Absolutely the first, and usually the only, place I go when searching for parts or accessories for my vehicles. Gigantic selection, excellent prices and extremely fast service. Where else would you go?
Gary in Pennsylvania
Upcoming Events If you would like your event featured here e-mail with details.
The Canberra Utes, Car, Truck Muster
11/16/2013
Australian Capital Territory, AU e-mail
RockAuto on TV
Check out the new RockAuto TV commercial!
Replacement Window Regulators
Window regulators support and move the window glass. Lightweight window regulators used on some newer vehicles wear out surprisingly fast. Replacement window regulators by Cardone, Dorman, URO and other RockAuto manufacturers are typically re-engineered to be stronger and last longer than the originals.
Whether you drive an Acura, a Volvo or a brand in between, look under "Body-Interior" in the RockAuto catalog for window regulators that are better, cost less and are as easy or easier to install than the originals.
RockAuto is Looking for a Few Good Cars
Show
off your vehicle and hard work to
the world! Submit your
car or truck to be considered for
the next round of RockAuto Collector Series
Magnets. These magnets are sent to
our customers worldwide and are given
out at car shows and events.
Vintage, high tech
street machine, trailer queen or
daily driver - all types are encouraged!
Send your favorite high resolution image(s), a
short story about your car and what
parts you have purchased from RockAuto
to flamur@rockauto.com.
If your vehicle is chosen, we will make sure to send you plenty of magnets to share with friends and family and make you the envy of your car club.
Forum of the Month
Gulf Coast Hot Rodders is a Gulf Coast (Gulf of Mexico) Hot Rodding and Classic Car website. We have a Gulf Coast centered events calendar and offer free classified ads for Hot Rods and Classic Cars. We also have tech forums, project forums and members are encouraged to post pictures and comments from Gulf Coast events. Join us in creating a Gulf Coast centered Hot Rodding and Classic Car web community. All Hot Rodders are welcome here, no matter what you drive or dream about driving.
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
Many years ago, I was building our house and decided that we needed a truck much more than a toy car so I sold my ’67 GTO (before the values skyrocketed) and bought a pretty beat up Chevy pickup. It served the purpose, but it turned out to have been abused - like maybe nobody changed the oil too often.
A couple of years later, with no compression in a cylinder or two, it needed rings. So, working outside on a dirt driveway, off came the heads, out came the pistons and in went a new set of rings. Two days later, it was all back together and ready to start, except that I had one bolt left over in the bolt box with no idea where it went. I spent close to an hour searching and couldn’t figure it out. The bolt was dirty so it must have come off the outside of the motor somewhere – how bad could it be.
I decided to go ahead and try to start it. It cranked very slowly, like the battery was half dead. How could that be? It had only been parked a few days. Then I noticed the smoke coming from under the hood. What?!
Turns out, at the start of the job I had disconnected the battery ground from a bracket on the engine and carefully tucked the cable out of the way – and out of sight. The mystery bolt was the bolt for that cable. The smoke was insulation burning off the 10 gauge, body ground wire as the starter current tried to flow through that totally inadequate path.
I bolted the cable back where it belonged, and it started right up. Adjusted the lifters and timing and I was good to go!
Chris in New Hampshire
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
e-mail 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 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 does MG stand for? (the British sports car, not the metal magnesium)
A. Morgan Gear
B. Morris Garages
C. Motor Guilloche
My son needs a bit more practice parallel parking his 1990 Lincoln Mark VII before he takes his driving test. For some reason this makes me think more frequently about the air bag mounted on the Lincoln’s steering wheel. This is the first air bag in the family fleet. What does my son do if the air bag warning light ever turns on while he is driving down the road by himself? His sixteenth birthday is fast approaching.
An illuminated air bag warning light is not one of the lights that means pull the Lincoln over immediately to avoid damaging the engine or driving without brakes. However, it does mean the air bag may not work in an accident and something needs to be fixed.
The air bag clockspring is a likely culprit on the Lincoln and many other air bag equipped cars. The air bag moves with the steering wheel. Spring-loaded electrical contacts do not provide a reliable enough connection for crucial safety equipment. The steering column manufacturers had to come up with a way to hardwire the electrical connections but still allow for movement. The air bag clockspring is a coil of wire that unspools and spools as the steering wheel turns. The coil of electrical wire tape resembles the coiled metal springs found in mechanical clocks.
The air bag clockspring electrical wire might wear out and snap after many miles and turns of the steering wheel. Dorman and Standard Motor Products (SMP) are two of RockAuto’s manufacturers that make new air bag clocksprings for some of the most failure prone vehicles.
The air bag clockspring wire also provides the electrical connections for the buttons on the steering wheel. If the horn, cruise control, radio or other buttons mounted on the steering wheel stop working then that might be another indication that the air bag clockspring is failing.
Air bag clocksprings are found under Body-Interior in the RockAuto catalog. Clicking on the Info button next to the Dorman clocksprings will bring up a video of a typical airbag clock spring installation. The Dorman video and my son’s Haynes manual instruct to first disconnect the battery and let the car sit a few minutes to be sure the air bag system is powered down. Haynes says a fuse should also be removed on newer Lincolns. Find repair manuals with instructions for your specific vehicle under Literature in the catalog. Once the power is off, remove the air bag, use a steering wheel puller and then take out and replace the air bag clockspring.
Typical air bag clockspring
New air bag clocksprings vary in cost depending on things such as how many buttons are on the steering wheel. A Dorman air bag clockspring for my son’s ’90 Lincoln currently is $60. A SMP Intermotor air bag clockspring for the 2010 Lexus LS460 equipped with a steering wheel finished in wood and leather currently is $213. Just another example I can give my wife to prove a ’90 Lincoln Mark VII is a practical, frugal vehicle choice for our teenager!
Tom Taylor,
RockAuto.com
To read more of Tom's articles, click this link and choose from story titles on the Newsletter Archives page.
Joe's 1969 Lincoln Mark III
This is my father's rare 1969 Lincoln Mark III. It was made in 1968 and sold as a 1969. During the mid-1969 production, Lincoln made a lot of changes to the Mark III due to new federal regulations, which this car does not have. I could not drive this beauty when I was in high school in the '70s because it was his pride and joy. But, my father finally gave me his "Humpback Lincoln" at my 20th high school reunion. I have had it now for almost 20 years and drive it on a regular basis.
My father is gone now, but his car lives on thanks to RockAuto. From seals to gaskets, bearings and carburetors, electric motors, and carpets, RockAuto has the right parts for this car at the right price.
Joe in California
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, your favorite
images and what parts from
RockAuto you have used.
Let
RockAuto Help
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.
What does MG stand for? (the British sports car, not the metal magnesium)
A. Morgan Gear Answer B: Morris Garages. MG started out in the 1920s putting new bodies on Morris vehicles. MG was purchased by Morris in 1935. Morris and Austin Healy were integrated into BMC in 1952. MG was subsequently part of Rover and BMW. MG is currently owned by Chinese car manufacturer, SAIC Motor Corp. C. Motor Guilloche
