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Another Happy Customer!

I have ordered several times from RockAuto and every part was received in a timely manner. Their prices are always lower than local stores even with the shipping. Many parts are half the price or even lower than here in town.

Would recommend to anyone looking for good parts for a lower price.

Thanks RockAuto!
Warren in New Mexico

 

Upcoming Events
If you would like your event featured here, e-mail us with details.

Webster Westside Flea Market
1/1/2013
Homosassa, FL
e-mail

Thursday Night Bike & Car Night Food Truck Invasion
1/1/2013
Miami, FL
e-mail

Cambridge Charity Car Show
1/5/2013
Girton, UK
e-mail

Swap Meet 2013
1/6/2013
Martinton, IL
e-mail

Autosport International
1/10/2013
Teddington, UK
e-mail

Snowbird Fest
1/12/2013
Spanish Fort, AL
e-mail

Renegade Corvette Club - 7th Annual Open Car & Truck Show
1/13/2013
Hollywood, FL
e-mail

RockAuto – A Year in Review

Things I need to do

We would like to express our gratitude for your business! Thanks to you, we have had a productive year at RockAuto. Our standing resolution to improve the RockAuto catalog has led to new product introductions, new catalog features, and updates to better improve the RockAuto shopping experience. A few of the 2012 highlights include:

  • RockAuto going mobile. With a few quick swipes and taps on your mobile device you can use many catalog features to quickly find the parts you need, no matter where you happen to be. See the Mobile Catalog.
  • RockAuto updating the catalog to include more diesel-powered cars, recent model years, and European-only models. If you haven’t found your European specification vehicle in the RockAuto catalog before, it’s time to take another look!
  • RockAuto expanding the marine catalog. We now offer a larger selection of parts for inboard and outboard boat engines from the brands you trust at competitive prices.
  • RockAuto continued to seek out and carry new hard to find parts for specific models, such as Fairchild Industries' complete weatherstrip kits for 1950-1974 Beetles and affordable complex assemblies such as Moveras Transmissions fitting applications from Acuras to Volvos.

All of us at RockAuto wish you a happy New Year and look forward to being your auto parts supplier in 2013!

 

 

World Power Systems

See what we have from World Power Systems

RockAuto now offers 100% new World Power Systems (WPS) Distributors for both relatively late model cars like 1990s Toyotas and classic cars like 1960s Chevrolets and Fords. WPS Distributors are made with 100% new, quality components using precise manufacturing techniques to assure high-speed accuracy, correct fit, and prevent premature failures. All WPS Distributors are ready to install and include a cap, rotor, and other components where necessary. Priced for budget-conscious consumers, WPS Distributors are an exceptional value.

World Power Systems (WPS) Distributor

This recent addition allows RockAuto to provide 100% new distributors for vehicles that we previously could not. Find World Power Systems Distributors in the "Ignition" category of the RockAuto catalog.

 

 

Forum of the Month

The Power Wagon Forum is a community forum that has been in continuous operation since January 1997. Since then, we have posted over 400,000 messages. The forum is a great place to discuss trouble shooting, modifications, bodywork, off-road travels, and just a friendly place to talk trucks. We also maintain an archive of past messages, which has proven to be a great repository for all kinds of information.

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

Ouch!

One may insist that one of the simplest automotive maintenance tasks is the standard oil change. What could be more straight forward? Jack-up / support the car, drain the oil, replace the filter, drop the car, and refill. Easy, right? But when we are in a rush and there’s inattention to detail, results can become disastrous. I’ve sure had my share of blunders...

The oil drain pan I use all the time is a plastic one-piece shallow dish design. Oil collects within the dish and drains through the small center hole into the enclosed reservoir below. One time, I was gingerly removing a very hot drain plug with my fingers. It slipped and fell into the shallow-dish center hole. Oil was now unable to flow into the lower reservoir and was now quickly rising in the shallow pan. I was faced with a panic decision: to plug up the engine oil drain, to rescue the bolt wedged in the drain with my bare fingers (allowing the scalding oil into the bottom reservoir), or to have the dish overflow. Well, I had nothing to plug up the engine oil drain, and I have a deep concern for the Environmental Well-Being. I spent the next two hours in agony with an extracted drain bolt and my burned fingers in a bucket of ice water.

