RockAuto.com RockAuto October Newsletter :: Early Edition

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Another Happy Customer!

Couldn't have been more pleased!

We were caught off guard when our well maintained vehicle needed a new EGR valve. RockAuto saved us at LEAST $100.00 over the dealer price. And the shipping was lightening fast!

Highly recommended and we will definitely use again.

Jay in Maryland

 

Upcoming Events
If you would like your event featured here, email us with details.

Come Back to Bethesda Car Truck & Motorcycle Show & Family Day
10/6/2012
Bethesda, MD
e-mail

Steve's Auto Service Customer Appreciation Day Car Show
10/6/2012
Kansas City, MO
e-mail

Wild Horse Mustang Club & Cruise 'n Silsbee
10/6/2012
Silsbee, TX
e-mail

Harmony Car Show
10/6/2012
Monterey Park, CA
e-mail

Bear Mountain 2012
10/6/2012
Morristown, NJ
e-mail

11th Annual South Shore YMCA Classic Car Show
10/6/2012
Cudahy, WI
e-mail

Kiwanis Club Charity Car Show
10/6/2012
Siloam Springs, AR
e-mail

Eufaula Art Walk & Car Show
10/6/2012
Eufaula, OK
e-mail

21st Clyde Zelia Stephens Memorial Auto Show
10/6/2012
Grimsley, TN
e-mail

Hot Rods & Harleys Car Show
10/7/2012
Hopkinton, IA
e-mail

Chrysler Show N Shine
10/7/2012
Queensland, Australia
e-mail

Motormet Car & Bike Show
10/13/2012
Cypress, TX
e-mail

Ocean Gate EMS 7th Annual Car Show
10/13/2012
Ocean Gate, NJ
e-mail

Nelson County FFA Blue Grass Festival
10/13/2012
Lovingston, VA
e-mail

Stars & Stripes Museum Car Show
10/13/2012
Bloomfield, MO
e-mail

1st Annual Jeep Car & Truck Show
10/13/2012
Jacksonville, NC
e-mail

Langly AFB Car Show
10/13/2012
Yorktown, VA
e-mail

18th Annual Fall Classics Car & Truck Show
10/13/2012
Hohenwald, TN
e-mail

Manns Choice Community Center Cruise In
10/13/2012
Manns Choice, PA
e-mail

6th Annual Tucson Classics Car Show
10/13/2012
Tucson, AZ
e-mail

Rodeo Chamber Annual Chili Cook-Off Car Show
10/13/2012
Rodeo, CA
e-mail

Drive for Kids Fall Color Cruise
10/14/2012
Minneapolis, MN
e-mail

Bolder Options Mississippi Cruise
10/14/2012
Minneapolis, MN
e-mail

CCCC Corvettes in the Sunshine Show
10/14/2012
Beverly Hills, FL
e-mail

Berkely Heights Fire Department
10/14/2012
New Providence, NJ
e-mail

Car Show for Police Officer Mike Vernon
10/14/2012
Florissant, MO
e-mail

Oak Harbor Apple Festival Car Show
10/14/2012
Oak Harbor, OH
e-mail

27th Annual Madison County Car Show
10/14/2012
Winterset, IA
e-mail

Rockingham Dragway-Super Chevy Event
10/19/2012
Rockingham, NC
e-mail

Lake Mirror Classic Auto Festival
10/19/2012
Lakeland, FL
e-mail

Ribs on the Roanoke
10/20/2012
Plymouth, NC
e-mail

A Treat for the Soul Tricky Tray
10/20/2012
North Brunswick, NJ
e-mail

Asphalt Angels Car Club
10/20/2012
Bowie, MD
e-mail

Corvettes Unlimited of Vineland Car Show
10/20/2012
Elmer, NJ
e-mail

3rd Annual Open Car Show
10/20/2012
Austin, TX
e-mail

Car Show
10/20/2012
Jasper, AL
e-mail

Project Grad Extreme
10/20/2012
Tucson, AZ
e-mail

10th Annual Car Show for Charity
10/20/2012
Villa Rica, GA
e-mail

Feed the Bug Car Show & Auto Swap III
10/21/2012
Fresno, CA
e-mail

San Antonio Mustang Club 31st Annual Charity Open Car Show
10/21/2012
San Antonio, TX
e-mail

Lancaster County Corvette Club
10/21/2012
Lancaster, PA
e-mail

7th Annual Diesel & Gas Truck Drag Race
10/21/2012
Sacramento, CA
e-mail

Berkeley College 7th Annual Charity Car Show
10/21/2012
Paramus, NJ
e-mail

1st Annual Flashback Drag Race & Car Show
10/26/2012
Pasadena, MD
e-mail

Moonshine Car Show
10/26/2012
Gainesville, GA
e-mail

October Fall Festival - Car Show
10/26/2012
Omaha, TX
e-mail

Busted Knuckles Car Club; Jeep Creep 2012
10/27/2012
Lake City, MI
e-mail

Classics on the Green Lumberton Historical Society's 6th Annual Show
10/27/2012
Lumberton, NJ
e-mail

