid=559798)</div>
how do i explain to a parts interperter that i have a ke70 with a imported 20v 4age, 86 struts, rona LCA's, t18 diff and an ra60 gearbox?

thats the part that shits me every single time. "So what car is it?"

i just give them a blank stare when ive specifially asked for a certain part.[/b]

You have a KE70 with a AE101 engine in it.. :whistling:

[VIC_AE86]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (slide86 @ Jul 10 2008, 09:53 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> (index.php?act=findpost&pid=559795)</div>
i am the king of microcat, i find it pretty good. i can use it better than the actual parts guys.....I'm not even joking.

same at my work, there are a few good parts people here (josh, don't you say a thing) and the rest are so stupid they couldnt find an oil filter if it was jammed in their date hole[/b]

Once you get your prefixes in you head its easy hey?

Oh god, the numbers are all flooding back to me lol!

[biggo]

fail

AE111 :P

[VIC_AE86]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (biggo @ Jul 10 2008, 10:24 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> (index.php?act=findpost&pid=559817)</div>
fail

AE111 :P[/b]

I was checking your skills..

































:whistling:

[biggo]

my skills are 10 tinnies better than the blokes i deal with.

I know this cos i can drown 10 tinnies and still know what part I'm after :)

[Arch]

I'm a parts interpreter, have been for almost 2 years now, i use microcat everyday.


I can understand the frustration when you get the wrong part, but yes it does work both ways, when we don't get much information its hard to track the right part.

Shinny i know what you mean when you said one person was happy to help but another wasnt, this comes down to laziness and lack of interest in the car at hand. If my workmates can't find a listing straight away for a toyota or nissan import part, they send the enquiry to me because they know I'm more interested and will put in the effort to ring the suppliers, find a listing etc.

[MasonF]

I've been a parts interpreter for Ford for 6 year's, and can understand the frustration people when they don't end up with the correct part. I am constantly getting incorrect parts supplied to me all the time, but I'm human too and have made my share of mistakes aswell....

Experiance is everything in this line of work... It's these mistakes that we learn from that make us better at what we do.
The guys who don't learn usually get frustrated with the job and leave or get fired....

I don't like getting parts of Repco either (constantly getting supplied the wrong shit), but most of those guys/girls are fairly young with hardly any experiance. Also they have to deal with all sorts/makes of cars where as I only have to deal with 1. I'd hate to be expected to know everything about every peice of shit made by anyone......

It's because of this I have always got to make that extra effort in my customer service. Weither it's spending the extra time with the customer, emailing catalogue image's of even ordering in all the differnt version of that part so atleast the customer get's what he wants when he needs it. It's this extra effort that get's the customers back again, because they know that we will do our best for them. If you find a good parts interperter get his name and ask for him the next time you need somthing... who knows he may just cut you a better deal the next time....

I don't like playing 20 question's..... Alway's when you go to buy a part for your car have as much info as you can.
Model, Frame, V.I.N. as much as you can, because it makes it alot easier for us to find your correct part for you quicker....

[VIC_AE86]

Fords slightly better as they use the same part for a few series of models..

I prefer ford to toyota part wise..

[Arch]

^^ agree completely

VIN FTW

[hachirusto]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Little Jon @ Jul 10 2008, 10:44 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> (index.php?act=findpost&pid=559834)</div>
..

I don't like getting parts of Repco either (constantly getting supplied the wrong shit), but most of those guys/girls are fairly young with hardly any experiance. Also they have to deal with all sorts/makes of cars where as I only have to deal with 1. I'd hate to be expected to know everything about every peice of shit made by anyone......[/b]

Amen to that

Ive been at supercheap for 5 years now and most people expect you to know about every car under the sun and what problems they have, After working there for so long I do know alot about most cars, but some times you do get stupped or just go blank, In my area ive mainly got people with shit box commonwhores and falcons and they think they are top shit when they want the best oil for there car but don't want to spend more then $20 on it lol

I do find that the only time I give people the wrong parts is when I have geniunely made the mistake by misreading or the people havnt giving enough information on what car it is and then that makes it hard, half the time I ask them if they have the car out the front just so I can go see it to find out what car it is

[Arch]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (VIC_AE86 @ Jul 14 2008, 04:50 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> (index.php?act=findpost&pid=559838)</div>
Fords slightly better as they use the same part for a few series of models..

