RockAuto now offers parts from BSE by Blue Streak Electronics! Blue Streak Electronics is a global leader in the research, development and production of new and remanufactured automotive electronics.

Electronic Control Modules (Found throughout the 'Electrical' category)
Over the years, the number of vehicle systems precisely managed by computers has steadily grown. Electronic Control Modules must both fit specific models and deliver the correct programming/tuning to optimize system performance.

BSE understands this, which is why they carefully remanufacture original equipment (OE) modules (automatically ensuring fit), and then accurately calibrate with OEM software specifications (optimizing performance). Modules are thoroughly tested to exceed reliability expectations.

RockAuto has BSE built modules to fix diverse systems on your car or truck; everything from Body Control Modules (BCM) to Engine Control Modules (ECM) to Antilock Brake System (ABS) Control Modules and more!

Typical Modules and Mass Air Flow Sensors

Mass Air Flow Sensors (Found in the 'Exhaust & Emission' category)
BSE's completely new Mass Air Flow (MAF) Sensors use ceramic printed circuit boards providing:

• Resistors digitally calibrated for optimal precision
• Higher consistency in voltage readings at all engine RPMs
• More efficient heat dissipation to extend part service life
• Double binding of electronic components to the circuit board for improved sensor reliability
• Superior thermal stability to operate correctly during extreme under-the-hood temperature swings
  

Throttle Bodies (Found in the 'Fuel & Air' category)
BSE recently began making completely new electronic throttle bodies to repair some of the most popular and/or problem-prone engines! To kick off the release of their new Throttle Bodies, BSE is offering RockAuto customers an exclusive $10 instant manufacturer rebate on the purchase of any New (not remanufactured) Throttle Body throughout the month of April, 2021! Simply add a qualifying part to your cart and instantly save even more on RockAuto's reliably low prices!

For the entire month of April 2021, WJB is offering RockAuto customers an exclusive 10% off instant manufacturer rebate on the entire line of WJB Wheel Hubs, Bearings, Seals and Water Pumps!

Since their inception in 1992, WJB has focused on and excelled at making automotive and industrial bearing products.Their philosophy is to produce high quality parts at competitive prices by leveraging their worldwide network of manufacturing and research and development facilities. Over time, WJB has built a high level of technical competence and is now recognized as a market leader with high-precision products and an ever expanding product selection. WJB has been an OE supplier to car manufacturers since 2012.

Whether you are looking for Wheel Bearing & Hubs for a 2005 Chevrolet Equinox, a Water Pump for a 2011 Ford Crown Victoria, or Wheel Seals for a 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee, RockAuto has what you need from WJB. To see the WJB parts we have for your vehicle, go to the RockAuto.com catalog and click on the "Brake & Wheel Hub" or "Cooling System" categories. Take advantage of this 10% instant manufacturer rebate by adding a qualifying part to your cart through April 30th, 2021!

MazdaForum.com is a community dedicated to all Mazdas. Discuss every Mazda model from the Mazda3, to the Miata, to the 929, to SUVS, pickups and more. If it is a Mazda, you will find something here! This forum is active with friendly members sharing information on all aspects of Mazdas from answers to technical questions to general chat about their favorite car.

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 marketing@rockauto.com.

The A/C was failing on wife’s 1990 Honda Accord. There was a horrible shrieking noise each time she turned on the A/C and no cold air. So I figured, yeah, I got this, obviously a bad compressor. Quick test and sure enough, engaging the A/C emits the shriek, and I watch the belt slip on the stationary A/C pulley and start to smoke. New A/C system gets us some A/C but does not fully solve the problem. And then the belt on the alternator started to slip, thus not allowing the battery to charge. Hmm... Odd. New alternator and belts all around, and we are fine for a little bit, but the belts are still slipping when engaging! And cold air is still intermittent. Grrr…

Then with my wife toggling accessories on and off, I notice a little wiggle in the harmonic balancer pulley. Closer inspection reveals that under load the pulley is spinning on the balancer! Hondas use a rubber bushing between the pulley and balancer to fuse the parts which on this 30-year-old car had deteriorated. A new balancer, a few hours of colorful language, and my wife’s car was finally purring like a kitten.

I was reminded of the frequent words of observation of my very practical WWII vet father; “ready, fire, aim.” Lesson learned (again), sometimes the obvious problem is not the problem after all. Even when you are sure you have found it, do a little more sleuthing just in case. At least the Honda is rock solid until I start fixing the next “obvious” problem.

Paul in Washington DC

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 a while!). Please email your story to flamur@rockauto.com. Include your mailing address and if you would like a RockAuto T-Shirt (please let us know your shirt size) or Hat if we publish your story. See the T-Shirts and Hats under Tools & Universal Parts in the RockAuto 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!

The caveman who figured out how to make fire drastically changed the future of humanity. How did the 1963 Jeep Wagoneer drastically change the future of the SUV?

