AutoZone Auto Parts — Local services in Grass Valley

AutoZone, Grass Valley, saved our trip over the mountain. The old truck hadn't been challenged in hills like those for awhile, and I hadn't had her long enough to know exactly what "normal" was, but I got pretty concerned when the Engine Temp light came on. We pulled over to cool off, and I noticed the fan would roar to life from a stop and cool her down pretty quick. Between that and the internet, it didn't take long to suspect the fan clutch. I found the front coil was filthy, so I brushed it and tried to go again, but no change. The fan still wasn't engaging while underway, so we limped into Grass Valley under the hot evening sun and started looking for help. Thank goodness the first place we found was the AutoZone.

Jarred (and a sharp AutoZone delivery driver) helped confirm my diagnosis of a bad fan clutch, and then explained my options, laying out a path that would get me back on the road the next day, which was July 4. It just happened that Jarred had replaced a fan clutch on a very similar truck, so he knew it could be done using AutoZone rental tools. He patiently heard and addressed my concerns from lack of experience, and he said I could use the parking lot to make my repair. Jarred even had advice on a safe hotel to stay in and park our loaded truck. He was my hero that night.

I was impressed that they were open at all, but the fan clutch I ordered at 7:30 the night before was in by 9:00, on a holiday. And that's where Nora came in, as the kindest, most helpful person I've met at a parts store. She explained the rental process, which was a new concept to me, and when I came in to buy a small socket set, she offered me their store tool box, a cardboard box with an assortment of drives and sockets (sorry AutoZone).

After reading horror stories on the internet of fan clutches gone wrong, I set upon the task with rented tools and borrowed sockets. Fortunately, the old fan clutch gave up without much fight, and installing the new one was straight forward. I shudder to think of what could have gone wrong, but it felt good knowing that I had supportive people inside that building full of parts and tools. It was going to get done, one way or another.

The old girl was buttoned up by 11:00, and it all went so well that even this setback felt like a pretty good way to start our trip - with an accomplishment and some new friends. Of course, that feeling didn't really sink in until we safely reached the summit, but she ran SO much cooler all the way there and back. It's reassuring now to hear the roar of that big old fan, and to see stable gauges when it's hot out.

We just wanted to thank AutoZone from the bottom to the top. You guys all did a...

If I could leave negative stars I would. Took back a battery we bought 2 days prior, to which I was told "sorry I can't do anything for you." Showed him the receipt which had the warranty on it and was told that they don't take back batteries over a year old. We bought the battery used 2 DAYS AGO because we were guaranteed it was good. He rudely told me, sorry, nothing I can do, then when I showed him the warranty AGAIN on the receipt, "well, you'll have to come back and talk to the manager." So, I asked him to call him. Then, he suddenly was able to refund me but not without, "what do you want me to do, (uh, duh)- all I can do is give you a refund." (Yes, that's what I wanted.) To which he replied, "well you didn't tell me that, how should I know what you want." Unfortunately for him, he didn't even refund me what was on the receipt. ( in my favor) SUPER RUDE, seems to greatly hate his job. I left without buying another battery which I was going to spend $250 on, mostly because he threw the money in my hand and moved to the next register without asking me if I needed another battery. Sad when we try to shop local and keep the money here that we get...

If you know what you want and the price is good, this is the place to be. If you need help in determining what product you need or getting your battery check, this is not the place to be. First I was told that my battery was ok and that I needed a starter. So I purchased a starter and took it to my mechanic. Came to find out it was my battery. The mechanic felt bad and didn't charge me labor and gave me a discount. It was easy to return the starter so no issues with returning to AutoZone. Then I purchased snow chains, after waiting 20 minutes we got the chains and left. Got to the place where we needed to put them on and they didn't fit. We had to purchase additional chains. But, like I said before easy to return. They staff is very nice and helpful but for me, they just couldn't help me the first time around. I will return but only when I know...