Lesson learned................

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Dr. Righteous

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Recently I changed out the leaky plastic oil/filter cooler assy on the wife's 300 for the improved all aluminum version.
There was lot of advice to replace both the coolant temp sensor and oil pressure sensor on that assembly and don't reuse the old ones. I ordered everything from RockAuto which is my usual 1 stop shop for car parts. This little voice in the back of my head kept repeating "only buy OEM sensors, only buy OEM sensors, only buy OEM sensors ". I must have thought "what? Can't hear you" So I got all that replaced last Saturday in the blazing heat with off and on thunderstorms. I had to worry about getting sun stroke and lightning struck in the same day. All together, oil changed, coolant topped off, we drove it to church Sunday, no problems. So the wife has to run to Cookeville (50 miles away) yesterday for a Dr. appointment. She calls me and said "the little yellow engine light came on; what does that mean?" Turns out it was running fine, no noise, running cool, all else seemed to be normal. When she got home, I put the code scanner on it. P0520 oil pressure switch/circuit error. The oil pressure sensor I just replace. It was not an OEM, the brand was United Motor Products. So basically I have to tear the car apart again and replace the sensor again with an OEM part to fix it right. I don't think there are any short cuts since all of this is beneath the intake manifold.

So, when you hear a little voice saying
"only buy OEM sensors, only buy OEM sensors, only buy OEM sensors ".

It it probably this guy
Mr Tech.png

Listen,
It will save you some heartache.
 

HEMIMANN

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Isn't United Motor Products cheap Chinese knockoffs? Did it say made in China on the sensor?
I avoid Chinese parts whenever possible, no matter the cost. We had terrible experiences at work when corporate forced us to use them against our engineering experience.
I am thankful to be retired early in this era. Engineering is no fun anymore.
 

indept

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I had the same issue on my previous DD, 2000 Grand Cherokee. Replaced the crank position sensor with an auto zone sensor. Lasted just over a year. Bought a NAPA sensor and it lasted 7 years til I sold it. Not Mopar but still a better sensor
 

crazy jerry

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about 10yr ago i learned my lesson with cheap junk aftermarket parts store crap. trying to save a few bucks could cost 10x that much in greif and time lost redoing the job
 

Jeepwalker

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I agree.
Learned that lesson years ago.
 

tallfetcher

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and don't forget that dorman is that cheap chineseium stuff too! I just fought with a transmission pressure transducer that went bad and the new dorman part wasn't any better.... I grabbed one from a junk yard and it's still working great!
 
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GTyankee

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KKBB

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I put in a solenoid on my boat that was cheap Chinese crap. The original went out a few weeks ago and my boat is an 06. It was the only part I could find at the time. It fixed my issue. Issue was the tilt and trim for the inboard wouldn't raise all the time. I didn't want it to totally crap out when trying to leave a lake and not be able to get the prop up...would suck driving home dragging the prop on the ground the whole way. I read horrible reviews after getting the Chinese part, found the OEM part and got 2 of them and installed the good OEM one and now have a spare. You could actually feel a weight difference in the 2 parts. Made in China was definitely cheap crap for the solenoid!!
 

Jeepwalker

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Many times, depending on the part, the napa (or other over-the-counter part), esp the mid-line or higher-priced part may indeed be the same part made by the OEM mfgr that is re-boxed NAPA (or OReileys, etc). This seems to occur more at NAPA than with other parts stores from what I've seen. I've often held the OEM and 'better' NAPA part in each hand and yeah, they're exactly the same down to the same part numbers and tooling marks.

Problem is unless you have your OEM part with you, you never know until you get the replacement part. SO, the best thing is to just buy the OEM off Amazon or Rock Auto.

