RockAuto.com March Newsletter

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Another Happy Customer!

Great prices, great brands and fast shipping! I would not buy anywhere before checking with RockAuto first!

Scott in South Carolina



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

Brittany Project Car Show
3/20/2015
Franklin, LA
email

Terre Haute Custom Auto Show Indoor Car Show
3/20/2015
Terre Haute, IN
email

Kidney Bean for Bonnie Jean
3/21/2015
Pittsfield, IL
email

8th Annual York High School Falcons Car Show
3/21/2015
Yorktown, VA
email

Citrus Mopar Club Annual All Mopar Show
3/21/2015
Iverness, FL
email

Memorial Parkway Elementary School Silent Auction
3/21/2015
Katy, TX
email

2015 New Orleans British Car Day
3/21/2015
Gretna, LA
email

Redmons Rockin Ride Culvers Cruise In
3/21/2015
Austin, TX
email

DADS Street Car Shootout
3/21/2015
East Liverpool, OH
email

25th Annual Spring Daytona Turkey Run
3/27/2015
Daytona Beach, FL
email

AACA SMR 45th Annual Antique Auto Swap Meet
3/27/2015
Westminster, MD
email

Lincoln College of Technology Hot Rod Car Show
3/28/2015
Boulder, CO
email

Trykes N Tread Car Show
3/28/2015
Lawton, OK
email

19th Annual CBF Mustang & All Ford Show
3/28/2015
Macon, GA
email

The Roadster Show 2015
3/28/2015
Springfield, OR
email

Scion XB Cruise In
3/28/2015
Pigeon Forge, TN
email

Jim Bowie Car Show
3/28/2015
Bowie, TX
email

Rolls-Royce Owners' Club, Southern California Region Concours d’Elegance
3/28/2015
Arcadia, CA
email

Olds Club of Arizona Annual All Olds Car Show
3/28/2015
Scottsdale, AZ
email

Bulverde Car Show
3/28/2015
Bulverde, TX
email

Run for the Son Car & Bike Show
3/29/2015
Norman, OK
email

AutoRama at the Ranch
3/29/2015
Richmond, TX
email

Retro Petro presents 17th Annual Metro Vintage Collectors Show
3/29/2015
Wyckoff, NJ
email

Rotomaster Turbochargers

See what we have from Rotomaster

RockAuto now offers Rotomaster replacement turbochargers and turbocharger parts, including service kits, cartridges, exhaust adapters and pedestals. Their turbochargers meet or exceed the quality and durability of OE turbos. Rotomaster engineers every component they sell. Design, manufacturing, and testing are done in-house at a state-of-the-art facility in North America, assuring that Rotomaster products have an unsurpassed level of quality.

Rotomaster replacement turbochargers and turbocharger parts
  • Rotomaster's manufacturing processes are ISO certified for high quality. CAD (computer-aided design), CNC machining and advanced inspection systems maintain the necessary tight tolerances.
  • Turbochargers are tested at stress levels far more rigorous than anything ever encountered in normal use to ensure absolute, uncompromising safety and durability in all conditions.
  • With over thirty years in the business, Rotomaster knows the smallest details that help make an installation successful. For example, all turbochargers are packaged in rust-preventative bags with rust-preventative treated covers used on inlets and outlets to prevent corrosion. Oil inlets are blocked with easy-to-remove plugs rather than paper labels to ensure paper residue will not be left on/in the turbocharger.
Rotomaster's replacement turbochargers and parts are affordable and are available at RockAuto for vehicles ranging from workhorse diesel Dodge, Ford and GM trucks to turbocharged cars like the 2007 Subaru Impreza WRX, 2005 Audi A4 and 1998 Volkswagen Jetta. No matter what your application, Rotomaster turbochargers and components will keep your engine powerful through the long haul. Look for turbochargers and turbo parts under the "Engine" category in the RockAuto catalog.





Manufacturer Rebates and Promotions are Back in a Big Way!

New rebates and promotions, with RockAuto's reliably low prices, mean the cost of many parts is cut by 40%, 50% or more! Here are examples from the Current Promotions and Manufacturer Rebates page.

  • Rebates on Rancho, Monroe, KYB and Gabriel Shocks can cut the cost of a complete set of shocks/struts by 30% or more!
  • Wagner ThermoQuiet Brake Pad Rebate: A generous rebate that frequently covers more than half the cost!
  • Temporary 10% Price Cut on Wholesaler Closeout Oxygen Sensors: These name brand O2 sensors were already a bargain!
  • DynoMax Exhaust Rebate: Rebate refunds up to 1/3 the cost of a performance exhaust system!





Forum of the Month

FocusFanatics.com

Founded in 2002, FocusFanatics.com has gone through many changes over the years. But, one thing has always remained constant, the fact that it's run by true Ford Focus enthusiasts with a genuine love for the brand and for automobiles in general. The goal has always remained the same throughout the years, provide a little corner of the Internet where all car fanatics can feel comfortable to gather and share information.

Feel free to stop by FocusFanatics.com for a visit!




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 flamur@rockauto.com.





Repair Mistakes & Blunders

Ouch!

Growing up, my brother, sister, and I all learned to drive in my dad's '70 Dodge Dart Swinger.

Over the years that my brother and I shared that old Dodge, the car was always freezing cold in the winter and had trouble defrosting the windshield. We just assumed it was because it was an old car and learned to live with it. Finally, on a particularly cold winter night, my brother was driving the car in the city. (We lived in the country and didn't drive in the city much.) Along this particular stretch of road, there were a lot of cars parallel-parked in the street. The problem was, he couldn't see to drive since the windshield was completely fogged up and frosted over. Well, he finally did the Dodge in that night when he hit a parked car and totaled the Dodge.

