Needed a new thermostat for my older maxima. No problem got it from Nissanpartsonline. Genuine Nissan part arrives - no gasket. Has to be ordered separately for $9 plus 8.50 S&H. Well hell. Ebay has it for $2.91 but wait S&H is $17.00!

I'll just make my own.

Rockauto has always served me well.

Gasket not available from local parts stores? Napa, orielly, autozone?

quote:

Originally posted by P250UA5:
Gasket not available from local parts stores? Napa, orielly, autozone?

Or the thermostat for that matter. Of course, OP may be a ways away from a "local" auto parts store, necessitating the online thing.

That's why you ALWAYS look at the exploded view diagram.

I went through this fixing a dishwasher, looking at the exploded view really helps you understand what you actually need.

quote:

Originally posted by P250UA5:
Gasket not available from local parts stores? Napa, O'Reilly, autozone?

These kind of parts are easily procured, local AP stores should easily have.

It's for a 30 yr old Nissan. Not always available at the local parts places. I've learned the hard way to use OEM parts when possible. As far as the gasket goes, I just made one.

Point was the shipping cost for something that tiny and the games "they" try to play especially Ebay. Part cost of $2 and shipping $27.98.
- and yes I understand, handling, inventory costs etc.

PASig - your point is well taken

I've ordered a few thing off E-Bay motors for my '01 Vette. I have to admit, I've had good luck so far.

quote:

Originally posted by Mars_Attacks:
Rockauto has always served me well.

I get all my jeep tj parts from rock auto. Great service.

Don't forget to check Amazon, I order more from there than anywhere else.

The illustrations that you are looking at in most cases are direct from the electronic parts catalogs that we used to use in the dealerships.

Errors and omissions are not uncommon especially in the older part model vehicles, updating those catalogs is not a priority for the EPC supplier.

And for more added enjoyment there are times that associated parts are in a different catalog area aka “group” and not illustrated alongside the required part. We (in the parts business) had the ability to put electronic notes in our catalogs for quick reference, used that process a lot. But,be aware if a parts person from ABC Motors puts a note in his catalog the dealer in the next town at XYZ Motors won’t see that nots, it only works in house at the dealership it was entered at.

Another thing, pricing online. Especially the last few years prior to retiring I’d have to deal with online dealers that sold parts at a unsustainable pricing, sometimes 3 to 5% over dealer cost. Looked great until you got to the shipping and handling, that’s where the money was made up. Add the shipping time and you have to decide if the maybe 10-20% savings is really worth it once all the factors are considered.

Unfortunately auto dealers today are looking at experienced parts people at a liability instead of an asset. Just as qualified technicians, with all the money dealers were forced to spend on bright and shiny new corporate image designed facilities as a result everything under the roof there comes under scrutiny, the cheaper the better and that also goes for personnel. I’ve been out for eight years now and I run into the same issues that many of you do when parts shopping.

I don't understand why if you have the skill to swap a thermostat that you wouldn't know you need the gasket? I've never seen a thermostat across like a zillion different vehicles come with the gasket. Yea maybe you can save it, but nobody would count on that IMO. And of course you can solve that on your own and make one. But your complaint is it should have come with it. never seen that.

Inconsistency in the catalogs is nothing new.

All my dealership parts time was in GM and Isuzu Commercial Trucks and it wasn’t unusual to have a listing that showed or stated “seal included” only to find once you opened it that wasn’t true or no note stating it was in the package.

I can’t remember which thermostat it was but the seal had a groove on the inside that the thermostat lip fit inside of it. Catalog didn’t list “seal included” so at first we would order the thermostat and a separate gasket. Gasket came in a pack of 25 so once we found out it was part of the thermostat we now also had the unneeded pack of thermostat gaskets. And as an added “bonus” the seals were categorized as “non returnable” to GM so we were stuck with those only to later write them off. We added a note in our electronic parts catalog “seal included, don’t order”.

quote:

Originally posted by Tn226:
Needed a new thermostat for my older maxima. No problem got it from Nissanpartsonline. Genuine Nissan part arrives - no gasket. Has to be ordered separately for $9 plus 8.50 S&H. Well hell. Ebay has it for $2.91 but wait S&H is $17.00!

I'll just make my own.

Not sure of your exact year but I just looked on Amazon. Housing, thermostat and gasket for a Maxima $20.00 free shipping.