RockAuto.com RockAuto July Newsletter

RockAuto Home

Customer Service

Newsletter Archive

E-mail Subscription

RSS Feed



Another Happy Customer!

Easy website navigation, great prices, great communication and extremely reasonable shipping! RockAuto is a great place to do business with and has many parts for my classics.

Never a bad experience and very helpful, five stars plus!

Terry in Texas



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

Misselwood Concours d'Elegance
7/26/2014
Beverly, MA
e-mail

Cruise In on the Route 66 Square
7/26/2014
Carlinville, IL
e-mail

VW Meltdown XIIII All VW Show/Swap Meet
7/26/2014
Montgomery, AL
e-mail

Downtown Burbank Car Classic
7/26/2014
Burbank, CA
e-mail

Rollin' Oldies Car Club 25th Annual Car Show
7/26/2014
Oskaloosa, IA
e-mail

Sundowners Car & Bike Show
7/26/2014
Louisa, MD
e-mail

Roebling Museum 5th Annual Car Show
7/26/2014
Roebling, NJ
e-mail

Cool Cruisers Car Club Car Show with the New Berlin Fire Department
7/26/2014
New Berlin, IL
e-mail

Saco Spirit Car Show
7/26/2014
Saco, ME
e-mail

Fiesta Car Show
7/26/2014
Billings, MT
e-mail

18th Annual Car & Bike Show
7/26/2014
Lake Placid, FL
e-mail

Coast Guard Festival 20th Annual Cruise In Car Show
7/27/2014
Grand Haven, MI
e-mail

9th Annual All Mopar Car Show & Charity Raffle
7/27/2014
Bremerton, WA
e-mail

2014 All Pontiac Car Show North Coast Pontiac Club
7/27/2014
Solon, OH
e-mail

Beaverton Purple Knights 9th Annual Car Show
7/27/2014
Beaverton, OR
e-mail

Old Time Saturday Night
8/2/2014
Pawnee, OK
e-mail

2013 Smoky Valley Classic Car Show
8/2/2014
Lindsborg, KS
e-mail

Prescott Antique Auto Club Event
8/2/2014
Prescott, AZ
e-mail

Benefit Car Show for Jordan Wilkins
8/2/2014
Gilmer, TX
e-mail

Wheels 'N' Squeels Car, Truck & Bike Show
8/2/2014
Olathe, KS
e-mail

5th Annual Mustang Mania Car Show
8/3/2014
Annapolis, MD
e-mail

2014 Cars of Yesteryear International Car Show
8/3/2014
Newport, VT
e-mail

Northern Lights 8th Annual Fun! Car & Truck Show
8/3/2014
Milaca, MN
e-mail

The Big Show presents Slamboree Car, Truck & Bike Show
8/3/2014
Catoosa, OK
e-mail

Frito-Lays Second Annual Wheels for Warriors
8/3/2014
Raynham, MA
e-mail

Pink Slips Car Club & Friends Show n Shine
8/4/2014
Mississauga, ON, Canada
e-mail

Davico Manufacturing Catalytic Converters

See what we have from DAVICO MANUFACTURING

RockAuto now carries Davico Manufacturing catalytic converters. Massachusetts based Davico started manufacturing converters for Subarus in 1987 but has since expanded to a full-line of catalytic converters for all makes and models. Davico's innovative prototyping capabilities enable them to be the first to build replacement converters for many popular cars and trucks. RockAuto has Davico converters legal for use in California and states like New York that are moving to adopt California's latest converter testing, labeling, etc., rules.

Davico "Dealer Alternative Exact-Fit" converters have a heavier precious metal load and larger substrate to better handle the stubbornly high NOx emissions of some specific high mileage, high wear engines. All of their converters are direct fit and do not require any additional cutting, sliding, clamping, or welding for installation. Exhaust manifold catalytic converters include heat shield brackets. Direct fitting flanges and air tube connections make Davico catalytic converters fit like OEM. Davico is not an exhaust company that also happens to build Catalytic Converters. Catalytic Converters are all they do.

Davico Manufacturing Catalytic Converters
Whether you need a catalytic converter for your 1991 Volkswagen Vangon, 2008 Ford Mustang or your 2003 Saturn Ion, find Davico Manufacturing in the “Exhaust” category of the RockAuto catalog.





Forum of the Month

Cruzetalk.com

Cruzetalk.com is a forum dedicated to all things Chevy Cruze. We are a friendly community comprised of Chevy Cruze owners and other car enthusiasts. Find thousands of topics related to general Cruze discussion, technical discussion, diesel discussion, and so much more. To participate fully in the site all you need to do is register; it's quick, easy and 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

Ouch!

I have owned my 1966 Sunbeam Alpine since 1977 and knew very little about working on cars when I bought it. I’ve learned quite a bit since then and have been able to keep it on the road on my own for the last 37 years, but not without a few mistakes and blunders on the way.

The most significant and expensive mistake happened the first time I tried to adjust the valves, which was probably right around 1980. I followed the process in the factory Workshop Manual and adjusted the "number one exhaust with number four exhaust fully open" and so on. I went through all eight valves and fired up the engine. “Fired” was the right word, as flames shot out of the carburetors and the car made a terrible racket. I did it again and again and nothing I could do would correct the problem. Finally, out of desperation I had it towed to a local shop where I was informed that I needed a new cylinder head. They installed a new one and I did not attempt to adjust the valves again for 25 years!

Then one day while looking up something else in the manual, it suddenly dawned on me that the valve tip would be down when the valve was open and up when it was closed. I’d done it exactly backwards all those years ago!

