Omix-ADA Jeep Parts

RockAuto now offers Omix-ADA’s full line of Jeep parts and accessories. Omix-ADA is the world’s largest independent Jeep parts manufacturer building all parts to meet or exceed the original equipment (OE) specifications.

Omix-ADA's people are Jeep enthusiasts. They know which OE parts have problems and they offer solutions that are often not available from any other manufacturer. Remember when Jeep began using plastic valve covers on the inline six in the early '80s? Those early OE valve cover, fastener and gasket designs were prone to leak oil. RockAuto has more than ten Omix-ADA valve cover and gasket choices to repair and/or dress up that engine.

Omix-ADA understands that many Jeep owners want to start working on and enjoying their Jeeps the moment they roll off the showroom floor. They are often first to offer parts like hoods, fenders and lights for the newest Jeeps. Omix-ADA also knows antique Jeeps are driven and cared for by generations of owners. Need a new fuel tank, leaf springs or transfer case mount for a '46 Willys? RockAuto has those Omix-ADA parts and many others for the CJ-2A.

Omix-ADA is offering a year-long 5% rebate on all orders totaling $149.99 or more across their entire product line. Find Omix-ADA parts, across all product categories for Jeeps, in the RockAuto catalog.

Philips Headlamp Upgrade Bulbs

Instantly improve your view of the road with Philips headlamp upgrade bulbs. These bulbs put more light on the road, helping to make up for poor weather, dimly lit roads, aging headlights and even the loss of night vision many drivers experience as they age. You will experience much brighter light that still is DOT compliant. (Replace headlamp bulbs in pairs to make sure the vehicle’s lighting is equally balanced.)

Philips' upgraded headlamp bulbs employ advanced technology that can deliver up to 100 percent more light on the road than OE halogen bulbs, and create a better beam pattern that is dramatically longer than the standard bulbs, vastly improving your ability to see farther down the road and avoid hazards. The Philips premium upgrade headlamp bulbs offer four distinct lighting options for the varied driving habits and budgets of individual drivers. The options include:

• Philips Vision provides 30% more light than an OE halogen lamp
• Philips VisionPlus with 60% more light and up to 80 feet longer beam projection than an OE halogen lamp
• Philips X-tremeVision with up to 100% more light and 115 feet longer beam projection than an OE halogen lamp
• Philips CrystalVision ultra, a Xenon-powered Halogen headlamp bulb for drivers who want to add style to their vehicle with the bright white look of Xenon HID

Find headlamp bulbs listed under the “Electrical-Bulb & Socket” category for your specific car or truck in the RockAuto catalog.

From now through the month of April, take advantage of the savings offered by Philips' mail in rebate. Get up to $15 back with the purchase of any twin pack or two single packs of Philips Vision, VisionPlus, CrystalVision ultra or X-tremeVision headlamp upgrade bulbs. Find the rebate form on our Promotions & Rebates page.

Forum of the Month

MercedesMedic.com is a forum dedicated to Mercedes-Benz owners. It contains how-to repair guides, technical resources and detailed step by step instructions with pictures and video clips that make troubleshooting Mercedes-Benz cars possible for every DIYer. The website provides a wealth of information and is a great resource for owners as well as auto mechanics.

Think it costs too much to own a Mercedes-Benz? Mercedes Medic makes maintaining a Mercedes-Benz possible when you use RockAuto parts and the excellent resources you will find on MercedesMedic.com.

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 marketing@rockauto.com.

Repair Mistakes & Blunders

I was 16 or 17 years old and eager to own my own car and start driving. Working on my mother’s car seemed like a good way to pretend to be a car owner until that glorious day came. So I’d spend hours waxing and detailing her ’78 VW Rabbit. I even installed a nice set of Bosch halogen driving lights. When Mom mentioned that she was due for an oil change, I jumped at the chance to do some actual mechanic-type work. Naturally, she was happy to get a free oil change.

I armed myself with supplies – oil, filter, drain pan, filter wrench and shop manual. I drained the oil and started on the filter. My filter wrench should have made short work of it, but for some reason, the filter wouldn’t budge no matter how hard I twisted. I kept at it for maybe 30 minutes or more before giving up and trying the last resort suggested by the manual – spear the filter with a large screwdriver. That was sure to work! It was definitely messy, but it still wouldn’t loosen the filter. Defeated, I had to break the news to my mother that not only could I not get the filter off, but I had ruined it, and now the car couldn’t even be driven. I found a mechanic in the phone book who made house calls (!), and she called him out the next morning while I was at school.

It was while I was at school that it suddenly dawned on me – I had been tightening rather than loosening the filter! The mechanic probably had his easiest job ever, basically half an oil change with a good laugh thrown in. I was mortified that I cost my mother a half-day of work and the price of a mechanic's house call, but she was a good sport about it. To this day, when things are not going right during a job, I always take a break and double-check that I am not overlooking something obvious.

Dalton in Ohio

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

What is piston slap?

A. The sound of a piston banging against the wall of the cylinder. This noise might indicate the piston is heavily worn, or with some engine designs, it might go away once the engine warms up and the piston expands to better match the shape of the cylinder.

B. The rattling sound caused by excessive play in the wrist pin that holds the piston on the connecting rod. The wrist pin and/or the hole in the connecting rod may be worn or the snap ring(s) that hold the wrist pin in place may have fallen out.

C. The sound of the piston hitting the cylinder head, spark plug or a valve. Causes include a connecting rod that overheated and stretched, installation of the wrong spark plug, or a broken valve spring.

Answer below

Harmonic Balancers, What They Do and How They Fail

Pat Goss with "online parts expert" Tom Taylor from RockAuto.

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

Dave's 1981 Pontiac Grand Prix

This is my 1981 Pontiac Grand Prix I purchased new in 1981. I opted for the LJ (Luxury ‘J’) model in white with all the options. Power windows, locks, cruise control, A/C – yes those were all options – rear window defrost, bucket seats w/console in dark blue velour, t-tops with a white vinyl top and the 4.3 liter Pontiac V-8 – only Pontiac engine available and the last year for production. Other options were door edge molding, pinstripes, AM/FM cassette radio, power antenna, cornering lamps, bumper guards front/rear, additional acoustical insulation and luggage compartment trim. I still have that original dealer book where I marked all the options that I wanted.

Now the sentimental part of the story. In the spring of ’81 I was cruising with my best friend with the t-tops off blaring some Pink Floyd or Rush and we came upon a parked car. As we drove by we heard, "Hey nice car!" I turned the Grand Prix around and proceeded to introduce myself. It later turns out that the girl that caught our attention became my wife in May of 1984. So as you can see, the Grand Prix is the reason I met my wife, and my wife is the reason I have held onto my Grand Prix.

My Grand Prix currently has about 46,000 miles on it, and it has never seen snow and has not seen rain in about 25 years. I had the vinyl top replaced about five years ago, and I traded out those wire basket wheels for a set of refinished ‘snowflake’ wheels. Other than that, it is all original paint and interior except for the plastic pieces that go around the t-tops, notorious for cracking and fading. Everything still works, even the clock. The A/C had to be charged last year, and now it stays nice and cold.

My most recent RockAuto purchases were all the front and rear brake parts, suspension and tune up parts. Trying to stay with all ACDelco replacement parts was easy with RockAuto's choice of manufacturers.

Dave in Ohio

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