Mean Auto Parts Guy. . .

[Persephone]

I went into a car part store today to ask some questions and to pick up a couple things. I replaced all of my brake pads and shoes and am having an issue with the right rear tire hissing when I drive. ._. I was asking if I needed to get back in and adjust something or if it would go away, and the guy was mean and said that I shouldn't be messing with my car instead of telling me whether or not I did. And when I was buying a tire gauge he asked if I was actually going to use it or even knew what I was doing with it. I REALIZE that I am new at this stuff and I'm learning. . . I'm sure that butthead wasn't born knowing everything about cars either and he doesn't know everything about them now. When guys go in there and have gotten something not quite right and they ask about their problem, those part guys don't say stuff like that to them. . . They tell them what they did wrong and how to fix it!!!! I am so hurt and angry. I think I have as much right to learn how to take care of my car as anyone. . . Yes, I lack upper body and hand muscles and it makes things harder for me and every time I do anything I manage to scratch up my hands, but I am trying and I thought I was doing pretty well for myself. . .

[jimincalif]

Don't be hurt, he's the idiot, not you. Why would anyone who sells auto parts want to discourage customers from working on their cars? Who does he think buys parts and keeps him employed?Take your business elsewhere and good on you for learning how to do it yourself!

[Persephone]

I will take my business elsewhere! >.And he didn't act like I was stupid either.I'll just stick with you guys for questions I have. Those mean guys don't know #&$^ about Vibes anyway. It's just I have sooo many questions and I don't want to make different threads for all of them. x_x

[KITT222]

Search function is pretty good then, or asking questions in places which are already there. Honestly, the guy seems to be stuck with the old ideals, in which case he's much worse off than you are. At least you aren't a bitter (removed) who has to get their kicks from putting others down. Ignorant people are among the worse types of people out there. Obviously you are mechanically inclined enough to do your pads and shoes, so what is he to question your ability to do that? Just stay away and stick to the guys which are actually nice to you. My dad and I stuck with the nice guys so long we have an account at our local Advanced Auto.

[Persephone]

I won't get into trouble for resurrecting ancient threads? Search function isn't telling me how to re-stick my loose cladding. I have one little piece and it's driving me crazy. I see people complaining but no advice on how to repair it. D: And I really don't want to see it get worse. But I don't want to mess it up trying to fix it. And my brake issue is pretty specific. Also I'd like to know how to clean a spot before I apply a decal. I wasn't paying $8 for a bottle of cleaner when I was sure I could find a solvent that would work just fine. I think those are the things I want to know at this moment. lol

[09vGT]

Call the home office of the store, that is if it was a chain, and complain. Maybe you'll get some coupons! If it was a mom and pop, talk to the manager. As far as the hissing, no idea. I'm a guy and I just know how to check the oil and air in the tires. LOL

[KNINE]

Quote, originally posted by Persephone »I won't get into trouble for resurrecting ancient threads? People do it all the time. If anybody complains, then they're just mean, and mean people suck! It's good to see new members wanting to do their own work on their cars.

[TONY TAT2]

If ya want,I can go & beat him up,

[CAMOGIRL]

Mhm. I feel your pain sister. I usually have issues going to archery shops that I don't frequent. They try to talk me out of higher quality products or ignore me as I'm shopping. They don't realize I know as much out more than them. My favorite shop is cluttered, dirty, smells like the bait fish in the vats but leonard greets me by name and always has time for me. I don't usually have issues at parts stores because I know all the people and thanks to this site, I can go in at least sounding like I know what I'm talking about lol. I have done lots of just reading here, learning about the engine, common issues, etc, and I feel very confident doing things on my car for myself. Don't be afraid to ask questions or drag things back, threads that went cold may have new answers that someone found and forgot. As for your cladding, where is it loose?

[tribalman]

my favorite time i had an issue like this is when i was going into a toyota dealership to get prices for the drivers side window control console. they asked what year and then said they didn't have the part for it. I said check for an 04 matrix. Still insisted it wouldn't work cause i have a pontiac. went back to the car, pulled it out showed them the toyota branding and the toyota model number, still didn't believe me. xD

[djkeev]

Perplexing.....In my many years of experience in the Auto Industry and many years observing the Auto Industry since I left it, My frequent observation is that almost ALL Males in the industry all but break their necks to help out a young female!!Maybe you got one of those rare woman hating Gay auto parts guys???If you feel there is a higher power at that store you can go to, go, talk to him (most likely) and explain what his employee did and how you were treated.There are stores that I will NOT patronize because of how they treat customers. I went to IRON BOUND ELECTRIC in Dover NJ to purchase some wire. I know what I'm doing but this idiot counter person started grilling me about what I was going to use the wire for and that I'm not a licensed electrician and I shouldn't be doing this work..blah, blah, blah blah. He seemed to enjoy making me feel stupid, I turned and walked out, went to another store that sold what I needed, they happily sold me $1000 worth of wire and I installed it, it has served flawlessly for five years now.Jerks / idiots / a holes, happen to everyone, male and female alike.Move on to a store that wants your money and will help you rather than discourage you.Dave

[kramer]

dont let him get to you he probly was mad cause his macanic charged him to much for the same thing most parts guys ony know what the parts computer tells them thiere not even close to being macanics your doing better than most *** like him

