transmission fluid change on my wifes car...

[keithvibe]

Ok, so as the title stated I changed the fluid and filter and gasket on my wife's 2000 chevy cavalier. I also changed the valve cover gasket because the car is now five years old and both gaskets were leaking either trans fluid or oil both from their prospective places.Anyways. The valve cover gasket wasn't an issue had that apart and back together in less than an hour... but I did think about buffing or painting the valve cover before putting it back together.... It's cold so I decided to postpone it. The tranny.... Y, Gm never put a drain plug on any of their automatic transmissions I will never know... If anyone out there has a gm car or truck with a drain plug stock, not one you added, please enlighten me. Anyway. I unbolt all 16 bolts and drain the pan... clean the mag and change the filter... thats when I ran into the problem... The filter was different... then I look at the gasket.. it was WRONG... Don't you just hate that? So I hop in to my Vibe and back to the parts store I go with the Transmission pan as well just so I can match up the gasket. I get to Advanced Auto and inform the guy behind the counter that the filter kit they sold me is incorrect. He asks what year, make, model, engine size. I tell him 2000, chevy, cavalier, 2.2. He pulls up the listing and as he is doing that I mention, if it helps it's also a three speed with a lockup. Just as I say that. He has the information up on the computer. He says, it's not a 3speed it's a 4speed. I politly correct him and tell him it's a three speed with a lock up. He says that's a four speed. At this point I am getting agravated and tell him it's a three speed with a lock up(overdrive). He says Yes, it's a four speed. I then say, hey let me do you a favor and tell you that the 2000 cavalier was a transission year so there were parts that will fit on it from 99 threw 2001. He says really? So I tell him to look up the same information but with a 99 cavalier info. Low and behold! The computer said it did have a three speed transmission. He stomps off to get my CORRECT gasket and filter. Comes back and does the exchange. Plus side the correct gasket and filter kit was 10.00 cheaper...I tell you, in this day in age, most people think that what ever a stupid computer tells them has to be correct. EVEN when I was standing there with the transmission pan telling him and showing him it wasn't.JACKA$$!

[Mavrik]

Most parts store guys are not techs and don't know a thing about cars... all they know is whats on the screen before them.

[ColonelPanic]

Quote, originally posted by Mavrik »Most parts store guys are not techs and don't know a thing about cars... all they know is whats on the screen before them.Yeah, but even dealers are guilty there too at times. I went in to get an extra ignition key cut and I stood there watching while she saw "Accent, 2000-Current" on her screen, she would go right in there. I told her that her system was outdated, it was clearly for the 2000-2005 2nd gen variety, not my new from the ground up 3rd gen '06. The keys were just enough different to not work, she cut the only two she had and both wouldn't work. But, that's the right part, that's what the computer said! So, I went online to Hyundai's parts catalog that everyone has access to, really cool stuff - exploded views of everything with part numbers, and you can even order the stuff. I jotted down the part number and took it in, she questioned me because that was "not the right part number." Anyway, I said "just order it." She then went over to a different computer that had internet access and used the exact same parts catalog that I used and was like "oh, you mean these cars have changed? That part number you gave me is the right one!" No *bleep!* Their other system hasn't been updated but she just couldn't figure that out, and the "current" in the model year listings weren't helping. So, they get the key and cut it but screw it up so it doesn't work.At any rate, I went to my normal dealer, who is competent, and got the exact same part right then and it worked when they cut it. lol!Computers suck! When they don't give you the right part info, it isn't ever pretty. People rely too much on what those stupid things tell them! Sometimes the customer halfway has a clue about what they need, but it's funny how they don't ever believe us. Hence the story above with the transmission pan and me knowing more about the car and its parts than the parts lady did at the dealer. lol!