Lone Star Car Club 2nd Annual Car Show & Benefit
10/27/2012
Elgin, TX
e-mail

Knox County Sheriff's Office Car Show
10/27/2012
Knoxville, TN
e-mail

Central Texas Rodders 16th Annual Halloween Rod Run
10/27/2012
Killeen, TX
e-mail

3rd Annual Shirley Looney Memorial Car Show
10/27/2012
Mobile, AL
e-mail

2nd Annual South Texas Stangs Benefit Car Show
10/27/2012
Seguin, TX
e-mail

4th Annual Open Car & Truck Show
10/27/2012
Spring, TX
e-mail

27th Annual CATFISH Run
10/30/2012
Olive Branch, MS
e-mail

Golden Gears Last Chance Fun Run
10/30/2012
Alamogordo, NM
e-mail


 

GM Restoration Parts

See what we have from GM Restoration Parts

Are you a Chevrolet, GMC or other GM brand enthusiast in need of hard-to-find electromechanical and instrument cluster parts? Maybe you need a new ammeter for a 1960 Corvette or an instrument panel cover for a 1992 Buick Park Avenue. Well, look no further! You can now find new replacement parts by GM Restoration Parts in the RockAuto catalog.

The gauges and indicators available include Coolant Temperature, Oil Pressure, Fuel Level, Speedometer, Ammeter, Voltmeter and more. Besides meeting the specifications of the original GM blueprints, GM Restoration Parts are built using modern, repeatable manufacturing processes performed on up-to-date equipment that makes these parts more accurate than the originals.

GM Restoration Parts

In addition to gauges and plastic instrument panel parts, GM Restoration Parts also offers Fuel Tank Sending Units for Corvettes. Some of the features and benefits of these Fuel Tank Sending Units include:

  • Designed and 100% tested to meet all functional and dimensional specifications from the original GM blueprints.
  • Components upgraded to stainless steel to better withstand the corrosive environment in the fuel tank.
  • Fuel level sensor upgraded to a ceramic resistor card for more accurate readings and to hold up against the higher ethanol content found in today's fuels.

GM Restoration Parts can be found in the Body-Interior and Fuel/Air categories of the RockAuto catalog for a wide range of GM brand cars and trucks.

 

 

 

Forum of the Month

The Chevrolet Forum

The Chevrolet Forum is an online community of Chevrolet enthusiasts. 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 Chevrolet forum today. Registration is free, fast, and simple.

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!

My first car was a 1968 Ford Torino GT convertible, purchased for $500 in 1974. I had a number of repair mishaps with that car. This is one that has always reminded me to always look for the easiest way to do a repair.

I had a headlight go out, drivers side I believe it was. This looked like a simple fix to me. Taking my trusty Phillips screwdriver, after inspecting the headlight assembly I proceeded to loosen what looked to me like the screws which held it all together. Something did seem odd to me though. The screws were awful long, and it was taking me quite some time to get each one loose. I worked and worked at it for perhaps an hour until the whole thing came loose. Still (after pulling the wires out of the back of the plug for good measure) there was a trim ring holding it to a backing plate. Only then did it dawn on me that I had been loosening the headlight aiming screws.

I eventually got the whole mess back together again, although I drove around probably for the rest of the time I owned the car with cross-eyed headlights. Look carefully at any project before starting. Chances are the guy who designed it had some easy method in mind for a fix when things wear out.

Bruce in Minnesota

 

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

European Union regulations mandate that by 2015 a new car must be designed so a pedestrian can survive if hit by the car moving at up to which speed?

A. 6 mph (10 km/h), about as fast a sea otter can swim.
B. 12.5 mph (20 km/h), roughly the quickest a squirrel can run.
C. 25 mph (40 km/h), approximately the top speed of a charging African elephant.

Answer below

 

 

Don’t Start Replacing Spark Plugs Yet!

RockAuto

Have a question about a challenging car repair? Rick Muscoplat is a former ASE Master Technician who was also certified in Advanced Engine Diagnostics (L-1). Currently he writes the automotive section for “The Family Handyman” magazine. Rick has kindly offered to answer some technical questions from RockAuto customers. He cannot answer all questions but will pick a few that are likely to also be of interest to owners of other makes and models. If you have a repair question for Rick then please send it to flamur@rockauto.com.

Please note Rick does not work at RockAuto. He cannot answer questions about shipping options in Europe, core returns, etc. Accurate diagnosis of a remote vehicle based on a single question is difficult or impossible. Please view Rick’s answers as simply ideas that might help you better develop your own diagnosis and repair strategy.

