I can't get the parts to fix my car.

Find a good independent mechanic, and never take your car to the dealer if it is out of the warranty period. Many replacement parts are often generic and/or available outside a dealer supply chain. If the dealer tells you a part is not available, that means they don't have it (in order to mark it up 300%). It doesn't mean it doesn't exist.

And you can recharge your own air conditioning for just a few dollars. It will take you 5 minutes. Man up and check auto parts stores near you.

Or, you can continue to be one of those guys who walks into a dealer with a sign reading "kick me!"

I've owned this car for 4 years. This is the first time it has been in a Honda shop.
When i was a kid I used to do all kinds of repairs.
I even once purchased a car with the engine in the back seat.
But 2 knee replacements and a cracked L4 have put a stop to that.
The local auto repair man up the street from me suggested taking it to Honda.
I'm at the stage in my life where it is reasonable for me to pay younger guys to do the work.
Thanks for your concerns, but not necessary.

And anyway, I need to focus more on my swing trading.
And stuff I really enjoy, like making furniture (my remaining stash is black walnut).
 
Well, you're waiting on parts from Japan?

Order both a discharge line and a suction line online from Rock Auto or NAPA. Take it to a reputable repair shop that does A/C work. Tell them to replace the hoses, pull a vacuum on the system, and re-charge the refrigerant.

And it will save you a shit ton of money compared to a Honda Dealer.

You're welcome.


Dam Bone! I’m impressed
 
I have a 2017 Honda CRV. Not a rare car. Not an old car.
The Air Conditioning was not working very well, so called the Honda dealer near me, told the woman the problem, and dropped the car off 2 days ago. The woman called yesterday, told me it needed a so-and-so hose. But Honda can't locate one.
I told her I would just leave the car there until they get the part, then please fix it.
So, I thought about it overnight, and I started thinking this might not happen so fast.
The big government people have this thing about air conditioning, whatever.
So I was thinking this part may be unavailable for a few months.
And I am not going to leave one of my cars at a car dealer for a "few months".
So I decided to pick it up today.
Turns out, it's not just air conditioning ... can't get Honda parts for a lot of stuff ... like brake pads. What??
And she says it's not just Honda, it's most makes.
OMG.
The stock market is at all time highs, and I am posting this in the Econ forum.
Is this for real ???
Has everybody lost their minds?
Get the part number for the hose. Search it on rockauto, ebay, amazon, oreilly's, napa, advanced auto, autozone, etc. I can almost guarantee that you'll find the part in minutes.

I just recently had to order a primer bulb for a 10+ year old piece of yard equipment. It took me about 2 minutes to find. The internet makes this sort of thing so much easier than it used to be.
 
When I posted this story, I was wondering how unusual it was - parts unavailable at dealership service departments.

To be blunt, how much of a shortage of auto parts is there in the U.S. ?
Does anybody have real data on that?
 
told the woman the problem, and dropped the car off
can't fix a little car?
Damn, hope the tractor or the combine or the sprayer or the planter or the ... don't throw craps on you.
Welcome to modern economic warfare?
 
Last edited:
Well that river of holding back is exemplified in today's CPi readings among others.
China can export to whomever they want. It would not surprise me if Germany and rich Arab countries can obtain all the parts they want.
 
Back
Top