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October Newsletter | Early Edition
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Another Happy Customer!

Have shopped with RockAuto multiple times with same result. Incredible! All the parts your car will ever need, at a great price, great service and awesome follow through... The best!

James in Texas



Upcoming Events

Need goody bag items and a gift certificate for your show? RockAuto can help! Email marketing@rockauto.com for more information.

15 Salesian Classic Car Show
Richmond, CA Email
Oct
15 Port Tobacco Marina Car Show
Port Tobacco, MD Email
Oct
15 32nd Annual Madison County Car Show
Winterset, IA Email
Oct
15 13th Annual Triangle Z Fall Car Show
Cary, NC Email
Oct
18 Relics & Rods 40th Annual Run To The Sun
Lake Havasu, AZ Email
Oct
20 Volvo Club of America National Meet
Tulsa, OK Email
Oct
20 Jeeptoberfest
Ocala, FL Email
Oct
21 Lakeland Auto Show & Lake Mirror Concours
Lakeland, FL Email
Oct
21 Cars & Stars Car Show
Rancho Cucamonga, CA Email
Oct
21 British Motoring Club of Montgomery's 21st Annual Car Show
Montgomery, AL Email
Oct
22 Hot Rods & Heroes Motor Show
Burleson, TX Email
Oct
26 Discovery Night
Westampton, NJ Email
Oct
27 50th Mountain Moonshine Festival
Dawsonville, GA Email
Oct
27 Spook Rally
Peoria, AZ Email
Oct
28 New Territory Car Show
Sugar Land, TX Email
Oct
28 Wewoka Sorghum Festival Car Show
Wewoka, OK Email
Oct
28 Speed & Feed BBQ Cook Off & Car Show
Darlington, SC Email
Oct
VVT Solenoid/Actuators and Sprockets

RockAuto now offers an extensive and expanding line of Variable Valve Timing (VVT) Solenoid/Actuators and Sprockets to keep up with evolving engine technologies. Increasingly strict emissions regulations are causing many automotive manufacturers to use VVT systems, which are designed to improve performance, fuel economy and emissions. These parts have become very common in the last decade, and your vehicle's performance depends on them.

Located on the camshaft, VVT Sprockets (also known as cam phasers) help maximize engine horsepower and torque curves while reducing emissions and improving vehicle efficiency. The VVT Solenoid/Actuators (generally located on or near the cylinder head) meter the oil flow to control actuation of the VVT Sprocket. Most commonly, these parts fail prematurely due to lack of oil circulation (caused by low engine oil levels, incorrect oil viscosity and/or irregularly changed oil or filters). Common symptoms to watch for are loud or rough idling/stalling, the Check Engine Light illuminating, dirty engine oil and reduced fuel economy and power.

Regular vehicle maintenance (oil changes using the oil viscosity recommended by the vehicle manufacturer) is important to keep these parts functioning correctly. Manufacturers recommend replacing the solenoids when the sprockets are replaced and also changing the engine oil and oil filter after installation to prevent damaging the new parts. RockAuto carries VVT parts by ACDelco, Airtex/Wells, Cardone, Gates, SKP, Standard Motor Products (SMP), Ultra-Power and more, as well as a wide range of motor oil and oil filters. Whether you need a VVT Solenoid/Actuator for a 2013 Chevy Malibu, VVT Sprocket and Solenoid/Actuator for a 2005 Ford F-150 or VVT parts for a 1993 Honda Prelude, we have what you are looking for under "Engine" in the RockAuto catalog.

Standard Motor Products VVT Solenoid and Sprocket
Power Stop Fall Rebate
Power Stop Brake Kit Rebate Form

Take advantage of this opportunity to upgrade the brakes on your car or truck. Power Stop is offering RockAuto customers an exclusive rebate on their premium Rotor/Brake Pad Kits. Through October 31, 2017, get up to $30 back on Power Stop Z23 Evolution Sport, Z26 Street Warrior, Z36 Extreme Truck & Tow, Track Day, or Euro-Stop 1-Click Brake Kits.

Power Stop Brake Kits provide a complete upgrade, eliminating any guesswork about combining old and new parts. Their pre-assembled kits include Rotors and Brake Pads matched to optimize performance, durability and appearance. Hardware and Wear Sensors are included, where applicable. Replacing all the parts at once improves brake performance and helps prevent problems such as noise, excessive dust or uneven wear.

RockAuto has Power Stop Rotor/Brake Pad Kits for numerous vehicles, everything from a '69 Chevy Camaro, to a '99 Toyota Camry, to a '09 Ford F-350 Super Duty, to a '16 VW Beetle. Look under the "Brake & Wheel Hub" category in the RockAuto.com catalog to see "Rotor & Brake Pad Kits" and all the brakes available for your specific car or truck. See Power Stop rebate details and learn about other current manufacturer rebates on RockAuto’s Promotions & Rebates page.

While shopping, watch for the yellow "Promotion/Rebate" next to the part names to help you save even more on RockAuto’s reliably low prices!

Forum of the Month
Z31 Performance

The Z31 Performance forum is constituted of helpful, knowledgeable and honest enthusiasts of the Z31 (1983-1989 production) Nissan/Datsun 300ZX. This friendly forum covers all aspects, from basic repairs to performance and upgrades.

