rockauto.com
RockAuto November Newsletter | Early Edition
Go to the RockAuto Catalog

Another Happy Customer!
Another Happy Customer!

EXCELLENT ALL AROUND! I have been in the repair industry most of my life and have found RockAuto to be the best for hard to find parts. They have parts that most other stores, including the dealerships, claim are discontinued or obsolete!

Jack in New Hampshire


Upcoming Events
Upcoming Events

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

12 Coastal Virginia Auto Show
Norfolk, VA Email
Nov
13 Military Appreciation Car Show
Springfield, GA Email
Nov
13 Custom Cars, Cocktails & Change
Baltimore, MD Email
Nov
13 1st Annual Jimmy Dossett Memorial Car, Truck Bike Show
Hopkinsville, KY Email
Nov
13 Cars & Cooking Benefit for Ginger Minchew
Meridian, MS Email
Nov
13 All Ford Powered & Mustang Show
Casa Grande, AZ Email
Nov
13 VetFest Car Show & Bike Run
Angleton, TX Email
Nov
13 Heroes & Hot Rods Veterans' Weekend Car Show
Bastrop, TX Email
Nov
13 The Fall 2021 WestWing Classic
Peoria, AZ Email
Nov
13 Ahwatukee Car Show
Phoenix, AZ Email
Nov
13 Prince of Peace Annual Car Show
Jacksonville, FL Email
Nov
13 Pensacola North Rotary 6th Annual Charity Car Show
Pensacola, FL Email
Nov
13 Warrior's Wild Wheel Show & Pancake Bar
Walnut Grove, GA Email
Nov
14 Parked Up Autism Awareness Edition
Sunrise, FL Email
Nov
14 22nd Annual Fall Fling Car Show
Brooksville, FL Email
Nov
20 VFW Car, Bike, Truck, Anything with an Engine Show
Huntsville, AL Email
Nov
20 Field of Dreams Car Show
Brooksville, FL Email
Nov
20 Vettes Giving Back
Gulfport, MS Email
Nov
20 Epiphany Knights of Columbus Car Show
Port Orange, FL Email
Nov
21 Ponies Under the Palms Charity Car Show
Bradenton, FL Email
Nov

Bosch Ignition Coils
See what we have from Bosch
Bosch Ignition Coils

Bosch is offering RockAuto.com customers an exclusive 10% instant rebateStar in catalog on select Ignition Coils for Ford, GM and Chrysler brand vehicles throughout the month of November, 2021! While shopping, watch for the yellow "Promotion/Rebate" Star in catalog next to the part listings to instantly save 10% off of RockAuto's already reliably low prices. Find Ignition Coils in the "Ignition" category of the RockAuto.com catalog.

Bosch has been building new ignition parts since way back when the Ford Model T was rolling off the assembly line. Many newer Ford, Jeep and other brand vehicles have Bosch Ignition Coils as original equipment (OE). All Bosch ignition coils meet or exceed OE specifications; including optimal voltages, robust durability and suppression of radio frequency interference (RFI).

New ignition coils can lower fuel consumption, reduce exhaust emissions and prevent misfires to help ensure the smooth engine performance that makes driving fun.

Auto Meter Gauges
See what we have from Auto Meter

The leaves are falling, the temperature is cooling, and snow is lurking around the corner, but that does not mean vehicle build projects have to stop! AutoMeter and RockAuto are ready to refresh dashboards across the globe this holiday season with AutoMeter's Hot Rod Holiday mail-in rebateStar in catalog of up to $150!

Since 1957, performance enthusiasts have trusted AutoMeter gauges, which have always been made in America, to accurately deliver the information they need to protect engines and win. That is because AutoMeter puts rugged, race-proven movements into every gauge.

When it comes to style, nobody offers more great looking options than AutoMeter. You can make over your entire dash, replace a failing speedometer or gather new performance data (air/fuel ratio, boost, rpm, vacuum and more) by adding gauges from RockAuto's huge selection. RockAuto also has the AutoMeter wiring kits, mounting solutions, and accessories you need for easy installation.

Auto Meter Gauges

Find vehicle-specific Dash Panel & Gauge Kits, Gauge Mounts, and individual Gauges in the "Interior" category of the RockAuto.com catalog. Also be sure to check out our wide selection of universal Gauges, Gauge Mounts and Gauge Kits in the “Interior” category of the "Tools & Universal Parts" tab.

REBATE!

Watch for the Star in catalog next to gauges eligible for the rebate. See rebate details on our Promotions & Rebates page. Do not delay, this rebate ends December 31st, 2021!

Forum of the Month
460Ford.com

460Ford.com is a forum community dedicated to Ford big block owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about performance, modifications, horsepower, tuning, build specifications and more! Whether you are tuning up the engine in your motorhome, installing a 460 in a kit car, or just interested in learning about Ford's big block, this is a forum for you.