[j42.snyder]

Has the hissing subsided yet? Maybe it's just the sound of the new shoes rubbing on the drum. If they're adjusted too tightly, they may make some noise.I'd probably take that drum off again and make sure nothing is out of place. It could even be some dirt/rust that came loose in there, or also check the edge of the drum where it meets the backing plate. I haven't worked on one of these cars with drums, but many tend to build up rust on that edge, and it can then rub on the backing plate as the wheel goes around. If you see a spot that's rubbing, often a ball peen hammer will knock it loose.Also - how did the drums look inside - any ridges? If new shoes are installed into worn drums, sometimes they'll make lots of noise until the high spots on the drums wear new low spots into the new shoes. They won't be as effective until worn in either if that's the case. I often have replaced pads/rotors or shoes/drums as sets (as well as a hardware kit for the drums). Around here the weather really takes a toll on brake parts (rust), so often the rotors and drums won't last through a second set of pads/shoes anyway.Keep us informed - and don't worry about the idiot at the parts store. In some ways I'd be tempted to go to the manager/owner - but overall, I'd probably just not shop there anymore. Why give them a chance to ruin another day for you...John

[Persephone]

09vGT: Perhaps I should. He worked at O'Reilly'sK-NINE: Thanks!! I have to, or I'll never be able to afford making Gambit lovely. lol TONY TAT2: He's the one who looks like Al from Tool Time!!CAMOGIRL: Oh my gosh, whaaat? I've always wanted to be a great archer like Prince A****aka or Robin Hood or Uryu Ishida. . . >.>; You are lucky!! (gooosh, stupid filter filtering out words even when they're part of someone's name. I'm glad my name isn't Assassin or something. XD HEY! It didn't filter that!!)And this happens to me in comic book stores sometimes, too. But I never had it happen in a video game store. . . Funny. I enjoy being a lady but sometimes it sucks because of how people treat you for it. Also, my cladding is all very good except on my passenger door. Do you need to see a picture?tribalman: I hope they sold you the part. > Good god, that would be so irritating.djkeev: I knooooow, right?! Lots of them seemed pretty nice and try very hard to help me. I had three different guys in one store all looking for different things I was trying to find once when I first bought Gambit and was working on getting everything up to par.They are nice, but I still notice quite a few of them look down on me. That guy just looked down on me and made sure I knew it. I'm sorry that happened to you. >.kramer: lol XD Probably! He couldn't even find my wiper blade when I went in before. If he would have just typed it into the system he would have seen they had two in stock.And j42.snyder: It hasn't yet. I've driven for about 3 hours in it and it's still doing it. That's what I thought maybe it was. I don't think it's going away on it's own anytime soon. When I was in there a lot of things were looking pretty rusty. *__* So that sounds like it could easily be a culprit.Also my drums did have a ridge. I had my dad smooth it out with a dremel tool. Do you think that still might be it? I think they've still got some life left in them.Thanks a lot for all the tips!! Let me know what you think. I will keep my business to CarQuest.~*~*~And thank you everyone else!! I couldn't do much without your help on this site. lol Also I post in such a strange way because I don't like it to seem like I'm ignoring anyone. I want everyone to feel like what they said is important.

[vibenvy]

As everyone else has said, that guy at the auto parts store is a jerk. Don't let him discourage you from working on your Vibe, or any other vehicle for that matter. He was probably jealous because you knew more than he did .I haven't really experienced too much of this over the years. If someone did act that way toward me I would promptly tell them off and never return to that store again .Quote, originally posted by Persephone »Also I'd like to know how to clean a spot before I apply a decal. I wasn't paying $8 for a bottle of cleaner when I was sure I could find a solvent that would work just fine.A paper towel with a little bit of rubbing alcohol will work just fine. It's what I've always used before applying any decals.

[Persephone]

Man J, I had some stuff I should have told him, but I didn't think of it until after I left, which makes me so mad!! lol I was just so shocked in the first place, my brain wasn't really working until I got back to Gambit.And thank you very much! I will do use this rubbing alcohol method.

[KNINE]

Quote, originally posted by Persephone »09vGT: Perhaps I should. He worked at O'Reilly'sAn O'Reilly's Autoparts just opened a store near me and it's my new favorite store. The people there are awesome. Very friendly. They actually had the brake shoes and cylinders for my '63 Impala SS in stock.

[tpollauf]

Quote, originally posted by TONY TAT2 »If ya want,I can go & beat him up,Ahhh don't you just feel the love here on this site As so many others have commented here. ignore the brain dead idiots who try to undermine your capabilities and the urge to fix things yourself. I admire ANYONE who attempts to take on projects that would otherwise be left to a specialist Keep up the good work

[Persephone]

It is pretty great here. :3 lol And I'll try to keep learning things. It's just kind of hard when I have to ask such stupid questions in order to do it. XD "What?! Why would I ever put water in the battery?!" . . . and then people laugh!! o.o;

[jimincalif]

You won't get flamed for asking questions here. This is a pretty nice board and most everyone is pretty encouraging and helpful when someone is trying to figure out a problem. A lot of credit to the moderators for keeping it friendly.I've been here over 8 years. My two sons now drive the two Vibes but I still stop in from time to time just to see who's posting.