For guys who buy a lot of parts and do a lot of their own work (DIY guys with multiple vehicles), consider opening an "account" at a dealer part's department. Or ask (get an understanding with the part's counter guy) that they would sell you parts at the jobber rate/cost. Then you get the 25% off discount on parts, which often (but not always) brings the price into alignment with online sellers. Esp if you consider shipping these days. It's especially good if the dealership is a small-town dealership who often like working with independent mechanics, and/or a dealer group which sells multiple vehicle lines (e.g. Chrysler/GM/Toyota), if you have other make cars. Then one account at a dealer you can get a break on GM/Mopar/Toyota, etc parts at the same dealership. I have that. Works great. Problem with Rock Auto is returning things if you 'don't need the part' can be a real bear (incl shipping costs), whereas the dealership you can walk in and return items usually with no questions asked. And also you get a break on service rates too if you need to have keys cut or vehicle service performed.
 
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PoMansRam

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Ugh.. that sucks.

Sorry if I missed it, but how did the aluminum oil filter/cooler housing install process go? Did you re-use the heat exchanger off the OEM?

In regards to OEM vs aftermarket parts, there's a few very popular youtube techs I watch regularly. They all say Stellantis/FCA products can be very problematic with aftermarket electronic bits.

I'd still have no problem trying an aftermarket part provided it's in an easy to get to spot and easy to replace. Anything with that stupid oil filter/cooler assembly and all the work involved, you gotta go OEM.
 

HEMIMANN

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I found the Mexico-source parts are better than Chineseium, in general. Quality has improved since the original great NAFTA outsourcing of the 90's (the great sucking sound, per Ross Perot for those of you old enough to remember).

It's still not good like a USA part, however. Corporations have tried to crack down on quality for their cheap overseas suppliers, but the very point in outsourcing in the first place is the problem. People want something for nothing. There isn't any such thing in real life.
 

turkeybird56

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I found the Mexico-source parts are better than Chineseium, in general. Quality has improved since the original great NAFTA outsourcing of the 90's (the great sucking sound, per Ross Perot for those of you old enough to remember).

It's still not good like a USA part, however. Corporations have tried to crack down on quality for their cheap overseas suppliers, but the very point in outsourcing in the first place is the problem. People want something for nothing. There isn't any such thing in real life.
Something for nothing, well you can fall over and never again get up for free. Just PPL behind have to pay, hee hee. Even if you gone, the Tax Man still commeth in your name to your survivors. Yup, taxes and funerals, cannot get away from them.

Like that new Oxford Dictionary Word: Chineseium, needs to be put in Websters, etc.,.
 

turkeybird56

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I found the Mexico-source parts are better than Chineseium, in general. Quality has improved since the original great NAFTA outsourcing of the 90's (the great sucking sound, per Ross Perot for those of you old enough to remember).

It's still not good like a USA part, however. Corporations have tried to crack down on quality for their cheap overseas suppliers, but the very point in outsourcing in the first place is the problem. People want something for nothing. There isn't any such thing in real life.
I have found FCA specific parts like sensors and such, always better OEM. Now stuff like Rotors, pads and things like such are OK, but them quirky sensors. I know several PPL tried to cheap out on like O2 sensors, and found issues. When I had an O2 Sensor issue at 17K, talked with SA at Dealership, and they replaced all 4 sensors OEM, both 2 uppers and 2 lowers, and took care of problem. Initially, they tried to do the "read" the code and "replace" a specific sensor. Well, drove out of the Dealership, made a left, went 1/4 mile to Burger King, and up comes the Sensor Code again. Right back to Dealer, and they ordered and replaced all 4, now good to go. I knew better than to get an Autozone/Oreilly's part, lol.
 

HEMIMANN

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Something for nothing, well you can fall over and never again get up for free. Just PPL behind have to pay, hee hee. Even if you gone, the Tax Man still commeth in your name to your survivors. Yup, taxes and funerals, cannot get away from them.

Like that new Oxford Dictionary Word: Chineseium, needs to be put in Websters, etc.,.

Truth, BOIRD. Just finished up Grandma's Estate, and cremation will for me & the Mrs. Damn parasites bilk family even in death. I want a hole dug and carcass tossed in like a deer. But govt. says illegal. Why? Anything else is money for nothing - like a Chineseium sensor.
 
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