A. Wagoneer was the first 4WD vehicle sold to civilians at retail car dealerships.
B. Wagoneer was the first lifted station wagon (based on the AMC Rambler American 440).
C. Wagoneer was the first 4WD vehicle available with an automatic transmission.
D. all the above

Answer below

My '92 Dodge B-250 van has a lot of corrosion, but its steel body looks surprisingly good. The corrosion is found under the hood where the original smooth surfaces and crisp edges on aluminum parts and brackets have eroded away as a white dust (close-up of the van's original equipment aluminum alternator is shown below).

But wait, aluminum is supposed to not corrode! Those battleship-class aluminum canoes I remember from summer camp were indestructible.

Bare aluminum actually corrodes immediately whenever it is exposed to air or water. A layer of aluminum oxide forms which protects the aluminum from further corrosion. Those aluminum canoes were dull gray in color because they were covered with aluminum oxide. Shiny aluminum exposed after campers crashed their canoes into each other was quickly dulled by a new layer of protective aluminum oxide.

Corrosion damage occurs when aluminum surface metal is repeatedly converted to an aluminum oxide layer which is subsequently destroyed/removed. Theoretically, if you had campers crashing their canoes together for enough years, then you would eventually convert their canoes into piles of aluminum oxide. However, the corrosion process would speed up drastically if you stuck the aluminum canoes in an ocean or exposed them to the salty mist covering many American and Canadian roads in wintertime!

Salts (sodium, calcium and magnesium chlorides) commonly used to deice roads and naturally present on the seacoasts, attack aluminum in a couple of different ways. Salt ions can directly break down the aluminum oxide layer. Salt also combines with water to create an electrolyte that eats away the aluminum oxide layer as electrons are pulled away and transferred to nearby parts made of steel, copper or some other dissimilar metal. Salt attracts water which means the moisture in the air on a humid day can be enough to start this galvanic corrosion.

Aluminum brackets, alternator housings, wheels and other parts made of relatively thick aluminum might suffer cosmetic corrosion damage but still work fine. Parts like A/C condensers, radiators, turbocharger intercoolers, and engine oil coolers are more vulnerable because to work properly, they must have tubes and fins with relatively thin walls. Corrosion that penetrates tube walls causes leaks and corroded fins reduce cooling capacity.

Part manufacturers have learned a lot of methods for protecting aluminum. There are also now more corrosion resistant aluminum grades and alloys. The pages for aluminum parts in the RockAuto.com catalog often include descriptions of the corrosion protection used: zinc coated for additional corrosion protection; sprayed with a clear, anti-corrosive protective; coated for high corrosion resistance; anodized for long-lasting corrosion resistance; powder coated; etc.

Durability testing methods used, such as salt-spray and corrosive-bath, are also often found on parts' Info pages. A/C Refrigerant Oil, Coolant/Antifreeze and the other fluids RockAuto sells are formulated to better protect new aluminum parts from internal corrosion as well.

As with steel parts, vehicle owners should try to wash salt grime off aluminum parts whenever possible. Any aluminum part with a shiny appearance is being protected by a clear coating of some type, otherwise the dull gray aluminum oxide layer would quickly form. Be careful not to "polish" off protective coatings. And, do not worry too much. My 30-year-old van still runs fine even if some of its aluminum parts are a tad misshapen!

Tom Taylor,
RockAuto.com

To read more of Toms articles, click this link and choose from story titles on the Newsletter Archives page.

It looks like a mini Ferrari, but this 1979 Fiat X1/9 is a lot more reliable and easier to maintain. I found this little stray cat sitting in the parking lot of a radiator shop. The owner inherited it and did not know what to do with it. I knew exactly what I wanted to do with this rust free but neglected little gem.

When I told my wife about it, she said: "What are you waiting for? Bring it home!" My wife is a keeper too!

The Fiat just needed a little work and TLC, and now it is a great driver and car show trophy winner. I have sorted out all of the nagging problems: cylinder head gasket, brakes, cooling system, hoses, timing belt, carburetor rebuild and tune up parts. RockAuto had the parts that I needed. I am amazed at the number of parts that RockAuto sells for rare cars!

Tommy in California (RockAuto customer for over 12 years)

Share Your Hard Work
Do you purchase parts from RockAuto? If so, RockAuto would like to give you the opportunity to have your car or truck possibly featured in one (or occasionally more) of our publications such as the monthly newsletter, collector magnets, RockAuto social media or other commercial use. New, old, import, domestic, daily driver, trailer queen, classic, antique, we want to see them all! Please email flamur@RockAuto.com with the vehicle history, interesting details, your favorite images (tips for taking pictures of your car) and what parts from RockAuto you have used.

The caveman who figured out how to make fire drastically changed the future of humanity. How did the 1963 Jeep Wagoneer drastically change the future of the SUV?

A. Wagoneer was the first 4WD vehicle sold to civilians at retail car dealerships.
B. Wagoneer was the first lifted station wagon (based on the AMC Rambler American 440).
C. Wagoneer was the first 4WD vehicle available with an automatic transmission.
D. all the above

Ron's Jeep Wagoneer

Back up to trivia question