Is it time to replace a loose, worn, or faded sun visor in your 1968 Chevrolet Camaro, 1984 Buick Century or 1998 GMC K1500 Pickup? RockAuto now carries Acme replacement Sun Visors and Brackets for classic and pre-2000 GM vehicles. For over 15 years, Acme has manufactured the highest quality replacement sun visors. All of their patterns duplicate the original factory parts. Sun visors feature vinyl or cloth with the correct grain or weave, in a variety of colors, ensuring an OE look and fit. With premium construction materials like flexible, moisture-resistant substrate board, and rust-resistant galvanized metal channels and pins, you can expect a durable sun visor that will look great for years to come!

RockAuto will be carrying more sun visors from Acme for Ford and Chrysler vehicles in the near future, so check back if you do not see a sun visor for your car at this time. Find Sun Visors under the "Interior" category for your specific car or truck in the RockAuto catalog.

RamForumz.com is a large community of like-minded Ram truck owners and enthusiasts who value "on topic," clean discussion. Solutions to problems, maintenance and repair tips, customizing, general discussions and much more covering all generations of the Ram truck can be found here.

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.

Back when I was a college student at Penn State, I would drive back home every weekend in my 1948 Chevy Stylemaster Business Coupe. I had found it in a barn (seriously) in 1982. The routine was to fill up before I left the campus and then fill up again before the return trip. One evening before I left, I discovered I was missing the gas cap. Being a 1948 car, I could not just get one off the shelf, so I ordered a new, locking gas cap. After receiving it, I fell back into the old travel routine.

Soon after, the Chevy would stutter and stop running just before I got home and just before I got back to the campus. I found that if I sat on the side of the road and waited long enough, the car would start up and run normally. Since it was hot weather, I figured it must have been vapor lock. After several more instances (in cooler weather), I noticed it happened at almost the exact same spot on the highway just before getting home and just before getting back to school. I thought maybe the fuel gauge was inaccurate so I brought a five-gallon can of gas with me the next trip. Sure enough, the Chevy stuttered and stopped within a mile of when I thought it would.

I hopped out to put gas in the tank to see if that did anything. When I unlocked the gas cap, I could not twist it off with one hand. Using both hands, it finally gave but with a loud hissing sound. I knew now what was going on. The new gas cap did not have a vent hole. It took exactly the same amount of time after filling up and driving to home or school for the vacuum created in the tank to be greater than what the fuel pump could pull against. I left the cap on loosely until I could get a vented cap and never had a problem again.

Mike in New Jersey

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!

Front ends on the 1958 Ford Thunderbird and 1958 Chevrolet Corvette had a new feature that was illegal in the USA prior to 1957. What was that new feature?

A. four headlights
B. functional hood scoop(s)
C. plastic grille ("Bakelite" thermosetting phenol formaldehyde resin)

Answer below

Saddlebag shaped fluid containers help car designers make better use of all available space, but they can make repairs more challenging. I am now an expert at replacing gaskets on the saddlebag shaped oil pans of the '80s era Ford 5.0L V8s in the family fleet. (Buy a flexible molded rubber oil pan gasket from RockAuto. Lower the oil pan until it rests on the crossmember. Use the one inch of available space to slip in the new gasket.) My family fleet now includes a late-model Dodge Challenger that has a saddlebag shaped fuel tank. Two "saddlebags" full of gasoline increases the complexity of the fuel system.

Saddlebag style fuel tanks are found on BMW, Chrysler, Dodge, Mercedes and other brand vehicles. These fuel tanks often have two fuel pumps and two fuel gauge sending units. The primary fuel pump is typically located on the side of the tank closest to the fuel tank filler neck. Designs vary in how they use pumps, siphoning and plumbing to keep the primary pump primed and deliver the right amount of fuel to the engine. Some systems only use the auxiliary fuel pump to transfer gas to the primary side of the tank. Some designs have the primary pump send gasoline to the auxiliary fuel pump assembly which acts as a pressure regulator to control the volume of fuel before it is sent off to the engine.

Primary (left) and auxiliary fuel pumps

Owners of these vehicles can run into trouble if they see fuel pump related computer trouble codes and/or an erratic fuel gauge needle, decide to replace the primary fuel pump assembly and then are disappointed when the problems persist. With some vehicles it is easy not to know there are two fuel pumps unless the owner peers under the vehicle and sees the saddlebag shaped fuel tank. Some vehicles have a convenient access hatch for the primary fuel pump located under the rear seat, but the fuel tank must be removed to access the auxiliary fuel pump.

If the fuel gauge never rises above half full and/or never falls below a quarter full, then that might indicate there is a problem with the auxiliary fuel pump assembly. A fuel gauge needle stuck on empty might indicate the primary fuel pump assembly is causing the problem. Hopefully, the computer trouble codes will provide clues as to which pump assembly is acting up. However, the computer cannot see the condition of the wiring and electrical connectors. Always first check to see if the wiring/connectors for the fuel pumps are corroded or otherwise compromised. It might just be a crusty electrical connector shorting to ground that is causing the erratic fuel gauge readings and trouble codes. Read the repair manual (found under "Literature" in the RockAuto.com catalog) to learn how to diagnose and repair the fuel system on your specific vehicle. Look under "Fuel & Air" to see the fuel pump assemblies your vehicle uses.

Tom Taylor,
RockAuto.com

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

Back in 2006, I started to see photos and articles about the upcoming 2007 Ford Focus ZX3 and liked the way it looked. I started researching the Focus and the available options and I picked up the 2007 sales brochure at the local dealership. I liked the Aqua Blue (a new color in 2007) and decided to order a two door ZX3. I selected the SES (Sport European Suspension) trim level with the optional Street Appearance Package which consisted of a special front air dam with fog lights, a rear spoiler and diffuser with chrome exhaust tip. The interior has features like tilt steering, cruise control, heated seats and mirrors, electric door locks and windows and the upgraded Sony stereo system with steering wheel controls and sub woofer.

I have ordered a bunch of parts for my Focus from RockAuto over the years; everything from exhaust, to HVAC controls, to interior light bulbs, to lug nuts and suspension bushings.

Mike in Virginia

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

Front ends on the 1958 Ford Thunderbird and 1958 Chevrolet Corvette had a new feature that was illegal in the USA prior to 1957. What was that new feature?

Answer: A. four headlights
B. functional hood scoop(s)
C. plastic grille ("Bakelite" thermosetting phenol formaldehyde resin)

Back up to trivia question