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I've compared numerous online parts
suppliers and RockAuto.com has no
competition!
The parts search
is intuitive and the best of all
online sites I have visited.
Solo in California
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Upcoming Events
If you would like your event featured here, email us with details. |
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Motorcycle
Show at Jacob Javits
1/20/2012
New York, NY
e-mail
Copper Basin
Classic Car Show
1/21/2012
Florence, AZ
e-mail
12th Annual
Historic Street Fair, Car &
Bike Show
1/21/2012
Casa Grande, AZ
e-mail
Custom Rides
Car Show & Expo
1/21/2012
Mokena, IL
e-mail
Budd's Creek
Motorcross Park
1/21/2012
Charles City, VA
e-mail
Car Show
1/22/2012
North Palm Beach, FL
e-mail
Car Rendezvous
1/22/2012
Albany, CA
e-mail
Bobs Big Boy
4th Annual Winter Rod Run
1/29/2012
Corona, CA
e-mail
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A
New Year’s Resolution |
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Here
at RockAuto we have made our New Year’s
resolutions. Have you? Why not make
a resolution to keep your car running
the best it can, while keeping money
in your wallet. With RockAuto’s
everyday low prices, wide variety
of parts, and informative catalog,
this should be no problem at all.
The standing resolution
to improve the RockAuto catalog has
led us to add manufacturer videos
to the More Information pages (the
button next to the part number), when
available. The videos explain features
& benefits to help you choose
the right part for your vehicle or
demonstrate installation of the part.
Examples of More
Information pages with manufacturer
videos:
Clicking on the More
Info button
next to a part number also reveals
information about the specific part
such as:
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- Diagrams and cutaway views
- Tech bulletins
-
Tech tips
- Video clips
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RockAuto wishes you
a happy New Year and looks forward
to being your auto parts supplier
in 2012!
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New
RockAuto T-Shirts |
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It’s
a New Year and there is no better
time than the present to update your
RockAuto apparel.
New for 2012 –
RockAuto
Black T-shirts.
As much as we all love our classic
white RockAuto "Do It Yourself"
t-shirt...it is white after all. So
while changing your oil, rolling around
underneath your vehicle, or polishing
your wheels...it got dirty fast. Due
to popular demand, we have introduced
a black t-shirt with a cool, vintage
RockAuto logo.
Still Available
– RockAuto
hats, White
T-shirts (long-sleeved and short-sleeved)
& Lanyards.
While you are
updating your own look don’t
forget to accessorize your car, truck,
motorcycle, or boat with a
RockAuto window or bumper decal!
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Forum of the Month |
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The
American Auto Club International
is an organisation based in the United
Kingdom for owners of American vehicles.
Members range as far away as the Carolinas
and California as well as Canada.
The majority though, reside in the
UK. With a vibrant website and friendly
forum, you can be assured you will
be made welcome.
The AACI offers many
membership benefits, including the
UK’s only full color club magazine,
“Torque”, issued quarterly.
It offers advice and technical help
through the website and via e-mail
to members. With contacts worldwide,
if the AACI doesn't know the answer
to your problem, the chances are that
they know someone who does! A range
of AACI merchandise is available,
designed to be smart, distinctive,
and above all in this day and age,
affordable.
The AACI also
provides vehicle valuations for registration
purposes and assistance with vehicle
dating.
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.
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Repair Mistakes & Blunders
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I
live way out in the sticks, five miles
up a gravel road at just over three
thousand feet in Northern California.
It was late afternoon when I went
to visit a friend just down the road.
I stayed until after dark, then jumped
into my 1990 Bronco II, started her
up and pulled on the light switch.
Nothing happened. I cycled the switch
and still nothing. I pushed the lever
for high beams, perfect, pulled for
low beams, nothing. OH great, another
little project that I really didn’t
need right at that time. I drove home
with the high beams on.