To this day, I don’t know if I had actually damaged the head with my incorrect adjustment, if the shop couldn’t figure it out or if I got ripped off, but I haven’t feared adjusting them again. It isn’t the most pleasant job in the world, but it is relatively easy when you do it right!

Jim in New York



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

In the United States, Volvo outsells Lincoln and Mitsubishi combined.

A. True
B. False

Answer below






Deserves to be Fixed

RockAuto

My brother-in-law noticed yellow fluid under the family’s 2003 Ford Expedition. The radiator was full and Charlie, the family mutt, had not been in the garage recently. The Ford was dropped off at the auto repair shop in Attica, Indiana which is a small town on the Wabash River where my sister is an optometrist.

The professional diagnosis was that the yellow fluid was oil leaking out of the A/C Compressor. The shop recommended installation of a new A/C Compressor Kit and a new A/C Condenser. The Expedition has front and rear A/C systems. Its A/C Compressor and Component Kit starts at around $230 (at RockAuto) and includes new A/C Expansion Valves and Receiver Driers as well as a new A/C Compressor. A new A/C Condenser for the Expedition starts at around $65. With parts, refrigerant and lots of labor, the total repair cost would be over $1000.

Photo of leaking compressor taken under the engine looking up
Photo of leaking compressor taken from underneath the engine looking up

The mechanics at the repair shop trust my sister to service their eyeballs and she trusts them to repair her vehicles. Patients sometimes come to an eye doctor with seemingly minor symptoms and leave knowing they have a major medical issue. My sister understood that just a small spot of yellow oil on the garage floor could mean the Ford needs major A/C surgery.

My brother-in-law, on the other hand, was wondering what would happen if the Expedition received no treatment. A sheet of paper towel would get the yellow oil off the floor and the Expedition’s A/C system was still blowing reasonably cold air. Why not just wait and see what happens? Would the A/C compressor eventually catastrophically fail in some explosive, perhaps awesome to watch way?

I was recently in town for a family visit and always prefer talking about cars and parts so I was happy to crawl under the Expedition and go over the repair estimate with my brother-in-law. Sure enough, there was yellow oil dripping out of the A/C compressor.

The A/C oil circulates with the A/C refrigerant. It seems strange that any oil leaks would not also be accompanied by the refrigerant all escaping in one big whoosh. How could the Expedition’s A/C system retain enough refrigerant to still blow cold air? If there is an A/C oil leak then there is also a refrigerant leak, but as the system loses pressure, the oil might be separating from the refrigerant and pooling around the leaky gasket in the compressor. With front and rear A/C, the Expedition’s system also just has a lot of refrigerant in it.

While there is lots of refrigerant, there is not much oil in the A/C system. Seeing just half a cup of oil on the garage floor means the A/C compressor is operating without any lubrication or will be very soon. The Ford’s “scroll” type compressor is very sensitive to lubrication levels. Rather than the compressor seizing up and exploding in a shower of molten metal, the A/C system would likely just eventually detect a loss of pressure and refuse to engage the compressor clutch.

Even if there is never a loud screech or groan from the A/C compressor, loss of lubrication means there are probably bits of metal circulating through the A/C system. The repair shop likely specified replacing the A/C condenser because it is a “parallel flow” condenser. This means the refrigerant has two or more paths through the condenser. Attempts to clean/flush the A/C system would follow the path of least resistance through the condenser. The cleaner might blow through the least restricted condenser tubes and barely touch the tubes partially filled with metal and other debris. A new condenser provides relatively low cost insurance that debris will not damage a new compressor.

I told my brother-in-law nothing exciting would likely happen if they kept using the failing A/C system, but fixing it now might prevent generating more metal debris in the system. Less metal debris is always good. Running the compressor into the ground might also mean it is too damaged to ever be remanufactured. I told him I did not see any other potentially expensive drips under the Expedition. I also reminded him that a 2014 Ford Expedition with the “Eddie Bauer” quantity of options would probably cost more than $60,000 these days. The family’s Expedition deserves to be fixed and will be fixed.

Tom Taylor,
RockAuto.com


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






Vladimir's 1979 VW Super Beetle Convertible

Vladimir's 1979 VW Super Beetle Convertible

This little beauty is the most liked car in my family. I've garaged and admired the Bug for over 30 years. It's older than my two children, who are both in their twenties. They both grew up with the Super Beetle, playing in it while I worked on another car, going for rides and now occasionally driving it on special occasions. I get the feeling that someday my grandchildren will also be playing in the VW.

The Bug is a marvel of engineering, simple and reliable, requiring very little maintenance. It starts immediately, even after sitting for many months. The original fuel injection system and a trickle charge on the battery help. But recently, the clutch gave out and had to be replaced. With the help of my son, the engine was pulled out, and a new clutch kit was ordered from RockAuto. Quick delivery, great price and quality, now the VW is on the road again. Since I have more cars in the family, RockAuto is the first place I go to to order parts. Saves lots of time and money. What could be better?

Thanks RockAuto!
Vladimir in New York



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...we 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


In the United States, Volvo outsells Lincoln and Mitsubishi combined.

A. True
Answer: B. False (Currently, both Ford's Lincoln division and Mitsubishi individually sell more vehicles than Volvo in the US. Source: July 21, 2014 issue of Autoweek, page 21.)

Back up to trivia question




© 1999-2014 RockAuto, LLC - Madison, Wisconsin USA. RockAuto name, logo and ALL THE PARTS YOUR CAR WILL EVER NEED are registered trademarks of RockAuto, LLC. Manufacturer names and logos in the RockAuto catalog are trademarks of their respective companies and are used only to identify their products. All rights reserved.