Alliance Torque Converters

RockAuto is now proudly offering the full line of Alliance Torque Converters for domestic and foreign brand cars and light trucks. Alliance Torque Converters are remanufactured units that meet or exceed all OEM replacement specifications. The addition of these high quality, ready to install torque converters broadens customers' choice of automatic transmission parts for everything from Buicks to Volvos.

Alliance takes pride in their no-short-cut remanufacturing process. They disassemble, clean, machine, inspect, perform various dimensional checks, assemble, high pressure leak test, balance and package the torque converters using OEM specifications and parts. Alliance Torque Converters come with a full two-year replacement warranty.

You will find these parts and more under the "Transmission-Automatic" category in the RockAuto catalog.

Updated Ground Transit Times

Ground transit times are now more specific than the “1-5 business days” we used to display. We have updated our shopping cart to show a more accurate estimated time frame based on the location(s) your parts are coming from in comparison to your zip code. We hope this helps in planning your automotive projects and appointments!

Forum of the Month

Mopar Muscle Association (MMA) U.K. is the official site for the Mopar Muscle Association U.K., based in the United Kingdom. Members of the MMA are dedicated to the preservation, use and enjoyment of Chrysler Corporation products of the muscle car era, otherwise known as "Mopar muscle cars". We are not restricted to a thin slice of American cars, anyone with enthusiasm is welcome to join regardless of their choice of car. Within the club are owners of Australian Chryslers, '50s Mopars with Fins, American cars from other manufacturers and even new Chrysler vehicles.

To find out all about the MMA and the benefits of being a member please check out our Frequently Asked Questions page and check out our forums - they are a great medium for fast answers to problems and for finding parts and cars for sale. Be sure to check the Events page to see where you can meet us and see the cars in person!

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

I was driving my 1981 Fiat Spider when I noticed that the gas gauge, turn signal indicator, and temperature gauge were not working. Back at the garage, I inspected the fuses, and found no breaks in the fuse metal. So, I dropped the steering column and removed the instrument panel. I checked all the connections, and put everything back together. It worked!

I went for a drive and when I made a sharp turn I noticed that the gauges quit working again. I was getting frustrated. I returned to the garage, checked the fuses again, and everything looked OK. I dropped the steering column and checked the connections. It looked all good. I got out the wiring diagram and traced the wiring from the gauges back to the fuse box. Figuring all this out took quite a while. The wiring was fine. I put everything back together. The gauges started working again, and then later quit. I was really getting frustrated now!

Decided to check continuity across the terminal of the fuse box. No continuity across the fuse on the gauge circuit! I removed the fuse, and found that the metal had broken at the tip of the fuse. The tip was hidden when the fuse was installed. So, even though the fuse looked fine in the box, the broken metal at the end of the fuse would only occasionally make contact. I replaced the fuse and problem solved!

Two lessons learned:

1. Always focus on the most obvious solution first.
2. Always remove and physically inspect a suspect fuse. Not just visually inspect it in the box.

Ed 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

Brake fluid absorbs water out of the air. Therefore, it is "hygroscopic." What other automotive chemical is hygroscopic?

A. antifreeze
B. diesel
C. ethanol
D. all of the above

Answer below

Don't Forget to Flush

Brake fluid absorbs moisture from the air (it is hygroscopic). Over time, enough water accumulates in brake fluid to cause corrosion and/or reduce stopping power. Water in hot brake fluid turns to steam which compresses and cannot maintain hydraulic pressure. The brake pedal goes soft on a long downgrade or during a panic stop. Flushing the brake fluid is a good idea and something a DIYer can do on most cars.

A brake flush is a super-duper brake bleed. Rather than just bleeding out only enough brake fluid to get the air out of the system, you take all or at least most of the old brake fluid out.

Handy new brake bleeder/flusher tools make it easy to quickly do the job single handedly. Last weekend, my daughter and I used the K TOOL Vacuum Pump in the photo to suck the brake fluid out of our 1992 Dodge van. We opened the bleeder fitting on the brake caliper or drum brake wheel cylinder, pushed the pump’s rubber adapter onto the fitting, and gave the handle a few squeezes to build a vacuum. The pump’s four ounce (118 ml) bottle filled up quickly. We steadily added new brake fluid to the master cylinder so it never ran dry. At each wheel, it was time to stop when the old muddy colored brake fluid was gone and new brake fluid started coming through the bleeder fitting. To prevent air from entering the system, we closed the fitting while there was still a vacuum in the pump.

The pump came with general instructions. More specific brake bleed/flush instructions might be found in a vehicle’s specific repair manual. Our K TOOL pump and its attached vacuum gauge can also be used to test EGR, PCV and several other vacuum based automotive systems.

While flushing, I also replaced the van’s brake pads. My new Lisle Disc Brake Piston Tool shown in the photo made compressing the caliper piston much faster and easier on my hands. I feel silly thinking of all the times in the past I wrestled with a big C-clamp to compress the pistons. The first go around with a C-clamp almost never resulted in quite enough piston compression to make room for the new brake pads. Please note both the vacuum pump and brake piston tool were products I purchased and sincerely liked rather than freebie tools from the manufacturers.

And finally, the van’s brake job reminded me what a good idea it is to get a Brake Hardware Kit along with new brake pads or brake shoes. This time it would not have even been an option to reuse some of the anti-rattle clips, o-rings and other parts that came in the hardware kit. Parts were badly corroded, broken or completely missing!

Tom Taylor,
RockAuto.com

This is my 1989 Chevy Astro van with 292,000 miles on the odometer. It began life as a soccer mom-mobile, but has been through quite a change. It currently has nine inches of suspension/body lift, 31" mud tires, remote adjustable shocks, radios capable of operating on any legal Ham frequency while mobile or camped, camouflage headliner, window screens, door panels, custom welded front bumper and roof rack with embedded off road lights, and multiple other mobile electronic gadgets.

RockAuto supplied suspension parts, tune up parts, filters, plugs, wires, tools, U-Joints, brakes, steering components, engine and door gaskets, electric cooling fan, belts, the list is endless. Essentially anytime a part is replaced either for routine preventative maintenance or for acute breakdown, the parts come from RockAuto. Even emergency breakdowns are typically taken care of with RockAuto replacement parts because the shipping, even standard shipping, is so darn fast!

Even though this is a 2-Wheel Drive Astro, I still take it out into the deserts and mountains and tackle the trails right along with the 4-Wheel Drive trucks and Jeeps. I like to camp in the wilderness and operate my amateur radio station, making contacts all over the world. My Camo Astro Van, with the help of RockAuto parts, takes me there and brings me back, again and again.

Craig in Arizona

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