The next morning,
I broke out the tools and went to
work. I did not want to do what I
was going to do, so I had to slow
myself down, go step by step and see
if I could actually get some enjoyment
out of this. I pulled the steering
wheel apart, then pulled it off with
a puller; removed parts of the steering
column cover and another piece down
low. Next I removed the combination
switch, the culprit; it had to be
this as I was getting power to the
right places. I expected to see some
broken or burned parts when I pulled
it apart, but it looked perfect inside.
I had been in these situations before
and thought that maybe the part just
wanted a little attention for its
trouble all these years and when I
put it back together it would work
for another decade or so. I really
had it apart too, every tiny piece
of plastic and contact and spring.
I had really gotten myself into something
here. I, very carefully and slowly,
I might add, put it lovingly back
together - reinstalled it along with
all the other parts and steering wheel.
Now the big test.
I pulled the light switch, stepped
to the front of the car and...no low
beams. All that work for nothing!
What else could it be? No, it couldn’t,
not both bulbs at the same time, No!!!!
Well, guess what, I bought two new
bulbs, installed them, and Bob was
my uncle, I had low beams!
A note to other
morons out there who have done something
like this: “You Are Not Alone”.
Spark in California
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!
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Automotive
Trivia |
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In
the 1950s, why was "Nash seats"
a double entendre?
A. The Nash Golden
Airflyte line of big cars introduced
in 1952 had front seats that reclined
flat and coupled with the backseat
turned the interior into a large bed.
Nash dealers offered optional air
mattresses and window screens.
B. The front seats from early 1950s
Nash Rambler two-door sedans fit easily
into 1932 to 1934 Ford Model B hot
rods. "Nash seats" meant
a nice street racer.
C. Nash built first class seats for
Pan American Airways planes from 1949
to 1956. "Nash seats" was
equivalent to first class, sparing
no expense or pretentious.
Answer
below
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Complicated Rituals & Scan Tools
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Tire-pressure-monitoring-systems
(TPMS) have been required on new cars
and light trucks in the US since 2008
and are mandatory in Europe beginning
this year. The introduction of TPMS
has been somewhat awkward with sensors
and software not only differing between
car brands (Chrysler, Toyota, etc.)
but also sometimes between car models
of the same brand. Here are tips for
understanding TPMS.
How TPMS Works: Most
systems use sensors mounted at the
base of the wheels’ valve stems.
The sensor sends tire pressure and
temperature data to the car’s
computer via radio frequency signals.
The sensor or separate “initiators”
near the wheels tell the computer(s)
which wheel the signal is coming from.
Most sensors simply mount with a nut
and screw. Some systems hold the sensors
to the wheel with bands similar to
giant hose clamps.
If tire pressure
is too low then the computer activates
a warning light on the vehicle’s
dash. “Too low” is typically
defined as tire pressure that is 25%
low. Tires under-inflated by less
than 25% adversely impact handling,
braking, tire wear and gas mileage.
Car owners still need to regularly
use a tire pressure gauge to check
tire air pressure rather than ignoring
the tires until the TPMS warning light
comes on.
TPMS Repair: TPMS
sensor batteries usually go dead after
five to seven years and then the entire
sensor must be replaced. Sensors might
need to be replaced sooner in areas
with salt on the roads. Nickel-plated
rather than brass valve cores are
best at resisting corrosion. On some
cars just the corroded sensor valve
can be replaced rather than the entire
sensor.
The shoe on tire
mounting/dismounting tools can damage
sensors if it is inserted at the valve
stem. In some harsh environments the
sensor’s rubber seal can degrade
and start leaking air. Car owners
should just expect the sensors to
need to be completely replaced during
their vehicle’s second or third
tire change. The sensors are usually
easy to install on the wheel, but
it is not a job for most do-it-yourselfers
since the sensor is on the wheel inside
the tire. Tire mounting/dismounting
and balancing tools are needed. After
the new sensors and wheels are installed,
the car’s software must go through
a “relearn” procedure
to recognize the new sensors. With
some cars that relearn procedure is
as simple as getting in the car and
going for a drive and other cars require
more complicated rituals and scan
tools.
