RockAuto is pleased to announce an expansion of Motor Mounts Kits in the RockAuto.com catalog. From respected brands like Anchor, DEA / Marmon Ride Control, SKP and Westar, RockAuto now offers hundreds of Motor Mount Kits for thousands of vehicles.

Why a Motor Mount Kit? Kits conveniently provide all the parts needed for a complete and successful repair including Motor Mount(s), Transmission Mount(s) and Torque Strut Mount(s) as required, per system.

These kits are conveniently assembled to save you money and take the worry out of choosing the correct parts (in the correct quantities) for your vehicle. Failing mounts create noise/vibration that reduces safety, vehicle performance and the life of other parts. If you have one worn or broken mount, the other mounts have often been carrying extra load, so it is a good idea to replace them all at the same time with a kit.

October 21, 2021 through November 4, 2021, SKP is offering RockAuto customers an exclusive 10% instant rebate on Motor Mount Kits. Simply add a qualifying kit to your cart and instantly save even more on RockAuto's reliably low prices! SKP efficiently makes a wide variety of quality replacement auto parts. Their precision manufacturing systems, rigorous testing standards and ISO 9001 certification ensure each SKP part meets or exceeds OE specifications.

Find the Motor Mount Kits for your specific vehicle in the “Engine” category of the RockAuto.com catalog.

JKOwners.com is an online community dedicated to Jeep Wrangler JK (2007-2018) owners and enthusiasts. Join the discussion about performance, modifications, reviews, engine swaps, troubleshooting, suspension and more!

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.

In the spring of 1979, I lived in a town whose sports teams and the town nickname were the Maple Leafs because the streets were lined with maple trees. By the fall, my 1975 Chevy C10 with the straight six needed a new fuel filter, air filter, spark plugs and some other maintenance. Living in an old house turned into a duplex, there was no garage or even driveway so I had to work on my truck at the curb. I headed to work the next day, but the truck would barely run above idle; it had very little power, and consumed twice the usual amount of fuel.

I double checked all my work; the ignition, wires, cap, put in another fuel filter—no change. I gave up and took it to the Chevrolet dealer in town. They called me after lunch and said everything in the ignition system measured correctly, the fuel pressure was good, the compression was good, so they were stumped as to why it ran so poorly—"What else can you tell us about the work you did?" To which I replied, “Nothing out of the ordinary.”

Late in the day, I got a second call telling me that after six hours of labor they had finally found the problem. Apparently, with the hood open, the air cleaner snorkel off and a breeze blowing, one of those falling maple leafs had landed in my carburetor and lodged itself in the venturi which greatly disturbed the airflow. Lesson: when working under a tree, put a cover on any open part of the engine.

David in Illinois

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!

Why is it harder to buy (newer) used cars built between 2009 and 2011 than it is to buy (older) used cars built between 2005 and 2007?

A. The continuously variable transmission (CVT) was introduced on many models starting in 2009 and those early CVT designs were problem prone.

B. Most states phased out emissions testing for models built between 2009 and 2011 (specific model year varies by state), making these vehicles more desirable and more likely to be retained by existing owners.

C. About 25% fewer new cars were sold from 2009-2011 compared to 2005-2007. Fewer new cars sold back then means fewer used cars available today.

Answer below

Older Design Blower Motor & Resistor

Modern Blower Motor & Control Module/Resistor

The heat and air conditioning systems in some late-model vehicles (i.e. Ford trucks) combine the Blower Motor and Blower Motor Control Module/Resistor into one part. Combining the parts probably saves money on the assembly line. Vehicle manufacturers may also have realized it is a good idea to replace the two parts simultaneously; especially if it appears the Blower Motor Control Module/Resistor is what failed.

Vehicles built in the 1900s used relatively simple blower motor resistors. Turning down the blower fan speed switch on the dash adjusted the variable resistor so that it converted more current into heat, less current passed on to the blower motor and the motor spun the fan at a slower speed. If a portion of the variable resistor burned out like a light bulb filament, then zero current or a fixed amount of current would reach the blower motor, and the fan speed would no longer be adjustable. The blower motor might always spin the fan at full blast. A failing blower motor resistor would typically not harm the blower motor and vice versa.

Modern Blower Motor Control Module/Resistors use electrical current much more efficiently. A smaller amount of current is converted to waste heat, and the Blower Motor Control Module/Resistor feeds the Blower Motor pulses of current that rapidly turn it on and off (duty cycle) to maintain the desired fan speed.

As the Blower Motor wears out, it may start to suck up spikes of current that exceed what the Blower Motor Control Module/Resistor was designed to deliver. Imagine a computerized relay designed to rapidly cycle a low-wattage light bulb now having to rapidly power a high-wattage table saw on and off. The Blower Motor Control Module/Resistor cannot handle this high or unpredictable current draw and fails.

Connecting a new Blower Motor Control Module/Resistor to a failing Blower Motor can quickly destroy the new Blower Motor Control Module/Resistor. If the Blower Motor Control Module/Resistor needs to be replaced, then the Blower Motor should be replaced too. See the blower/resistor parts for your specific vehicle under "Heat & Air Conditioning" 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.

Hello, I am a huge fan of RockAuto and have nothing but good things to say about your shop! My car is a 1985 Mercedes-Benz 280TE. It was purchased new in Frankfurt, Germany before making its way to the US and then finally to Toronto, Canada. It currently has 320,000km and was running just fine on original gaskets prior to a recent mechanical restoration. I was able to purchase parts like a fan clutch, water pump, cv axles, gaskets, and much more thanks to your large parts inventory.

Thank you for keeping the old girl going!

Gonzalo in Canada

Editor's Note: The Mercedes-Benz 280 is a gasoline powered version of the W123 chassis not sold in North America after 1981. The diesel powered 300 model was sold in North America.

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Why is it harder to buy (newer) used cars built between 2009 and 2011 than it is to buy (older) used cars built between 2005 and 2007?

A. The continuously variable transmission (CVT) was introduced on many models starting in 2009 and those early CVT designs were problem prone.

B. Most states phased out emissions testing for models built between 2009 and 2011 (specific model year varies by state), making these vehicles more desirable and more likely to be retained by existing owners.

Answer: C. About 25% fewer new cars were sold from 2009-2011 compared to 2005-2007. Fewer new cars sold back then means fewer used cars available today. (source: https://www.statista.com/statistics/199983/us-vehicle-sales-since-1951/)

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