I prefer ford to toyota part wise..[/b]

I think you are talking about the basic numbers

the ford system uses basic numbers which are the same for each part, just differ for each model

example a ford coolant level sensor for an AU falcon is AU10K888A, the 10K888 is the basic number, and you can search this basic number to find different models of the same part.

and yes i am ashamed for knowing ford part numbers <_<

[VIC_AE86]

Cummon man, working at supercheap.. all you will have to know is the part number for a oil filter for a commodore and ford.. oh an points for a 202 :lol:

[Arch]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (hachirusto @ Jul 14 2008, 04:52 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> (index.php?act=findpost&pid=559840)</div>
Amen to that

Ive been at supercheap for 5 years now and most people expect you to know about every car under the sun and what problems they have, After working there for so long I do know alot about most cars, but some times you do get stupped or just go blank, In my area ive mainly got people with shit box commonwhores and falcons and they think they are top shit when they want the best oil for there car but don't want to spend more then $20 on it lol

I do find that the only time I give people the wrong parts is when I have geniunely made the mistake by misreading or the people havnt giving enough information on what car it is and then that makes it hard, half the time I ask them if they have the car out the front just so I can go see it to find out what car it is[/b]

Do supercheap actually sell hard parts? i thought you guys only had filters and seat covers

I'm being serious btw

[VIC_AE86]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Arch @ Jul 10 2008, 10:54 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> (index.php?act=findpost&pid=559842)</div>
I think you are talking about the basic numbers

the ford system uses basic numbers which are the same for each part, just differ for each model

example a ford coolant level sensor for an AU falcon is AU10K888A, the 10K888 is the basic number, and you can search this basic number to find different models of the same part.

and yes i am ashamed for knowing ford part numbers <_<[/b]

yeah the basic numbers, its pretty easy once you know the basic number its easy.. :)

mind you once you can break down the part number for a toyota, you can pretty much work out the part number..

[driftke70]

depends how specific you want to be and what part your after, when i deal with rolla stuff i can usually tell straight away if they have given me the right stuff as i either know what i want or take the old one in with me to check, at work when I'm less equipped at work i can still get it right 99 percent of the time with places like bursons and repco etc. My boss always gets the wrong parts cause he tries to be cool and unspecific, usually backfires and I'm the one to suffer!

[hachirusto]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Arch @ Jul 10 2008, 10:56 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> (index.php?act=findpost&pid=559844)</div>
Do supercheap actually sell hard parts? i thought you guys only had filters and seat covers

I'm being serious btw[/b]

Yea we have heaps of shit most of the time would be order in depending on what you need inparticalur , but mainly the hard parts we do sell are normally just ford/holden

example can get full reco powersteering rack/normal for ae86, powersteering pumps etc

[MasonF]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Arch @ Jul 10 2008, 11:24 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> (index.php?act=findpost&pid=559842)</div>
I think you are talking about the basic numbers

the ford system uses basic numbers which are the same for each part, just differ for each model

example a ford coolant level sensor for an AU falcon is AU10K888A, the 10K888 is the basic number, and you can search this basic number to find different models of the same part.

and yes i am ashamed for knowing ford part numbers <_<[/b]

Ahh not always unfortunatly.... Wish it was that simple. That AU sensor for example suits from EA to BF Falcon, a good 10 years of production for the same faulty part, and hasn't undergone a part number superssion for all those years, so It is still know as an EA10K888A... No need to feel ashamed, I should feel ashamed because I know Ford numbers but drive 2 Toyota's.... Can't blame me for knowing which is a better product though.

Yeah alot of the australian modles like falcons & territory's use the same basic number. But when it comes to European and American the basic number for that same part is completely differnt...... Yeah its gay... same part but differnt basic number depending on which region it was manufactured...

[VIC_AE86]

I just think its piss funny that an AFL1 will fit any falcon back till to the 60's :lol:

[Arch]

ahh yes its EA not AU infront, sorry i realised that after i posted lol

tell me something, why is ford microcat so jumbled up when you move left and right through the screens? holden stays in the same section until you reach the last page of that section.

[VIC_AE86]

Because it works its way from the front of the car to the back..

Thats why the front bar is first, then reo, then headlights etc etc..

[MasonF]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Arch @ Jul 11 2008, 12:51 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> (index.php?act=findpost&pid=559863)</div>
ahh yes its EA not AU infront, sorry i realised that after i posted lol

tell me something, why is ford microcat so jumbled up when you move left and right through the screens? holden stays in the same section until you reach the last page of that section.[/b]


No need to apoligise... Honestly on this forum knowing Ford part numbers kind of makes me feel embarased....

As for the sections jumping all over the place... That's easy...... Ford is GAY.......

