Common Questions Answered

Q: How do I calculate the shipping costs for the Centric Premium Rotors I found for my Honda Civic?
A: The RockAuto catalog automatically displays shipping options and costs. All you have to do is put the parts you need in the shopping cart and enter the zip code where you want the parts shipped (non-US customers enter their country and postal code). Click anywhere else on the page and your FedEx, UPS, etc., shipping charge will display just above the order total. As you change part quantities or add/remove parts in the shopping cart, the shipping charges will automatically update as needed.

Q: Why is my order shipping from multiple locations?
A: RockAuto has parts stocked in warehouses all over the United States. As a result not all orders can be shipped in one box or from the same location. Use the truck icons in the shopping cart and in the catalog to help you minimize the number of locations your order will ship from. As you add parts to the shopping cart, the truck icons with letters represent the location where your part will be shipping from (location A, B, C, etc.). A blank truck icon in the catalog is showing you that the particular part is available from the same location as a part already in your shopping cart.

Another way to sometimes minimize the number of shipping locations is to choose parts with the same brand names. Many of our manufacturers provide parts for an entire system. (ie, Raybestos manufacturers rotors, calipers and brake pads.)

Q: Before I complete my order for Fram fuel and air filters I would like to know if the parts are in stock. Can you check that for me?
A: Fram filters and all the other parts in our catalog are in stock and available unless the part description says: "Non-stock item--shipping delayed up to X business days". RockAuto updates the catalog listings daily to ensure that the listings are as accurate as they can be.

Q: I don’t see the part I want for my Ford F-150 listed online. Do you have it available?
A: RockAuto updates the online catalog daily. Unfortunately, if you do not see the part listed online it is not currently available. Anything available through our warehouses or by special order will be listed in the online catalog.

Q: I’m about to place my order. How long will shipping take?
A: Please allow 24 hours for your order to process. Orders placed by noon central time usually ship the same day but we cannot guarantee that an order will ship the same day it is placed. Orders do not ship on weekends and Saturday is not considered a business day for Express delivery. For specific time frames on any particular shipping method please see the FAQ page.

RockAuto is Looking for a Few Good Cars

Show off your vehicle and hard work to the world! Submit a photo of your car or truck to be considered for the next series of RockAuto Collector Magnets. These magnets are sent to our customers worldwide and are given out at car shows and events.

Vintage or high tech street machine, trailer queen, or daily driver, all types are encouraged! Send a high resolution image and 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

The Nissan Pathfinder Off Road Association, affectionately known as NPORA, was founded in 2002 as a worldwide organization dedicated to supporting and educating owners of the Nissan Pathfinder and Terrano (the Pathfinder is sold as the Terrano in many markets outside of North America). Our principle focus is helping both new and long-time owners learn how to properly maintain, repair, modify and care for their Pathfinders and Terranos. We are an enthusiast driven community of like-minded individuals sharing a common love for our vehicles. Because of this, we have a wealth of information pertaining to Pathfinders and Terranos from all over the world. We have members from nearly every continent. You will likely find the answer to nearly any question you may have about your Pathfinder or Terrano within our Forum Message Boards.

We are, and will always be, primarily dedicated to the Nissan Pathfinder and Terrano in general, but we are also an Off-Road oriented organization. We try to educate members how to safely and responsibly enjoy their vehicles off-road. Taking your Pathfinder or Terrano off of paved routes allows you to see things and places that you would not be able to see otherwise. Driving off-road, however, is much more than simply turning off a paved road; it's an art. It requires different skills that must continually be improved upon. Responsible off-road recreation involves adhering to the tenets of the TreadLightly!™ organization and safe operation of your vehicle. We try to help our enthusiast members develop those skills for the betterment of the entire off-road community.

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 jessa@rockauto.com.

Repair Mistakes & Blunders

Being a do-it-yourselfer creates a lot of pride and usually saves lots of money. One case when it didn't was when I was doing routine maintenance on my 10 year old Buick LeSabre. My biggest blunder came as I was rushing through some routine maintenance. Just as dusk was passing into dark, I finished topping off the brake fluid and power steering fluid, cleaned up, and got everything put away.

It wasn't long before a got a sinking feeling as I mentally replayed my last few moments in the driveway. I had just put power steering fluid into the brake master cylinder! I bolted to the garage in a panic to get my cheap little wet vac hoping to suck out the fluid from the master cylinder.

