rockauto.com
March Newsletter | Early Edition
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Another Happy Customer!

Your company does business the way a lot of companies should. Your site works even for people like me that are not good with computers. Your info is impeccable. Your follow ups and tracking are amazing. Your prices can not be matched...

Joseph in Missouri



Upcoming Events

Need goody bag items and a gift certificate for your show? RockAuto can help! Email marketing@rockauto.com for more information.

9 5th Annual Vegas Nationwide Nissan Meet
Las Vegas, NV Email
Mar
9 Texas Nissan Truck Meet
Temple, TX Email
Mar
9 Carolina Collector Auto Fest
Raleigh, NC Email
Mar
9 Naxja Winterfest 2018
Attica, IN Email
Mar
10 26th Annual Wide Track Warrior Car Show
Sanford, FL Email
Mar
16 New Orleans Mopar Show
Kenner, LA Email
Mar
17 4th Annual Automotive Evolution
Beebe, AR Email
Mar
17 Jaguar Club of Florida Concours d' Elegance 2018
The Villages, FL Email
Mar
17 Cars in the Park
Marina, CA Email
Mar
18 Brooksville Bike Rally & Cruise-In
Brooksville, FL Email
Mar
24 27th Annual Southern Cruisers Car & Truck Show
Statesboro, GA Email
Mar
24 Carolina British Classics XII
Cayce, SC Email
Mar
24 1st Annual Open Car Show
Georgetown, TX Email
Mar
24 Wizard of Rodz
Tucson, AZ Email
Mar
25 Mopar Magic Mini Nationals
Shreveport , LA Email
Mar
WJB Hub, Bearing & Seal Instant Rebate
See what we have from WJB
WJB Hub, Bearing & Seal Instant Rebate

WJB is offering RockAuto customers an exclusive 10% off instant rebate on the entire line of WJB Wheel Hubs, Bearings and Seals the entire month of March.

Established in California in 1992, WJB has focused on and excelled at making automotive and industrial bearing products. Their philosophy is to produce premium parts that are extremely competitively priced. WJB has been an OE supplier to car manufacturers since 2012. Their factories are ISO/TS 16949 certified.

Whether you are looking for Wheel Hubs for a 2015 Toyota 4Runner, Wheel Bearings for a 2006 BMW 325i or Wheel Seals for a 2001 Chevrolet S10 pickup, RockAuto has what you need from WJB. To see the WJB parts we have for your vehicle, go to the RockAuto catalog and click on the "Brake & Wheel Hub" category. Take advantage of the instant 10% rebate on WJB Wheel Hubs through March 31, 2018!

Forum of the Month
Maverick/Comet Forum

The primary purpose of the Maverick/Comet Forum is to discuss and share knowledge of the '70-'79 Ford Maverick and '71-'77 Mercury Comet. The friendly discussions of Ford's subcompact "import fighter" are filled with technical information such as maintenance, upgrades, troubleshooting, body work, detailing, rust removal and more. There are even discussions on the Mexican and Brazilian built cars.

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 megant@rockauto.com

Repair Mistakes & Blunders
Repair  Mistakes & Blunders

When I was in college, I worked on cars to make a little extra money. I received a call from a friend whose car (a late '90s BMW, I can not remember the exact model) had stalled on the side of the road a few miles off campus. It would crank but not start, so I loaded my tools into my truck and drove out to help.

I ran all the tests that I could at the time – checked for spark, checked the intake and air filter for any obstructions, checked the voltage to the fuel pump and fuel injectors. I had determined that it was most likely the fuel pump, so I asked my friend to turn the key so I could listen under the car for confirmation. The pump started humming normally and, in frustration, I smacked the underside of the gas tank. I was wearing a class ring at the time and when my ring hit the tank it made a hollow *ping* sound. I immediately realized that the problem was simply a broken fuel gauge. The car was out of gas, and the gauge was stuck at a half tank. I put a gallon of gas into the car, and it started right up.

After about an hour of side-of-the-road diagnosis, the important lesson that I took away from this situation was to always check the simplest things first. I have never forgotten that lesson.

