RockAuto now carries Dee Zee Accessories. Dee Zee has been a staple brand in the truck accessory market since 1977. They are trusted to support the biggest names in the auto industry as the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) - if you take a closer look, you may see a Dee Zee finished product underneath a Chrysler, Ford, GM, Honda, Nissan, Subaru, or Toyota logo.

Dee Zee offers accessories like bed mats, tool boxes, running boards, cap protectors, and more, to improve the functionality and style of your truck, Jeep, and Bronco. You can find Dee Zee products under the "Body & Lamp Assembly" section of the RockAuto catalog.

Typing www.rockauto.com in your address bar will take you to your favorite auto part store:

Creating a "bookmark" will make it easy to find the next time you need parts!

Typing "rockauto" in a search engine like Google may show other websites trying to trick you into visiting, such as:

It's frustrating when customers ask "What happened to my order?" and we can't find it because they followed a fake search link and accidentally ordered from another store.  We don't sell parts on any "marketplace" or "affiliate" sites.  The only place to find RockAuto parts is www.rockauto.com!

This spring it became apparent that my four wheel drive 2006 GMC 2500HD needed new front hubs. While researching the job ahead, I discovered that the front axle nut must be precisely torqued to the proper specification or the new hubs may fail in a short time. To ensure a long lasting repair, I bought a very precise 1/2” torque wrench. I thought of it as a smart investment in my tool collection.

I took some time to clear off my work bench and organize the required tools. Excited to begin the job, I backed the truck into the garage as far as it would go so that the garage door would still close. It was a tight fit, just a couple inches between the tailgate and workbench, but it worked. I jacked up the front end and put the truck on jack stands. I removed the wheels, caliper brackets and front hubs, and I got the crud and corrosion scrubbed off of everything. I installed the first hub, and it was time to try out my new ultra-super torque wrench on the axle nut. But where was the torque wrench? Not with the other tools I neatly organized for this task. I must have left it inside the house. No, not there either. Did I take it downstairs?

Nope. The torque wrench was in the top drawer of my workbench ... with the truck backed right up to it ... and the truck's front end mostly disassembled and sitting on jack stands! I knew it was in there because I could open the drawer just enough to see it. Luckily the drawer underneath containing my drill and some hole saws could be opened. I drilled through the side of that top drawer with my largest hole saw and was able to retrieve the torque wrench and proceed with the job. The new hubs are running smooth and quiet while the tools in my top drawer are enjoying their newly ventilated space.

Joe in Colorado

Most motors built this century have a Variable Valve Timing (VVT) system operated by a VVT Sprocket (aka Cam Phaser) that is computer controlled by a VVT Solenoid/Actuator. The computer cycles the VVT solenoid on and off to control the flow of motor oil through the actuator and into the VVT sprocket. The VVT sprocket is a complex mechanical device that slightly rotates the camshaft based on the amount of pressurized oil squirted into it via the VVT solenoid/actuator.

The VVT solenoid/actuator is the part that wears out first in many VVT systems. The electric solenoid burns out and/or the actuator becomes clogged with debris (help prevent this by following the engine manufacturer's guidance on oil change intervals and oil viscosity). VVT system diagnostic trouble codes accompanied by engine stalling, power loss and/or noise can indicate a VVT solenoid/actuator is failing.

As shown in the photos, the VVT solenoid/actuator may be a single part that includes a small electrical solenoid permanently bonded to an oil squirting tube (actuator). These single-part VVT solenoid/actuators are usually mounted somewhere on the cylinder head, oriented perpendicular to the camshaft. They are typically held in place with a single bolt, but it may be necessary to remove a valve cover or parts near the cylinder head to gain access to that mounting bolt.

The second type of VVT solenoid/actuator actually has separate solenoid and actuator pieces. The solenoid portion is commonly called a Camshaft Adjuster Magnet. This is usually a larger solenoid that mounts near one end of the camshaft. The solenoid's plunger pushes into the second piece, a mechanical actuator, which propels oil into the VVT sprocket.

A camshaft adjuster magnet can typically be replaced independently of the actuator. It may be relatively easy to unbolt and replace if the end of the cylinder head where it is mounted is not crowded by surrounding parts. Like other electric solenoids, a camshaft adjuster magnet may burn out, or it may start leaking motor oil. Oil may drip out of the camshaft adjuster magnet, and/or it may leak into its electrical connector. Oil in the electrical connector may wick into the wiring harness where it could cause problems/trouble codes related to a downstream electrical part.

Ford, GM, Toyota and other vehicle manufacturers may use single-part VVT Solenoid/Actuators on some engines and two-part Camshaft Adjuster Magnets combined with actuators on other engines. Some engines may even use one type of part on the exhaust camshaft and the other type of part on the intake camshaft. See the VVT system parts used on your specific vehicle by looking under "Engine" in the RockAuto.com catalog.

Tom Taylor,
RockAuto.com

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