TPMS Parts and Tools:
Complete TPMS sensors and TPMS valves
by Airtex/Wells, Dorman, Motorcraft,
Standard, etc. are listed under “Wheel/Tire”
in the RockAuto catalog. The “More
Info” button often leads to
part photos, installation videos and
a link to the vehicle’s “TPMS
Relearn Procedures.” RockAuto
has hand tools and electronic tools
(under “Extras”) by Dorman
and K-Tool for applying the correct
torque to TPMS sensor mounting screws
and running through the software “relearning”
procedures.
Even if a shop
installs the sensors for you, it is
a good idea to research your specific
vehicle’s TPMS using RockAuto,
the repair manual, and owners manual
so you have a feel for how involved
or simple the installation and “relearn”
procedure is. New TPMS sensors can
easily add $200+ to the cost of that
second or third tire change.
Tom Taylor,
RockAuto.com |
Nick's 1993 Explorer Sport |
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Southern
California resident Nick G sought
to build a vehicle suited for any
adventure in the greater Los Angeles
area. In one of the few places in
the world where you can surf in the
morning and ski in the afternoon,
Nick set out to build a vehicle that
could deal with the climatic extremes
of his “Urban Adventures”.
He started out with a 1993 Explorer
Sport in December 2010 and, since
then, the car has undergone a complete
transformation with help from RockAuto.com.
“The Explorer
was in serious need of TLC when I
bought it; the power window on the
passenger side didn’t work,
the air filter box was destroyed,
the automatic 4x4 locking hubs didn’t
work and the mileage was awful.”
The simplicity of 4wd and a 5-speed
manual was the sort of package Nick
was after. “I’m into outdoor
activities like skiing, hiking, cycling
and surfing, and I wanted to fix up
a vehicle that would be perfect for
all of that.” With faded paint,
a trashed interior and other issues,
sure, it was a clunker the day he
bought it, but the Explorer didn’t
stay that way for long.
“I got my
Explorer back into adventure-ready
condition by ordering my window motors,
all-new OEM Motorcraft shocks, Moog
upper and lower ball joints, spark
plugs and wires, and a Fram AirHog
drop-in high-performance air filter,
all from RockAuto.com. I couldn’t
have built it without RockAuto’s
selection of quality, brand-name replacement
parts at prices better than the auto
parts stores.”
Since transforming
this Explorer from a barely-functional
beater into a comfortable cruiser,
Nick’s taken it virtually everywhere.
It’s seen several off-road trails,
numerous trips to the snow-packed
ski areas along the Sierra Nevadas,
the extreme heat of the desert and
the mountain-hugging Cleghorn trail
- conquering all of it. Sporting a
new coat of paint, wheels, tires,
upgrades to the ignition system, and
lighting, Nick's Explorer is ready
for just about any kind of adventure.
And with parts from rockauto.com to
keep it running efficiently, it does
it all while delivering maximum fuel
economy.
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Share Your
Hard Work |
Do
you purchase parts from RockAuto?
If so, RockAuto would like to
feature you & your car or
truck in our monthly newsletter.
New, old, import, domestic,
daily driver, trailer queen,
classic, antique, we want to
see them all! Please e-mail
flamur@rockauto.com
with your vehicle's history,
interesting details, and what
parts from RockAuto you have
used.
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Let
RockAuto Help |
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Are
you organizing a car show or
other auto related event? From
goody bag stuffers to gift certificates...we
can help. We can even publicize
your event in our newsletter.
Just
send us an email
with information about your
show.
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Automotive
Trivia Answer |
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In
the 1950s, why was "Nash
seats" a double entendre?
Answer: A
The Nash Golden Airflyte line
of big cars introduced in 1952
had front seats that reclined
flat and coupled with the backseat
turned the interior into a large
bed. Nash dealers offered optional
air mattresses and window screens.
Mechanix
Illustrated Magazine Nash Ad
from 1953
Back
up to trivia question |
© 1999-2012 RockAuto,
LLC - Madison, Wisconsin USA. RockAuto
name and logo are registered trademarks
of RockAuto, LLC. Manufacturer names
and logos in the RockAuto catalog
are trademarks of their respective
companies and are used only to identify
their products. All rights reserved.
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