Using aftermarket parts

[MarkBNJ]

So we recently became a three-car family, having picked up an '01 Sentra sedan for my oldest daughter to use for work and school.

It seems like a good car so far, but it has a lot of power accessories. One of the things that surprised me when I started looking, since I hadn't bought a used car in 20 years, was that I didn't see anything with roll down windows! This GXE has power windows, locks, mirrors, etc. All stuff that is going to fail on me .

And speaking of fail, the passenger side window regulator did the day after we brought it home. It didn't exactly fail but it started refusing to do all of its job and sending audible clues about its impending death.

Took the door apart today and the regulator is a one-piece cable drive unit with motor, drive cable, and guide track. The thing is $300 for the Nissan part if I can find one, or $85 for an aftermarket version. Ordinarily I would hit a salvage yard, but who wants to go to the trouble of taking two doors apart to remove and reinstall another part with 100k miles on it?

Would you guys use the aftermarket part or spring for the Nissan? I hate to put another $300 in so soon. But on the other hand it would suck if the new part didn't fit right, or didn't operate as smoothly, after all the trouble of swapping it. And as I said I haven't owned a used car or done much work on one since the 80's.

 

[GermanG]

I generally do not use a part from dealer unless I have no option. You just get ripped off in most cases . The car companies make few of these parts anyway and they are mostly supplied by outside contractors. I try to buy from a shop that sells quality parts, like NAPA, and have never had a problem. Whenever possible, try to take the old part with you to match up. Sometimes parts are universal in nature and need a bit of fooling around with to get to fit, which may or may not be a problem for you. I just put a new pump on my son’s windshield washer reservoir. The shop only carried a universal pump. I paid half the price for it over the exact fit part from the dealer, but it involved soldering the wires since the connectors didn’t match. But plenty of parts from the parts shops are exact matches.
I’m with you on the bells and whistles, by the way. The new pickup I bought about a month ago came from Virginia. That’s how far they had to go to get one for me without power window, locks, etc. Besides all that crap giving more potential problems, cars and trucks are expensive enough these days at the base price without adding a bunch of nonsense that I do not need.

 

[46er]

Would certainly use after-market; I do it whenever something needs fixing on either my '97, '03 or '04. I just replaced the ABS brake speed sensor on the '03 GTI for $30, compared to $80 from VW. A local Auto Zone is a good source and Rock Auto is one of the best on the web, link below.

http://www.rockauto.com/

Rock auto shows your window regulator and window motor as separately available parts.

 

[woodjin]

aftermarket!!!

 

[imkms]

Definitely, always "Aftermarket"

Try this place http://www.autopartswarehouse.com/nissan~rep.html and there are lots more to choose from.
I purchased a new CRV for my wife this year and was able to add Genuine Honda accessories from a California based Honda dealer at 60% less than the local dealer wanted for the parts

 

[MarkBNJ]

Awesome. Thanks a lot for the tips and links, gents.

 

[Teegate]

I did some break work on the Focus I have now and the aftermarket wheel cylinders are really poor. I had to take two of them back because they leaked. I would look over every part before you buy, especially if they are brakes and such.

Guy

 

[Trailhead00]

If you want OEM parts check out Courtesy Nissan online. They usually have great deals on OEM Nissan parts. I would say somethings are perfectly fine from the aftermarket and some not so much. Really depends on what you are doing. Sometimes the quality difference between the two are alarming. For what you are doing, I would go aftermarket. Good luck.

http://www.courtesyparts.com/

Here you go. Front right passenger regulator for $79.55

http://www.courtesyparts.com/80700a-regulator-assy-door-windowrh-sentra-b15u-2000-2006-p-102837.html

 

[Broke Jeep Joe]

I actually use both dealer and aftermarket on a daily basis, it depends on how much you or the customer wants to spend. Often times the aftermarket part will carry a better warranty than the dealer part.

 

[MarkBNJ]

If you want OEM parts check out Courtesy Nissan online. They usually have great deals on OEM Nissan parts. I would say somethings are perfectly fine from the aftermarket and some not so much. Really depends on what you are doing. Sometimes the quality difference between the two are alarming. For what you are doing, I would go aftermarket. Good luck.

http://www.courtesyparts.com/

Here you go. Front right passenger regulator for $79.55

http://www.courtesyparts.com/80700a-regulator-assy-door-windowrh-sentra-b15u-2000-2006-p-102837.html

Thanks a ton, Trailhead! That's perfect. Really appreciate that.