New Catalog Features!

RockAuto customer accounts and payment options have been updated with exciting new features!

To see the new account features, use the “Log In or Create Account (Optional)” link in the upper right corner of the RockAuto home page.

• Once logged in to your account, there is a new "My Account" link that directs you to your account page. As before, see your past parts orders, arrange returns, change your account preferences and much more.
• A car list drop-down contains all the cars that you have ordered parts for. Now directly from the catalog you can quickly add or remove cars from your list by clicking "Click to See a List of Your Vehicles."
• Start shopping for a car on your list even faster with the new "Shop for Vehicle" button directly from the accounts page.
• When searching your past orders for particular cars, part names or part numbers, you can now limit the search results to the 10, 25, 50 or 100 most recent orders.

Use the “Log In or Create Account (Optional)” link to set up your account today! If you have questions about the RockAuto accounts see our FAQ page.

RockAuto can now accept multiple payment methods for a single order. If you are looking to use multiple payment methods select your type of payment, check the “Partial Payment” box, and enter your preferred payment amount. Once your payment information has been entered, select “Add Payment” and the first payment will be applied to your order and the balance due will be updated.

Please note that Gift Certificates are now entered the same way as other payment methods (found in the payment dropdown list). For those of you with unused RockAuto gift cards from Christmas there’s no better time than the present to use them up!

VIP Tour of the 2012 Chicago Auto Show

Due to overwhelming response, we are out of free Chicago Auto Show VIP Tour tickets. Thank you for your interest!

Live in the Chicago area and want to attend an Exclusive VIP Tour of the 2012 Chicago Auto Show hosted by MotorWeek host, John Davis? A handful of RockAuto customers will get the inside scoop on the hottest vehicle debuts in the Windy City!

WHAT: Exclusive Pre Show VIP Tour of the 2012 Chicago Auto Show
WHO: Led by MotorWeek host and nationally recognized car expert, John Davis
WHERE: 2012 Chicago Auto Show, McCormick Place
WHEN: Thursday, February 9, 2012 starting at 10:00 AM
COST: Tour is free. Parking costs, etc., are your responsibility

Just sixteen tour slots are available! If you are a current RockAuto customer and are sure you can attend, then please fill out the form here.

We will fill the slots on a first-come, first-served basis and will let you know shortly if you qualify. At that time we'll also provide you with further details about the MotorWeek event.

Forum of the Month

Piloteers.org is a premier Honda Pilot forum on the internet and is a website dedicated to all things Honda Pilot. We have many features on this website to make your experience here enjoyable. Our Honda Pilot forums have thousands of discussion topics including topics on performance, detailing, accessories, maintenance and more. We also have a Honda Pilot Photo Gallery that includes pictures posted by the Piloteers.org membership. Register for free today so you can take advantage of all the features we have to offer.

If you are the administrator or member of a forum and you would like to see your website featured in an upcoming newsletter and receive a discount code to share with your members, contact cynthia@rockauto.com.

Repair Mistakes & Blunders

So, I bought my dream car, a 1958 Metropolitan, and was going through it (restoration-wise). I decided to load up my wife and go for a spin. We got to the end of our street and it died. I pulled the choke, pumped the gas pedal. Nothing.

Luckily, we were only a few houses down and on flat ground, so she walked home, and I pushed it home.

Here's the boneheaded part: I bought a rebuild kit and tore into the carburetor. A full day's labor, a practically new carburetor, and it still won't start. I knew it was getting spark, but a tune-up kit and new coil couldn't hurt. Everything's back together, new spark plugs, wires, proper gap, etc.......still won't start!

Do you know it just needed gas? Turns out my gauge is empty at 3/4. Argh!

Gaines in Texas

Tell us about your most infamous auto repair blunder or unconventional fix. Use your woe to help others avoid similar mistakes or share off-the-wall solutions that worked (at least for awhile!). Please email your story to flamur@rockauto.com. Include your mailing address and shirt size (large or extra large) and we will mail you a RockAuto t-shirt if we publish your story (see the t-shirts under Extras in the catalog). The story will be credited using only your first name and your vague geographic location (state, province, country, continent, etc.) so you can remain semi-anonymous!

Automotive Trivia

What do the red lines and serpent in the Alfa Romeo logo signify?

Answer below

Preventing Problems is the Best Solution

I hate that sinking feeling when I realize I have stripped a bolt or broken the head off a fastener. The car project, whatever it was, suddenly got harder and less fun.

Near the top of the don't-strip-or-break-it list are spark plugs. Nobody wants damaged threads in a cylinder head or half a spark plug frozen in place. Unfortunately, the potential for problems increases when high mileage spark plugs are left untouched in relatively soft aluminum cylinder heads. Some unusual spark plugs like those on the late model Ford Triton engines are just prone to breaking. Listed under Extras and some specific car models, RockAuto has spark plug non-foulers and spark plug hole chaser tools that can clean up damaged threads. There are even tools specifically designed to remove broken spark plugs and bits of spark plug porcelain from the Ford Triton engines.

But preventing problems is the best solution. Watch Pat Goss's hands-on tips for removing spark plugs without breaking them. I learned a few things that will keep my next spark plug change fun, not nerve wracking.

Tom Taylor,
RockAuto.com

The car I’ve finished the restoration on is a fairly rare 1964 Dodge 330. It's one of 47 produced with the 383 cubic inch engine and four speed transmission. The car was taken down to the bare unibody and rebuilt from the ground up. Everything from the body and paint, weatherstripping, mechanicals, interior and more has been meticulously redone. But even with all this careful work my favorite thing to do is take it out and drive it like it was meant to be driven – pedal to the metal!

The Dodge was restored with originality in mind but there have been some period correct upgrades here and there to up the fun factor. The 383 engine is at home in the garage and in its place it a 440 big block with 10.5:1 compression, a slightly bigger cam, aftermarket intake, headers, shifter, and gauges. Also the exhaust was changed to a 2.5” x-pipe system with stock style tailpipes. Sitting out back are a set of old-school "Pie Crust" slick tires mounted on 15x7 steel wheels.

Some of the many RockAuto parts are as follows: Fuel Tank Cap, Starter Relay, Dimmer Switch, Brake Light Switch, Door Jamb Switch, Horn Relay, Upper Radiator Hose, Lower Radiator Hose, Heater Hose, Fuel Filter, Water Pump, Water Pump Gasket, Fuel Pump Gasket, Intake Manifold Gasket, Oil Pan Gasket, Thermostat Housing/Water Outlet, Thermostat Housing Gasket, Thermostat, Motor Mounts, Alternator, Accessory Drive Belt, Valve Cover Gaskets, Oil pressure Sending Switch, Lug Nuts and more!

I’ve enjoyed taking the car to various car club events and shows. The car has always been a pleasure to have, and it always draws a crowd with many compliments.

Thanks,
Jeff in California

P.S. I have bought products for two Jeeps, a Mazdaspeed3, Datsun 510, 1970 Oldsmobile 442, Nissan 350z and finally this Dodge 330. I’ve always been impressed with the service and prices.

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