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
Repair Mistakes & Blunders

It was a cold, wintry November morning when a customer pulled into the service drive, exited his Chevy Astro van, entered the warm service department reception area and excitedly told the service manager that we had screwed up his service the previous day.

Our service manager, Ed, said “Let’s go take a listen to your van,” and both he and the customer went out into the cold. The van started right up and sounded okay, but when it was driven forward or in reverse, there were some funny noises underneath the Astro van. Ed got out, kneeled down to look under the van and started chuckling louder and louder after he saw what was causing the noise. He asked the irate customer to kneel down so he could point out the problem. There were a dozen or more duck decoys strung together, much worse for the wear, caught on the van's undercarriage. Some were even dragging behind the van with their lead weights causing them to bounce with some authority.

The customer could not believe that he had drug his own decoys out of his parking garage, down the main avenue of town and then jumped on poor Ed for something that he had caused. It was a scenario that we have enjoyed sharing for years and well into the future.

Tom in Idaho

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 RockAuto 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

The Pontiac Fiero mid-engine sports car was sold from 1984-1988. What does "Fiero" mean?

A. cruel
B. proud
C. wild
D. all the above

Answer below

Another Line of Defense
Tom's Story
Locking gas cap/plugs

My wife recently had to rent a car for the first time in years and asked me for a briefing on the latest new car features that might be puzzling. I warned her that rental car companies have secretly conspired with auto manufacturers to hide fuel door release buttons/levers. (This encourages renters to prepay for entire tanks of gasoline even if they end up only driving the rental car fifty miles.)

After successfully finding the fuel door release hidden on the dash, floor, door panel, console or glove box, I advised my wife to not be surprised if there is no fuel tank cap. The capless fuel tanks long common on Fords are now found on models from Chrysler, GM and other brands.

My spouse then asked how people are supposed to keep thieves from stealing gas if there is no (locking) gas cap. That is a good question because fuel doors that are challenging for honest people may be easy for "skilled" thieves to open.

My parents had 10+ gallons of fuel stolen out of a late-model Hyundai Santa Fe's gas tank after filling up at a grocery store's pumps, parking the vehicle and walking into the store. The thief apparently was watching the pumps to identify a vehicle with a full tank of gas to target. Simply pushing on the SUV's fuel filler door opened it, but the fuel filler door locked closed when the vehicle's doors were locked. I examined the SUV the next day and could not figure out how the thief had jimmied open the fuel door without even damaging the paint. Too bad the thief wasted his/her talents on thievery rather than something useful.

Installing a locking fuel tank cap on your own vehicle provides another line of defense against crooks. RockAuto's manufacturers are now making locking gas cap/plugs for more of the capless fuel tanks (see photos of example caps/plugs). Putting a cap on a capless tank also offers the benefit of keeping dust out of the tank. The flap that blocks the capless fuel tank filler neck creates a good seal, but any film of dirt that collects on the outside of the flap may get scraped off and pushed into the tank when a fuel pump nozzle is inserted. See the locking Fuel Tank Caps available for your specific vehicle under "Fuel & Air" 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.

David's 2018 GMC Sierra
David's 2018 GMC Sierra

At first glance this might look like a standard 2018 GMC Sierra All Terrain, but have a close look and you will see the steering wheel is on the "wrong" side (the right-hand side).

A relatively few of these magnificent American trucks get imported into Australia, after being converted to right-hand drive, and we are lucky enough to own one! Our use is pretty typical – as a heavy duty tow vehicle, as we tow what is (for Australia) a large caravan or RV – ours is 28 feet long and weighs 9,950 lbs – easily handled by the 6.6 litre Duramax. In Australia these trucks are all diesel, as diesel is very much the preferred option for our long distances.

Because these trucks are not supported by a dealer network here, RockAuto is a lifesaver for the American truck community in Australia. I (as does almost every owner) buy all my regular service parts, as well as any repair parts I might need, from RockAuto. The long distances and remote areas we travel through mean that we need to carry a range of essential spares – in my case I currently have a complete set of filters, a transmission case gasket and a complete set of coolant hoses in a tub – just in case.

Regards,
David in Australia

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, RockAuto social media or other commercial use. New, old, import, domestic, daily driver, trailer queen, classic, antique, we want to see them all! For submission instructions and tips for taking pictures of your car, please visit our Photography Tips & Submission Info page

Automotive Trivia Answer
Automotive Trivia

The Pontiac Fiero mid-engine sports car was sold from 1984-1988. What does "Fiero" mean?

A. cruel
B. proud
C. wild
Answer: D. All the above (Fiero can mean all these things in Italian and/or Spanish)

Back up to trivia question