Will windshield washer fluid be the canary in the coal mine? Check it out! Does your auto parts store have any?

So is anything sold out or almost sold out where you live?

This with a little cleaner of some sort added could be a barter item.

Last Edited by South Central on 09/25/2021 10:38 AM

I was wondering this too.

I believe the OP started this thread for a discussion about supply chain issues using his direct experience with windshield washer fluid as an example.

And then ended up at caustic cleaners.

Here in Texas, people buy both kinds.

At Auto Zone, they were saying hardly any auto parts are coming in at all. The most talkative guy was especially concerned about brake rotors.

They had one gallon of WWF in a recently shipped box. I wonder if they got any more in their shipment. I'll check since people are curious.

Many years spent in the industry. As you are all well aware, everything is in limited supply. Deliberately or not, it's an inconvenience at the moment with potential of major impacts.

As for the automotive industry specifically, I am seeing very limited supply of all replacement parts. Buying groups with warehouses all across the country are running out of stock without being able to replenish.

An example: Toyota front wheel bearings. Front wheel bearings on Yoda's and Honda's are constantly going bad and need replaced. Over the past year I've noticed when I look up a bearing from one of these suppliers I am seeing 3-5 in one location, 1 in another and 0 in the rest. This is a buying group with 50 major warehouses east of the Mississippi and smaller locations scattered around. This is just one buying group and I deal with 3 major groups that supply the automotive aftermarket for the US.

A few days ago I was on the phone with the parts buyer for one of the big foreign car dealers here. Even they couldn't get parts in the US needed for an engine rebuild. Needed to be ordered from Japan. I was told it would be about 2-3 months before I would see them.

Spicer U-Joints #1710 that fit many big rigs are on back order throughout the country and are not scheduled to ship from the manufacturer until the end of Jan next year.
I deal with a shipping company that has rigs sitting idle because of this exact problem.

There is a real problem on the horizon folks

Thank you for going to the trouble to post this. If anyone has deferred maintenance on their car, it might be a good idea to pre-order the parts.

Last Edited by South Central on 09/25/2021 12:50 PM

Shortage of bras now jeez

Thank you... very interesting.

The link I meant, though is one explaining how this happened.

The media blames a combination of lack of trucks and truckers. If it's Biden forbade offloading of the ships, is there a link about it?

Last Edited by South Central on 09/25/2021 08:51 PM

They are phasing the gasoline powered auto out. They also stopped making parts for appliances over 10 years old because they want you to buy smart appliances.

I'm not surprised. Follow the money.