Ahh I shouldn't say that, really it's not that bad. About 5 years ago Ford switched from Panda to Microcat. In doing so all the sections became jumbled.... Panda used to go from the front of the vehicle to the rear. Which made for easier location of the part on the system, only if you knew where the part was situated on the vehicle.....

We are still asking why today Microcat did this..... But my only advice to you is "Ctrl + F". My most favourite shortcut key in the system.......

[VIC_AE86]

bah amateurs.. you know you suck when you know what bin the part is in without having to put it into R&R :lol:

[MasonF]

Haha... Already broke out the biggie of knowing Ford part numbers off the top of my head tonight... Wasn't to keen on saying I know their locations too.... Oh wait?? noooooooooo...... Now I really am depressed....

[VIC_AE86]

Well apparently I say part numbers in my sleep :lol:

[MasonF]

Okay.. you win with that one...... Can't say I've done that yet, but I'm still only young. Plenty of time to catch up...

[floody31]

Toyota EPC is international isn't it, surely the Australian parts only thing is BS? Then I've only used third party pirated versions, but they all had basically global catalogues.

Japanese stuff in FAST for Nissans is pretty easy, as long as you're switched on with model designations and year variations, paint codes etc. It definitely needs someone with specific car knowledge to be there.

Anyway I've had great experiences at Nissan, Ford, Honda, Mazda...
but, at Toyota....
RANT ON!
Toyota parts interpreters have been f#cking useless knob shiners each and every time I've encountered them, at a fair few dealerships now too. I feel like climbing over the desk and just showing them the bloody part...
Nowadays I just look it up on my mate's EPC then give them the part number and hope that I neither a) get a cockjockey who won't input a part number without a VIN for confirmation, b ) get some f#cknuckle who cannot be bothered looking for parts for anything older than about 5 years, or c) they decide they know better and get the wrong fucking thing anyway after we've been through it. Yet to have a positive experience. And Toyota's older car parts availability is woeful compared to the other brands in my experience.

[VIC_AE86]

Yeah sorry I made that up to sound cool..

[Sherlock]

I will only make one comment.

Sprint Auto Parts fail. Not once have they got the right part for me.

[puzzigully]

nissans software is well laid out having exploded diagram of the different sections of the vehicle (engine, front running gear ect( and from there you can go into more sub assemblys until you get to the part you need. only stupid thing botu it is that if you want an oil filter part code you have to go into the engine diagrams. shoudlnt they just have a list of part numbers for service parts?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (biggo @ Jul 10 2008, 09:55 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> (index.php?act=findpost&pid=559798)</div>
how do i explain to a parts interperter that i have a ke70 with a imported 20v 4age, 86 struts, rona LCA's, t18 diff and an ra60 gearbox?

thats the part that shits me every single time. "So what car is it?"

i just give them a blank stare when ive specifially asked for a certain part.[/b]

again interpreters have no aftermarket knowledge unless its their hobby. use your head and figure out what parts you need. if you needed new bearings for your celica box you wouldn't ask for corolla stuff would you?

[ke70dave]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (racsov500 @ Jul 12 2008, 01:13 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> (index.php?act=findpost&pid=560341)</div>
again interpreters have no aftermarket knowledge unless its their hobby. use your head and figure out what parts you need. if you needed new bearings for your celica box you wouldn't ask for corolla stuff would you?[/b]

what this guy said

if you walk in and say "i have a ra60 celica and i need a new gearbox bit"

they will look it up and get it, don't say "i need a part for a w57 gearbox which has the longer/shorter ratios...etc" you will just confuse them:P

do not mention that you are putting it into another car, or they will try and say its the wrong part, bla bla bla.

i havnet ever had a problem with the guys behind the counter, you just have to dumb it down for most of them. and know EXACTLY what part you want(the proper name as well...not the "part that connects to the steering arm thing"....), and EXACTLY what model car you need it for (engine size especially, they don't know engine codes)

i think ive been to one guy and bought stuff for about 10 different types of cars, i think he's used to me buying random parts :2thumbs:

[federal]

Cornes Toyota parts section was awesome for finding everything needed....thats until Mark left...and the rest of them moved to regency....

[biggo]

gah i know what part I'm after. For example i walk in and ask for a celica ra60 gearbox seal and the fucking kents look out the window and say oh its a corolla. I say yair i want an ra60 gearbox seal. Turns out the give me a T50 one.

I'm not stupid, its mearly the person on the other side of the counter not taking an interest in the specific part I'm after. I'm sure if the gave me the part manual, id find the PN for them and they can order it for me.

Toyota dearlers are worse

[VIC_AE86]

Well if they give you a T50 because you they thought it was for a 'corolla' give them a serve mate.. thats shit..