Safe driving requires your vehicle's wiper and washer system to operate at peak efficiency. RockAuto offers all of the parts you need to service this important system at reliably low prices.

Manufacturers recommend replacing your wiper blades annually. If you are past this interval or if your wiper blades are leaving streaks and smears on your windshield, now is the time to replace them. RockAuto offers premium beam blades (like Trico Ultra), specialty winter blades (offered in beam or conventional style with anti-icing boots), and everything in between. If you need help narrowing down the correct style wiper blade, visit the wiper blade Info pages to view a handy Wiper Blade Comparison Chart.

On some vehicles, if the wiper blades stop working, it can be difficult to determine whether it is due to a faulty wiper motor or a worn wiper linkage/transmission. With certain designs, the original equipment motor and linkage wear out at the same rate. Replacing only the motor or only the linkage will make it necessary to redo the repair to replace the other part relatively soon. RockAuto now has an expanded selection of Wiper Motor & Linkage Assemblies from manufacturers like Motorcraft, Dorman, and Mopar to help restore the wiper system with just one repair. The assemblies arrive ready to install, saving time/money and simplify installation.

Find Wiper Blades, Wiper Motor & Linkage Assemblies, and other wiper parts for your specific car or truck in the "Wiper & Washer" category of the RockAuto.com catalog. Check out the Tools & Universal Parts tab for Rain Repellent, Concentrated Windshield Washer Fluid, Wiper Blade Refills and more!

ToyotaNation.com forum is a community dedicated to all Toyota models. Discuss the Camry, Tacoma, Highlander, 4Runner, Rav4 and more! This forum is active with friendly members sharing information on all aspects of Toyota cars, SUVs and trucks; from answers to technical questions to general all around Toyota talk.

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.

A few years back I was the proud owner of a baby-blue 1972 Datsun PL-521 pickup. It had less than 100K miles on it but had been a farm truck that spent several years stuck in a field with locked up brakes. After fixing the brakes and replacing the head gasket, water pump and other wear items (thanks RockAuto!), I started using the truck as my work vehicle.

Every so often I would try and start the truck and the engine would not turn over. I assumed the 40 plus year old starter was to blame and ordered a new one. After installing it, I was dismayed to discover that it would still occasionally fail to crank. I started performing all sorts of tests with my limited knowledge and tools. I was almost certain that where the wiring harness passed through the firewall, years of rust and corrosion had eaten through the wire insulation and was causing an intermittent short in the ignition circuit.

Just as I was about to dive into taking apart the ignition switch and the wiring harness, a friend walked up to the truck and asked "Did you check this?", as he reached over and effortlessly pulled the positive battery cable from its terminal! Even though I had removed and reinstalled the negative battery cable many times, I had never removed the positive cable. A simple cleaning and tightening of the positive battery terminal solved the little Datsun's starting problems.

It has been said many times, but always check the most obvious things first!

Sincerely,
Richard in Alabama

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!

Based on 2019 data, AAA reported new vehicles average how much per month to own?

A. $773.50
B. $1,085.62
C. $1,307.07

Answer below

Keep reading owners manuals because even new things like tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) that you thought you understood, may change significantly year to year and between vehicle models.

RockAuto.com has TPMS sensors for 2012 Honda Accords (found under in the "Wheel" category) but not for 2013 Accords because that car and some other brands' models no longer have valve stem style air pressure sensors on their wheels. Their "indirect" TPMS systems rely on the ABS Wheel Speed Sensors used for anti-lock brakes and traction control (found under the "Brake & Wheel Hub" category).

A change in a wheel's speed could mean a change in the tire's circumference which could mean the tire has low air pressure, so the computer will turn on the TPMS warning light on the dash. However, there might also be unusual changes in wheel speed if the driver does a smoky burnout, sharply turns the steering wheel, puts some bags of gravel in the trunk or installs snow chains.

Most car manufacturers have made it relatively easy to reset their indirect TPMS and turn off the warning light after a driver hauls home those bags of gravel. There may be a dedicated TPMS reset button on the dash or infotainment system. Read the owners manual to find the car's TPMS light reset procedure.

Typical TPMS (installed inside wheel) and
ABS Speed Sensor (plugged into wheel hub)

Reading the TPMS section of the owners manual may prevent misunderstandings and even save money at the tire store too. The driver who did the massive smoky burnout should not be surprised when the tire store tells him his (indirect) TPMS warning light will not turn off unless they replace his tires so that the tread depths and tire circumferences all match once again. (Or, maybe they will suggest moving wheels/tires and doing more smoky burnouts to wear down the other tires' tread!)

A driver of a vehicle with "direct" TPMS with air pressure sensors in the wheels will also benefit from knowing system basics and the age of his/her TPMS sensors. Sensor batteries wear out, and it is a good idea to replace TPMS sensors if they have been operating for more than a few years whenever new tires are installed. Bringing a set of new TPMS sensors from RockAuto.com and an understanding of your car's TPMS and its reset procedure to the tire store may save you significant money and/or help the tire store move your car through their service bay faster.

My experience has been that tire stores typically charge more than double what RockAuto does for TPMS sensors partly because they are trying to defray the potential costs of time spent having an employee track down the correct new sensors, performing a TPMS reset procedure and/or explaining a TPMS reset procedure to the vehicle owner.

In addition to the owners manual, you can look under "Wheel" in the RockAuto.com catalog to see if your car has (direct) TPMS sensors. Many vehicles conveniently use sensors with "no programming required." If necessary, TPMS Tools are available under the "Tools & Universal Parts" tab or you can just expect to pay the tire store for using their reset tool and labor.

Tom Taylor,
RockAuto.com

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

I am currently rebuilding my 1987 Nissan 300ZX with the help of RockAuto as most Nissan dealerships here in the UK no longer have parts for this car (according to my research there are less than 20 examples left in the UK). I purchased this Nissan about seven years ago and it has become a bit of a labour of love. Due to dreaded rust, I have had welding done to the inner fenders and all the suspension has been powder coated with new bushings installed. I am currently rebuilding the engine using 1mm oversize pistons, rings, an Ajusa gasket set and engine mounts from RockAuto. Without this supply, I would not be able to fix the car, and I would have had no option but to send it to the salvage yard.

Big thanks to RockAuto!
Steve in the United Kingdom (RockAuto customer for over 10 years)

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

Based on 2019 data, AAA reported new vehicles average how much per month to own?

Answer: A. $773.50 (source:https://www.aaa.com/autorepair/articles/average-annual-cost-of-new-vehicle-ownership)
B. $1,085.62
C. $1,307.07

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