Joey in Illinois

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

The car manufacturer assigned the engineer to work on the design of the "weep chamber." What is a weep chamber?

A. A bulge in the top of the fuel tank where gasoline vapors can passively condense and drip back into the tank.

B. Water pumps have weep chambers to collect trace amounts of coolant so that it can evaporate rather than immediately drip out of the pump's weep hole and potentially cause the pump to be misdiagnosed as failing.

C. A safe place for engineers to go when a prototype part does not fit, a mold cracks, or some other stressful incident occurs.

Answer below

Gasket Revolution
Tom's Story

I always enjoy discovering unexpected improvements under the hoods of newer cars. Seemingly small things like better quality fasteners or hose clamps can vastly speed up a repair. You may discover such an improvement the next time you need to replace a water pump, remove a valve cover or perform maintenance on other parts that have gaskets.

Gaskets have always been one of the important details that can determine if a repair is a spectacular success or must be redone. The petrified original gasket and/or sealer needs to be completely removed without gouging metal surfaces or dropping junk into the engine. Mating surfaces must be thoroughly cleaned. The new gasket must be precisely placed and the fasteners tightened to the specified torque. Sometimes sealer must also be applied in certain spots.

Wouldn't it be nice if the original gasket came off intact without ever leaving any residue? Wouldn't it be great if the car manufacturer designed the part to have a machined-in slot that correctly positioned the gasket automatically? Wouldn't it be wonderful if the surface of the replacement gasket was contoured to fit perfectly into the part's slot and be retained there no matter how much the part was juggled around during installation?


Machined-in slots that correctly position the gasket automatically

RockAuto's gasket manufacturers have designed replacement gaskets for many older engines that are much better than the originals. Tabs, guide pins, grommets and other features make it easier to correctly position and torque down the gaskets. New rubber compounds, metal cores, sealer coatings and other modern materials enable the gaskets to seal aged surfaces that are less than perfect. I have held my breath and then been amazed by replacement gaskets that sealed water pumps, thermostats and oil pans in hard to reach/see locations on my old cars.

You may find those great gasket improvements and more when you work on a vehicle built during the last decade. Gasket replacement might be as simple as pulling off the old gasket and popping in the new one. Look up your specific vehicle in the RockAuto.com catalog to see all the innovative Water Pump, Thermostat, Valve Cover, Oil Pan, etc. gaskets available for it.

Tom Taylor,
RockAuto.com

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

Brian's 1991 Subaru Legacy
Brian's 1991 Subaru Legacy

In 1991, my grandfather purchased this Subaru Legacy new. I was nine years old and had never heard of the brand.

In 2014 at 85, he decided to give up driving and asked me to sell the car for him. With only 130,000 kms (80,000 miles) I ended up keeping it for myself as a winter car. Since then, I have had to do a few things, and have had shops tell me "it's hard to find parts for that car." But, RockAuto has always come through with the parts I needed!

I have purchased a gas tank filler neck, brake rotors and pads, front axle and a new ignition cylinder. RockAuto also keeps my 2010 Subaru WRX and 1986 Ford Mustang on the road for my summer drives as well.

I truly believe that if it was not for rust proofing and RockAuto, my old Subaru Legacy would not be on the road today!

Thanks RockAuto! 
Brian in Canada

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 or RockAuto social media. New, old, import, domestic, daily driver, trailer queen, classic, antique, we want to see them all! Please email flamur@RockAuto.com with your vehicle's history, interesting details, your favorite images (tips for taking pictures of your car) and what parts from RockAuto you have used.

Automotive Trivia Answer
Automotive Trivia

The car manufacturer assigned the engineer to work on the design of the "weep chamber." What is a weep chamber?

A. A bulge in the top of the fuel tank where gasoline vapors can passively condense and drip back into the tank.

Answer B. Water pumps have weep chambers to collect trace amounts of coolant so that it can evaporate rather than immediately drip out of the pump's weep hole and potentially cause the pump to be misdiagnosed as failing.

C. A safe place for engineers to go when a prototype part does not fit, a mold cracks, or some other stressful incident occurs.

Back up to trivia question