To help you prepare for warmer weather, Four Seasons, a division of Standard Motor Products (SMP), is offering RockAuto.com customers an exclusive 10% instant rebate on select A/C Compressor & Component Kits through June 2023! A successful A/C repair takes more than just replacing the compressor. Take the guesswork out of your repair, and rely on a complete A/C Compressor & Component Kit from Four Seasons to help keep you cool this summer!  Typical Four Seasons A/C Compressor & Component Kit These kits conveniently contain all of the parts you need to ensure a successful repair, the first time - from the A/C Compressor to the Service Valves and Caps you may not think to check (and everything in between), Four Seasons Complete A/C Kits have you covered! While shopping, watch for the yellow "Promotion/Rebate" |
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in the catalog next to the kit listings to instantly save 10% off of RockAuto's already reliably low prices. Find A/C Compressor & Component Kits in the "Heat & Air Conditioning" category of the
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 Back in 1976, I had a 1966 Ford Fairlane. One very hot summer day, I got off work from my construction job, jumped in my car, and when I tried to start it....nothing! The battery seemed to have died. It was a fairly new battery so I knew that was probably not the issue. I checked all the lights and anything else that would have drained the battery and found nothing out of sorts. So, I called a buddy who was a pretty good backyard mechanic, and he suggested replacing the voltage regulator. I walked to the nearest parts store, bought the new regulator, walked back and installed it. That made no difference! Still nothing happened when I turned the key. Frustrated, I called another buddy for a ride figuring I would call a tow truck in the morning. My friend came out and asked me to try starting the car. I insisted it would not start but decided to humor him anyway and turned the key for proof. He looked in the window and said, "Try putting it in park." Sheepishly, I did and it started right up! For some reason I never put the car in park that morning. Moral of the story, make sure you check everything for the obvious. Frank in Massachusetts Share Your Story |
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 Older engines typically got a carburetor and camshaft that only enabled adequate engine performance from idle speed to redline. Picking a camshaft that optimized smooth idling could lead to poor performance at high RPM and vice versa. Thanks to computer control of fuel/air delivery (fuel injection...) and the valvetrain (variable valve timing...), modern engine designs do not need to make as many compromises. Performance can be better optimized for all engine speeds and loads. A computer may even adjust the length of the intake manifold's plumbing to better optimize the flow of fuel/air for engine power and torque. Such variable length intake runner systems use computers and software, but the mechanical flaps and linkages that actually alter the flow of the fuel/air may be relatively simple. (These intake manifolds and their motorized flaps remind me of similar parts in interior heat/AC climate control systems.) The arms, ball and socket joints, solenoids, valves and/or electric motors that are used to adjust the flow of fuel/air through an intake manifold can eventually wear out. When a mechanical part in a variable length intake runner system breaks, the engine will be out of tune and may be harder to start, misfire and/or have less power.  Dodge V6 Turbo Diesel Intake Manifold, Adjuster & Actuator The entire intake manifold must be replaced if the broken mechanical piece is buried deep inside. However, the repair can be much easier and less expensive when the broken plastic arm, joint or solenoid/valve/electric motor is mounted on the intake manifold's exterior. Snapping in a new piece of linkage may be all it takes to fix the system. RockAuto's manufacturers have made replacements for the linkage pieces that fail most often. The replacement parts often last longer than the original equipment (OE) parts. Plastic ball/socket joints or plastic linkage arms may be replaced with durable metal. New plastics that are more resistant to heat and chemicals may be used. See the Intake Manifolds, Intake Manifold Adjuster Repair Kits, Intake Manifold Actuators and other parts to repair your specific vehicle's variable length intake runner system under "Engine" in the RockAuto.com online catalog. Tom Taylor, To read more of Tom's articles, click this link and choose from story titles on the Newsletter Archives page. |
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This is my 1970 Datsun 240Z that I have spent years trying to perfect. Since I wanted the car to be as close to original as possible, it was sometimes difficult to find parts at my local parts store. My friend suggested to look at RockAuto, and low and behold, I managed to find all the original parts, from suspension to engine parts, I wanted for my Z. Since then I have almost exclusively purchased parts for all my vehicles I need to work on. Delivery is fast and the pricing is great. Sometimes 3X cheaper than my local parts store. In short RockAuto is my top parts source. Robert in British Columbia, Canada |
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