The funny thing was that, probably 20 years later, I was talking to my older sister when she told me the story about that old Dodge overheating when she was driving across the state. She stopped at a gas station and the attendant helped her out by removing the thermostat and sending her on her way. She got to where she was going. When she got home, she told my dad about taking the thermostat out. Not being one to do any unnecessary work on his car, my dad never felt compelled to replace the thermostat. That's the reason my brother and I froze our butts off in that car and couldn't clear the windshield in the winter. How ironic that such a simple thing to fix would end up causing the demise of that car.

Eric 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 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

Automotive Trivia

What is the recommended replacement interval for the timing belt on the turbocharged three cylinder engine available in the new Ford Fiesta?

A. 60,000 miles (100,000 km) or five years
B. 120,000 miles (200,000 km) or ten years
C. whenever the engine is rebuilt

Answer below






Is My O2 OK?

RockAuto

I routinely replace oxygen sensors on my newer vehicles like I do spark plugs. I have never noticed a big change in engine performance after installing new O2 sensors, and wear was never visible on old sensors hidden inside their external metal housings. I recently decided to take a typical O2 sensor with 90,000+ miles (145,000 km) on it into the lab (garage) and use my favorite diagnostic tool (hacksaw) to examine its internal components for wear.

Moving from left to right in the photo, the metal housing fits over a ceramic bulb that fits over a thin heating rod. The outside of the bulb is exposed to exhaust and the inside of the bulb is bathed in ambient air that flows in around the base of the wiring pigtail.

the metal housing fits over a ceramic bulb that fits over a thin heating rod

Looking at the close up photo of the bulb, there are two electrode rings on the right side separated by a strip of ceramic semiconductor material. This ceramic has to be hot before it starts allowing a voltage to build. That thin rod in the photo provides the heat.

two electrode rings on the right side separated by a strip of ceramic semiconductor material

One electrode is connected to the inside and the other to the outside of the bulb. The difference in oxygen levels inside (ambient air) and outside (exhaust) the bulb generates a small voltage across the semiconductor between the electrodes. Larger differences in oxygen levels result in higher voltages. The engine computer uses these small voltage inputs to properly adjust the fuel mixture.

I was slightly disappointed that the inside of the O2 sensor did not show signs of major wear or damage. The outside of the bulb was simply slightly discolored. However, this is good news for the engine that this sensor came out of (my teenage son’s ’90 Lincoln). If the bulb was covered with soot then the engine might be burning oil, or if it was covered with a glaze then leaking antifreeze might have contaminated it.

O2 sensors are similar to modern spark plugs. Both use thin layers of exotic metal conductors such as platinum that wear away over time or get coated in debris. Neither spark plugs nor O2 sensors should be left in the engine until they completely fail. A slightly dirty spark plug or O2 sensor is good, while damage or significant fouling may indicate serious engine problems.

Like with new spark plugs, it is OK if new O2 sensors installed at the right maintenance intervals do not result in noticeable changes in engine performance. Even if the driver’s foot does not feel any change, a new O2 sensor will improve fuel economy and help maximize the life of the catalytic converter. Over time, just the gasoline savings will likely cover the cost of the new sensor. Find oxygen sensors by ACDelco, Airtex, Bosch, Denso, NTK, Standard Motor Products and other respected manufacturers under the “Emission” category for specific vehicles in the RockAuto 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.





Thomas' 1970 Oldsmobile Toronado
Thomas' 1970 Oldsmobile Toronado

It has always been my dream to own a classic American car - a big V8 with a large displacement and a bench seat in the front. So in early 2014 I started looking for one and found this 1970 Oldsmobile Toronado through a car collector in Münster. After the test drive it was a done deal and I bought the Olds.

It had a "H-Kennzeichen" (registration as a classic car in Germany) already, but I had to have a complete inspection done by the TÜV inspection authority as well. The Olds passed the inspection the first time around with no problems, but I did have to replace the headlights and have the muffler welded. Standing in front of the car you would never guess that it's almost 45 years old. I have the original owner to thank for that since he held onto the Olds for about 25 years. The interior showed hardly any signs of use, the body and chassis had practically no rust, and the paint was surprisingly perfect for how old it is. I didn't have to work on the car much after I bought it. I got a new fuel pump, water pump, oil filter, gaskets and various smaller parts from RockAuto.

The Toronado is a "personal luxury car" and was far ahead of its time. Not only did it have front wheel drive, but it also had a very luxurious configuration: power windows, power front bench seat, cornering lights, etc. The front wheel drive offers wonderful handling and drives marvelously. The three speed automatic transmission shifts through gears almost unnoticeably, without lurching. At the same time, the powerful kick of the motor (455 cui, 375 HP) puts you back in the seat so hard that it's jaw dropping. This past summer, I drove over 5,000 km (3,100 miles) in the Olds. It's like an addiction... I can't get enough of it! I drive to weekly car meetings near the Germany/Netherlands/Belgium border and also take it to big classic car events like the Reinbach Classics. This car is always a sensation since the Toronado is pretty unknown here and is also extremely rare. To be honest, without a car parts supplier like RockAuto, I probably wouldn't have bought a car like this!

Greetings,
Thomas in Germany



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 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...RockAuto can help. We can even publicize your event in our newsletter.

Just send an e-mail to marketing@rockauto.com with information about your show.






Automotive Trivia Answer

Automotive Trivia

What is the recommended replacement interval for the timing belt on the turbocharged three cylinder engine available in the new Ford Fiesta?

A. 60,000 miles (100,000 km) or five years
B. 120,000 miles (200,000 km) or ten years

Answer: C. (The timing belt is inside the engine, lubricated with oil and designed to last for the life of the engine.)

Back up to trivia question




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