If I remember correctly the cover gasket had already deformed, but I hoped I had caught it in time before it contaminated the entire rear brake system with seal destroying oil. No such luck. It wasn't long before the rear brake cylinders were seeping. What should have been a one minute routine job turned into a multi-day event while I taught myself how to restore brake cylinders and flush and bleed brake lines.

I still have the brake cylinder hone tool in my old tool box of long since replaced tools, and fond memories of lessons learned the hard way. Today I call it experience, but back then I think I used some different words.

Jim in Michigan

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 "Do it yourself?" 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!

Automotive Trivia

As a general rule, how much gasoline should a good electric fuel pump deliver per minute?
A. One cup (0.25 liter)
B. 0.5 gallon (2 liters)
C. 2.5 gallon (9.5 liters)

Answer: B (source: airtexproducts.com)

Controlling the Flow of Fuel

The fuel filter is new. The Fuel Injection Test Kit shows the fuel pump is generating the specified pressure. Why is the fuel pressure still low in the rails running to the fuel injectors?

Older fuel injection systems do not try to fine-tune the fuel pressure by modulating the output of the fuel pump. The fuel pump, way back in the gas tank, sends gas into one end of the fuel injector rails at a steady pressure. Some gasoline squirts through the fuel injectors and the unused gas drains out of the other end of the fuel rail through a return hose to the gas tank. A Fuel Injection Pressure Regulator controls the fuel pressure in the fuel injector rails by controlling the flow of gas draining back to the gas tank.

Fuel injection pressure regulators from the 1980s to early 2000s were typically spring loaded diaphragms with two inputs, fuel rail and engine vacuum, and one output, hose to gas tank. The vacuum connection lets the regulator increase fuel pressure when the engine needs lots of gas and decrease fuel pressure when the engine is running slowly. At idle, vacuum is high and the fuel pressure regulator keeps fuel pressure low by letting the most fuel drain back to the gas tank. When engine speed increases, vacuum drops and the spring in the fuel pressure regulator reduces the flow of gas back to the gas tank increasing fuel pressure.

If the fuel injection pressure regulator is easily accessible on the fuel rail, then testing is often straightforward. Fuel pressure should rise as vacuum drops. Disconnect the vacuum hose and fuel pressure should increase.

Pinch the hose to the fuel tank and fuel pressure should also increase. If it doesn’t increase then the fuel pump might be defective or there could be a clog in the fuel filter or fuel line. If the pinched fuel return hose causes a large change in fuel pressure then the fuel injection pressure regulator could be letting too much gas through.

If fuel pressure is too high then the return line to the gas tank is clogged, the fuel pressure regulator is restricting fuel flow too much or there might be a leak or clog in the vacuum line.

Gasoline in the vacuum line probably indicates the diaphragm in the regulator is leaking.

Over the last decade, new sensors and control systems have eliminated the vacuum connection on many fuel injection pressure regulators. Fuel injection regulators are now sometimes part of the fuel pump assembly in the gas tank and there is no gas tank return line. Consult the repair manual for your specific vehicle (found under “Literature” in the RockAuto catalog) and look under Fuel/Air to see replacement fuel injection pressure regulators by Airtex, Beck/Arnley, Bosch, Delphi, Motorcraft, and Standard Motor Products.

Tom Taylor,
RockAuto.com

My 1987 Nissan Pathfinder rebuild started about 18 months ago. I am a Colorado native and grew up with 4X4's and I have always loved the older Pathfinder looks and decided to build one. The truck is literally redone from the nose to the tail and from bottom to top with the exception of the interior, which is all I have left to do. It has all new suspension, tie rods, control arms, bushings shocks, springs etc. The engine and transmission has been rebuilt from bottom to top and has less than 3500 miles on it. The exhaust system is completely new and will be putting headers on it this fall. The electrical system had to be re-wired and is back to like new. I also put in a a set of lower gears so I can get more torque at lower speeds and help her down the highway with the large 35" tires.

Everyone who owns an older Pathfinder knows how hard it is to find parts and if you do find them, the price tag can be out of this world. I was having the same problem until I found RockAuto.com. I built my Pathfinder with most parts coming from Rockauto.com. From the front end (tie rods, bushings, pinions, etc.) to the engine compartment (radiator, hoses, belts, filters, etc.) and the harder to find parts like the door hinge pins and bushings. The headlights, tail lights and all of my bulbs for my off road lights are from RockAuto also. So, I guess without you guys...I'd still be sitting here with an unfinished truck....

Rick in Colorado

Share Your Hard Work
Do you purchase parts from RockAuto? If so, RockAuto would like to feature you and your car or truck in our monthly newsletter. Please email flamur@rockauto.com with details.

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