Dorman Steel Wheels

Dorman steel wheels that fit over eight million vehicles on the road today are now available in the RockAuto catalog. New Dorman steel wheels exactly match original equipment manufacturers' specifications. Precisely designed and built wheels enable quick and easy installation while avoiding common problems related to improperly sized and mismatched wheels. Additionally, these steel wheels ensure proper fitting for the original wheel covers and all TPMS sensors.

If you are in need of a new wheel or wheels due to pothole damage, a winter wheel swap, full size spare replacement or any other reason, find Dorman steel wheels and other original equipment style steel and alloy wheels in the "Wheel/Tire" category of the RockAuto catalog.

Headlamp Bulb Wholesaler Closeout

Remember when halogen, sealed beam headlamp bulbs cost less than $4? We sure do not!

RockAuto now has Wholesaler Closeout Wagner H6024 (round) and H6054 (rectangular) headlamp bulbs for less than $4! These are halogen sealed beam headlamps with both high and low beam filaments for vehicles with two headlight designs (rather than four).  The round bulbs (H6024) fit everything from 1965 Mustangs to 2004 Jeeps. They also fit motorcycles. The rectangular bulbs (H6054) fit everything from a 1981 Corolla to a 2013 Ford E-350 van. They are Wagner bulbs packaged in competitors' private label boxes. Stock up on headlamp bulbs for personal cars, customers' cars or a fleet of trucks!

RockAuto also now has Wholesaler Closeout Wagner TruView Halogen headlamp bulb capsules  (part numbers 9004TV, 9005TV, and 9006TV) for around $3.50! These three part numbers fit too many vehicles to count from the 1980s through 2013. Wagner TruView headlamp bulbs offer reduced glare and can make headlights better than new!

As with all Wholesaler Closeouts, headlamp quantities are limited. Look up your specific vehicle in the RockAuto catalog to see all the headlamps available.

Forum of the Month

SRT Connection is a Dodge SRT Forum. The forum has specific discussion areas for:

• SRT-4 & SRT-6: SRT-4 Dodge Neon/Caliber & SRT-6 Chrysler Crossfire
• SRT-8 & SRT-10: SRT-8 Dodge Charger, Chrysler 300C, Dodge Magnum, Dodge Challenger & Jeep Grand Cherokee, SRT-10 Dodge Ram & Dodge Viper
• Specialty Modern Mopars: Rumble Bee & GT Cruiser

The forum has thousands of members and discussion topics. Whether you need technical instruction, have advice to give or just want to show off your ride, join the SRT Connection forum today. Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free.

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

Starting my DIY career, I decided to save money and change my front power disc brake calipers. I ordered the calipers, removed the old parts, installed the new calipers and proceeded to bleed the brakes...with no luck. I could not get proper pressure in the brake lines and the pedal was always soft, depressing to the floor. I finally gave up and called in a real mechanic who immediately pointed out that the left caliper was on the right and vice versa. Gee, I didn't know the calipers had a right and left (so the bleeder screw was at the top allowing air to escape). They looked the same to me. Talk about feeling foolish!

Paul in California

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 option was offered on 1956 Chrysler vehicles:

A. Highway Hi-Fi phonograph in the dash that played unique, 7 inch records
B. Instant Heat heater that burned gasoline to warm up the interior fast
C. Self winding clock mounted in the center of the steering wheel
D. All of the above

Answer below

How Long Do Fuel Injectors Last?

Should fuel injectors be replaced as part of a routine maintenance schedule along with spark plugs, air filters, struts and other parts that predictably wear out after a set number of miles? How long do fuel injectors last?

It is impossible to make a broad pronouncement that includes all fuel system designs and fuels (gasoline, diesel, E85, direct injection, etc.). Follow the maintenance schedules listed in your vehicle’s service manuals. However, in general, gasoline fuel injectors do not need to be routinely replaced after a set number of miles.

Typical Fuel Injector

Fuel injectors are electromechanical parts constantly cycling to control high pressure fuel flow. Their springs, orifices and other bits do eventually wear out, but more often than not, gasoline fuel injectors last longer than the vehicle does. As the vehicle racks up miles, it is increasingly likely that a fuel injector will fail, but there is still no way of knowing if a gasoline fuel injector is going to fail at 80,000 miles or at 500,000 miles. Of course, fuel injectors can fail prematurely when damaged by contaminated gasoline, a dropped hammer, etc.

If the fuel injectors or any part of the fuel or ignition systems break, then it is important to fix the problem to avoid eventually damaging the catalytic converter or getting stranded. If the engine is running rich, running lean or a cylinder is misfiring then it could be a bad fuel injector. However, it could also be a leaking gasket, an arcing spark plug wire, an O2 sensor covered in oily grime or plenty of other more common things that should be checked first.

A Jeep 4.0L six cylinder may appear to have bad fuel injectors, but the overly lean mixture is often really caused by original equipment fuel injector o-rings that have deteriorated due to heat exposure. RockAuto currently has a selection of fuel injector o-rings for the Jeep from five manufacturers starting at $1.03. A fuel injector definitely stopped working on my ’92 Dodge B250 van, but I did not need to install a new set of fuel injectors. I just needed to replace the fuel injector’s electrical connector and exterminate the rat (and his friends) that had been polishing their teeth on the van’s wiring.

To avoid repeating a job or paying for labor twice, on many cars it makes sense to replace the water pump when the timing belt is replaced. On some vehicles it also might be a good idea to replace a set of fuel injectors as part of another repair. Maybe install new fuel injectors while the intake manifold gasket is being changed on a high mileage engine. However, it is also a reasonable decision to reinstall old fuel injectors and hope they have more miles left in them. It is really up to you and your plans for the vehicle.

When an old fuel injector is replaced, it is important to replace all the other old fuel injectors, too. A fuel system and its computers can adjust to a set of fuel injectors of all the same age that have gradually deteriorated over time, but the fuel system may not be able to work properly when one fuel injector is new and the rest are on their last legs. The fuel system computer treats the fuel injectors as a set. To avoid some cylinders getting too much gasoline and others too little, old fuel injectors should be replaced as a set.

Tom Taylor,
RockAuto.com

After 30 years of storage, I purchased this 1962 Thunderbird convertible and began restoration.  Although only 44,000 miles registered on the odometer, time had taken its toll.  The restoration took over six years, and included a drivetrain rebuild, new interior, suspension, fuel system, brakes, tires and top. The color was restored to the original Rangoon Red. 

RockAuto is always my first stop for parts and supplied the fuel tank and pump, oil pump, brake shoes, wheel cylinders, brake master cylinder, windshield, shocks and many other parts I have since forgotten.  The car is meant to be driven and is on the road now.  Looking forward to finding the end of Route 66!

Jim in Wisconsin

Automotive Trivia Answer
	What option was offered on 1956 Chrysler vehicles: A. Highway Hi-Fi phonograph in the dash that played unique, 7 inch records B. Instant Heat heater that burned gasoline to warm up the interior fast C. Self winding clock mounted in the center of the steering wheel Answer: D. All of the above Click for full size images Back up to trivia question

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