There has been a race to the bottom as far as parts are concerned. It's so bad for example that I have any alternator or starter bench tested at the store before bothering to install. Several have failed out of the box.

It's also a good idea to keep the core until certain that the new part is going to work. I learned this when Autozoo ultimately refunded money paid for a starter but had sent the core off. I ended up replacing their bad starter with one that didn't require a core. Live and learn.

I prefer paying a little more and not having to do the install repeatedly.

One of my relatives imports and sells crash parts. He can buy parts of varying qualities and says that some factories will build to whatever specs he wants.

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85SD 240K & stopped counting painted, putting bac together. 84SD 180,000. sold to a neighbor and member here but I forget his handle. The 84 is much improved from when I had it. 85TD beginning to repair to DD status. Lots of stuff to do.