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 megant@rockauto.com

Repair Mistakes & Blunders
Repair  Mistakes & Blunders

In my family, cars are handed down. Usually this occurs as new young drivers get their licenses and need cars for school or work. My sister bought her 2001 Honda Accord new and drove it for many years. In 2014, she passed it on to her daughter who drove it for three years and then passed the Honda down to her son who had just graduated from high school.

So my sister has the car all cleaned up and the day comes for my nephew to take the wheel. He is all smiles as he turns the key, but the car will not start. The starter just turns and turns, but the engine will not start. I am the "car guy" in our family so when I get the call, I "tool up” and head over there. It seems there is no spark. Since I had worked on Hondas before, I “knew” it was something in the ignition system and began troubleshooting. Everything was checking out OK, but the car still would not start. Hmmmm… So I am scratching my head and start telling my sister’s husband that I am stumped, and the car probably needs to be towed to a professional.

While I am talking to him, I lean into the car and notice a green key symbol lit up on the dashboard. There were two keys on the ring, and when my nephew tried the other key, the car started right up! The key he initially tried to start the car with was only for unlocking the doors and trunk. It did not have the immobilizer chip required to start the car like the other key did. Other than driving over there and standing in the sun for 45 minutes, it was the “easiest” fix I have ever done.

Brian in Colorado

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

What is an unusual feature of GM's "High Energy Ignition" (HEI) of the late '70s and early '80s?

A. The Ignition Coil is mounted directly to the Distributor Cap, eliminating the need for a Coil Wire.
B. There is a capacitor inside each Spark Plug that maintains a constant voltage at the electrode over a longer time period (compared to a conventional plug).
C. The Spark Plug extends further into the combustion chamber and is accommodated by a recess machined into the piston crown.
D. All the Above

Answer below

New Parts for Old Cars

RockAuto.com reaches vehicle owners all over the world. This helps make it practical for manufacturers to keep making parts and even create new parts for old cars. There may not be many 1979 model year cars left in any one town, but there are thousands of 1979s scattered around the world still needing parts.

Cardone 2C18000 and 2C18001

It is always fun when a manufacturer builds a cool new part for an old car. The latest new part for old cars from Cardone really made me giddy because it targets one of the most underappreciated systems on old cars. I am not ashamed to say that most of the vehicles in my family's fleet have rear drum brakes, but drums just do not have the pizzazz that disc brakes do. Disc brake rotors usually get the fanciest new technology while brake drums just soldier on, quietly doing their jobs.

Cardone's new brake drums (part numbers 2C18000 and 2C18001) for old GM vehicles are made of aluminum rather than conventional cast iron. The outside and inside surfaces of these aluminum drums will never become covered with unsightly and damaging rust. The vehicle will stop faster and might handle better because aluminum weighs less. Less weight means less inertia to slow down and less unsprung weight thudding into pot holes. Cardone's aluminum increases heat dissipation and reduces the transfer of friction material from the brake shoes.

Now when the Cadillac CTS owner brags about his new drilled and slotted brake rotors (from RockAuto.com), the 1979 Buick Regal owner can say a word or two about her high-tech aluminum brake drums (from RockAuto.com)!

The new Cardone aluminum brake drums fit a huge cross section of GM vehicles built from 1964 to 1992, everything from a Corvair to a Caprice. I imagine if these sell well, Cardone will make aluminum drums for other vehicle brands. See all the brake parts available for your specific car or truck listed under the "Brake & Wheel Hub" category in the RockAuto.com catalog.

Tom Taylor,
RockAuto.com

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

Joe's 1961 Ford Falcon
Joe's 1961 Ford Falcon

I purchased my 1961 Ford Falcon Futura about a year ago. The minute I walked up to it in the seller's driveway I knew I had to have it! The old Ford was tired, a bit torn and a little rusty, but it was all there (and mostly original). Surprisingly with only 52,900 original miles! I drove it home and got to work.

I am a retired ASE Master Tech, working with a budget, so the only place to get my parts was RockAuto. The excellent inventory and quick delivery supplied my parts to overhaul the 170 cid engine, brake system, ignition, lighting, steering, suspension, mirrors, OEM style carpets and the list goes on and on! Being very proud of my workmanship I decided to expand the scope of my original restoration plan, and repair the rusty rear wheel wells, straighten the bumpers and even paint the car. It is not perfect but it is all my hard work!

Thanks for having everything I needed!
Joe in Pennsylvania

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 email flamur@rockauto.com with your vehicle's history, interesting details, your favorite images (tips for taking pictures of your car) and what parts from RockAuto you have used.

Automotive Trivia Answer
Automotive Trivia

What is an unusual feature of GM's "High Energy Ignition" (HEI) of the late '70s and early '80s?

Answer: A. The Ignition Coil is mounted directly to the Distributor Cap, eliminating the need for a Coil Wire.
B. There is a capacitor inside each Spark Plug that maintains a constant voltage at the electrode over a longer time period (compared to a conventional plug).
C. The Spark Plug extends further into the combustion chamber and is accommodated by a recess machined into the piston crown.
D. All the Above


The Ignition Coil is mounted directly to the Distributor Cap

Back up to trivia question