Here is another good one! I needed to squeeze my body under the chassis of a 2001 Ford Expedition one last time to install the new filter and inadvertently scooted the 6+ qts full drain pan directly under the passenger front tire. I must have been daydreaming about the beautiful blonde overlooking my progress as I hastily removed the safety jacks and dropped the car to the ground. There was a loud "phssshh-pop." The reservoir exploded from being crushed; what a mess of gooey black all over the chassis, lower engine compartment, and cement floor! Sadly, she never called me for services again.

Dieter in Florida

 

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 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

Automotive Trivia

What was added as an antifreeze to the water in car radiators up until the 1920s when ethylene glycol was introduced?

A. Honey
B. Methanol
C. Molasses
D. Sugar
E. all of the above

Answer below

 

 

The $525.42 Air Filter

RockAuto

I enjoy looking under the hood of a new car and puzzling over which systems or parts might cause trouble down the road. Aftermarket part manufacturers often provide the solution to the puzzle after a few years when they release new parts designed to fix the problems. Dorman’s part number 258519, an air filter housing for the 2005 to 2007 Ford Focus, recently caught my attention. It demonstrates how tough it is to make predictions. Back in 2005, I could have stared under the hood of a new Ford Focus for a long time and would never have thought to look at the air filter housing. After all, the air filter housing on my ’86 Ford is still a fully functional plastic box after 26 years of use.

Dorman decided it would be a good idea to offer a new air filter housing for the ’05 to ’07 Ford Focus because the original air filter housing is a completely sealed unit. It is impossible to simply open the box and change the air filter. Why Ford chose to do it this way is a bit of a mystery. I asked at a Ford dealer’s service department and they presented it as a benefit: “You never have to change the air filter on that car.”

Searching through Ford Focus enthusiast forums, one explanation I saw was that Ford wanted the Focus to be classified as a partial zero emissions vehicle (PZEV) in California. Those rules required the car’s air intake system should never require maintenance. “Never requires maintenance” was equated with “make maintenance impossible.” That sounds crazy enough to possibly be true! Luckily no government organization specified that a PZEV never needs gasoline or Focus owners might have discovered their gas caps were welded shut!

Further questioning at the Ford dealer uncovered there is an indicator on the Ford Focus original air filter housing that indicates when the filter is clogged. The dealer sells a complete replacement air filter housing for $525.42. Frequently driving down dusty dirt roads in an ’06 Ford Focus could be costly!

The replacement Dorman 258519 air filter housing currently is $120 at RockAuto, but that is a one-time expense. The next time the engine air filter needs to be changed, the ’05-’07 Focus owner can just insert a new filter by Auto Extra (61946107), Fram (CA7098) or WIX (46107) and save more than $500!

Dorman’s part number 258519

I will keep futilely puzzling under the hoods of new cars, but this Focus example might show if you plan on keeping any brand car for a long time, then pick a popular model (like a Focus) or at least a popular engine. If enough of the cars are still on the road, then the aftermarket parts makers will probably develop affordable solutions for most problems.

Tom Taylor,
RockAuto.com

 

 

Pete's 1935 Ford
Pete's 1935 Ford

My 1935 Ford was originally imported to Finland in 1935. It survived WW II (most cars at that time served as officers’ transportation on the frontier with the Soviet Union) and was used as a taxi until 1960. After that, it sat in a junk yard until my brother bought it in 1990. It was originally a 4 door, but was chopped and altered to a 2 door sedan in mid 1990’s. Around 1999 my brother put the car in storage where it sat for almost 10 years until I purchased it.

After the floor and firewall were rebuilt a second time and door patch panels and other body work was done, the car was finally painted. Now it is almost finished, except for the interior, which is going to be my winter project. The original plan was to have it ready and registered for this last summer, but things don’t always go as planned. Better luck next summer.

Drivetrain and electrical in my Ford is mainly from the 1965 Dart/Valiant, small block 273, TF904 transmission, and an 8¾" rear end. I have purchased switches, sending units, filters, fan belts, differential bearings, and much more from RockAuto. Even with the additional shipping costs and customs clearance/duty/VAT to be paid, RockAuto’s reasonable prices have made it worthwhile. Not to mention easy ordering and that all parts have been correct!

Best regards,
Pete from Finland

 

 

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

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.

Just send us an email with information about your show.

 

 

Automotive Trivia Answer

Automotive Trivia

What was added as an antifreeze to the water in car radiators up until the 1920s when ethylene glycol was introduced?

A. Honey
B. Methanol
C. Molasses
D. Sugar

Answer: E. all of the above (Methanol was the most popular but it evaporated away and was corrosive.)

 

Back up to trivia question

 

 

 

 

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