Below is an example question/answer from Rick on the subject of crankshaft position sensors.

Q. I have a 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe with the 2.7L engine. When I try to start it, the engine cranks but won’t fire up. I had the computer scanned and it shows P0335 and P1372. What are these codes and how do I fix the problem?

A. The two codes you scanned are P0335 Crankshaft Position Sensor (CKP) Circuit Malfunction and P1372 Segment Time Acquisition Incorrect. In layperson’s terms, the P1372 is a misfire. But don’t start replacing spark plugs and ignition coils yet.

The engine computer detects cylinder misfires by monitoring the “rate of revolution” using the CKP. If the computer commands the spark plugs and injectors to fire, it expects to see crankshaft rotate at a predictable rate, with each cylinder contributing power to the rotation. However, if a cylinder misfires, the crankshaft slows down slightly because the misfiring cylinder didn’t contribute to engine power. So it makes perfect sense that if you have a bad CKP, you might get a P1372 at the same time.

Shops report a fairly high failure rate on this sensor. So you can take your chances and replace it (the part runs about $50), or you can do the tests below. The choice is yours.

A shop would connect a digital oscilloscope to the CKP and check the high/low voltage patterns as the engine cranked. Since you probably don’t own a scope, you can only perform a few basic voltage checks to test the integrity of the wiring harness. First, find the CKP sensor on the front of the engine (driver’s side) and follow the wires from the sensor to the “joint electrical connector” at the front of the engine compartment. Disconnect the CKP connector and turn the key to ON. Check for battery voltage on the yellow wire at the joint electrical connector. If there’s no voltage, search for an open near the connector or trace the circuit backwards. Next, set your digital volt-ohm meter (DVOM) to ohms and check for a short to ground on the pink and white wires in the disconnected CKP wiring harness. If you get anything other than an “infinite” reading, you’ve got a short-to-ground. Reconnect the CKP connector and turn the key to ON again. Backprobe the pink wire, and check for 5-volts DC. Backprobe the white wire and check for ground. If you get all those readings, it certainly appears that the CKP is bad. But again, only a scope can confirm that.

(OBD scan tools and Electrical Testers are found under Tools & Universal Parts in the RockAuto catalog. Crankshaft Position Sensors are found under the Ignition category.)

Tom Taylor,
RockAuto.com

 

 

John's 1977 BMW 320i
John's 1977 BMW 320i

Hi RockAuto,

I appreciate the opportunity to tell you about my vehicle and the great experience as a RockAuto customer. I am engaged in the "rescue" of a 1977 BMW 320i. This car had originally been purchased as a "parts car" for a more rare BMW e21 Baur Top Cabriolet with which it shares most of the same parts. I bought this non-functioning "parts car" for $400 and had it towed to my home. On closer inspection, the car, despite being a bit neglected and sun-baked, was a solid, low mile, rust free car, originally delivered and purchased in Arizona in 1977. It was obvious that this car was worth saving and being put back into service.

The Baur Top Cabriolet had issues and went back to the seller (I won't torment you with the details), but I turned my attentions to the "parts car". Since my car is 35 years old, parts are generally not available locally. While I have a number of online parts companies I can go to for parts, I always check what RockAuto has first. If they have what I need, which they often do, I can expect great prices, prompt delivery, and great customer service. This has been my experience through multiple purchases.

As far as the work on the car goes, I have overhauled the steering and suspension, swapped in a Getrag 245 5 speed transmission in place of the automatic transmission, changed all the fluids, overhauled the old rusty fuel tanks, replaced a lot of the fuel delivery system, and put on a header and new exhaust system. Most recently, I replaced the hardly used, but cracked and brittle, tires from 1995 which were unsafe. This created the opportunity for some shiny new wheels and performance tires. The car runs fabulously now and is a great joy to drive. It handles like it is on rails with absolutely no vibrations.

The truth is that there is still a lot to do to get this car where I want it. It needs new paint, weather-stripping, and upholstery. Then, I'll forever be tweaking things and improving on the finer details. This is much of the fun, though, making the personal choices for how to go about it, seeing the evolution, and sharing experiences with like-minded people.

John in Arizona

 

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

European Union regulations mandate that by 2015 a new car must be designed so a pedestrian can survive if hit by the car moving at up to which speed?

A. 6 mph (10 km/h), about as fast a sea otter can swim.
B. 12.5 mph (20 km/h), roughly the quickest a squirrel can run.

Answer: C. 25 mph (40 km/h), approximately the top speed of a charging African elephant. Many car models are now sold worldwide. EU pedestrian safety regulations have already changed the way today's new cars look with high, round front ends, and more space between the hood (bonnet) and the engine.

Back up to trivia question

 

 

 

 

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