Here's the scoop...I ordered a "Spectra premium" radiator from Rockauto last week because I found cracks in my original, 26 year old radiator. I received the package and lo and behold, it's a "Cooling Depot" radiator. I can't find any information on "Cooling Depot", but it IS made in China. The packing slip says "Spectra premium" so I definitely ordered a Spectra part.

I ordered the Spectra radiator specifically instead of getting it locally from Advance because the Advance one had a bad quality reputation, and I thought that Spectra radiators were manufactured in Canada. I have had plenty of sour experiences with Chinese parts and the radiator is not one I look forward to. What are your thoughts? Has Rock Auto done this to you before, and should I be concerned? I plan on calling them tomorrow.

My original radiator had cracks in the reinforcement ribbing on the plastic tank on one side but wasn't leaking, so I patched it with some plastic epoxy. Would you trust a Chinese no-name radiator over a patched original?

Thanks all...86 GT V6, 197k miles.

I buy over $1K of parts from Rock and have never had to sub a different part. I have had incorrect parts in a correctly labeled box but they have resolved that to my satisfaction when it happened.

When you order a close out item you may get something different ,, they ship what is left,,no telling what is in the last few boxes,occassionaly some mishap return ,ect. is in one of the last few boxes,but you should get a new part that fits..

Rock is at the top of the list for helping customer,,tell em you did not get what was ordered..on close outs act promtly before the last one is shipped
unfortunately you often get stuck with shipping cost,, be nice on phone you only want what you paid for..people react better to nice!!,angry,hostile attitute gets minimum required service.. Thats our policy sir.. ROCK should make you satisfied

[This message has been edited by uhlanstan (edited 12-28-2010).]

Why not ask Rock Auto, directly?

I ordered a bunch of parts from Rockauto and got a coilpac coil instead of the single stud coil for my 84 4cyl. A few emails back and forth to determine what was actualy shipped (in the correct box) and they sent me the correct coil very quickly at their expense. And I live in Canada. While I buy on price sometimes, mostly I buy to save shipping costs - get all the parts from the same wharehouse.

If something goes wrong, call / write back and get it resolved. They are pretty good about that. And like the man says; talk nice and you get excellent response and service. Snarky people get the service they deserve.

The coilpac coil sitting in my garage. They didn't ask for it back. When I talk about parts places to buy from, I pull that coil out and tell them this story.

Pete

Well I did call them, but I wanted other opinions first (and to see if this was common practice).

They said it was the wrong part sent and she had no idea what "Cooling Depot" was, lol. They are sending the correct one. Thanks for your opinions everyone.

I've placed several orders with no probs. get ahold of them and they should take care of it

I have gotten the wrong parts from Rock Auto before, although they were the correct TYPE of parts (like a battery cable I ordered for the Fiero, got one for a completely different car, but the same brand, part # on box WAY off).

I've also gone through 3 Spectra radiators, they're crap as far as I'm concerned. The replacements were free each time because of the warranty, but eventually you get sick of the car not being useable and having to take the hood off over and over every three months or whatever it was. All-aluminum radiator like Champion's is the way to go unless you're restoring an Indy or something.

IIRC the Spectras were made in China.

I think Cooling Depot may actually be a Spectra part. Their box/labels change sometimes and that one sounds familiar to me.

Far as I know, Spectra is "Designed in USA, built in China" or something like that.

quote Originally posted by Dodgerunner: I buy over $1K of parts from Rock and have never had to sub a different part. I have had incorrect parts in a correctly labeled box but they have resolved that to my satisfaction when it happened.

Had that same thing with my tie-rods. I just ordered a third one and figured whichever set matched, that's what I would go with.

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Todd,
2008 Jeep Patriot Limited 4x2
2002 Ford Explorer Sport 2dr 4x2
2002 Ford Crown Victoria LX
1987 Pontiac Fiero SE / V6
1973 Volkswagen Type-2 Transporter