RockAuto recently added Bosch AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat) batteries to our growing selection of battery brands, including Exide, Deka, Motorcraft, ACDelco and FullRiver! Bosch AGM Batteries provide peak power and performance for vehicles ranging from a 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee to a 2008 Audi A5 to a 1985 Cadillac Eldorado. Bosch also offers complimentary jump start assistance with the purchase of each AGM battery! To learn more, visit the Info pages for Bosch AGM batteries.

AGM batteries can last up to 2X longer than the comparable conventional flooded lead acid battery even in the most extreme climates. Their technology offers a dependable power supply for modern vehicles with advanced on-board electronics and Start/Stop technology. AGM batteries can be a good match for many older cars too, because they are less likely to be damaged by accidental deep discharges, and they will not leak.

Like conventional flooded lead acid batteries, AGM car batteries are welcomed wherever old car batteries are gathered for recycling. (Recyclenation.com has a handy tool individuals can use to locate a lead acid battery drop off. Over 99% of car batteries are recycled in the USA with the lead, plastic battery housings and acid going into new batteries, laundry detergent and other products.)

To see the AGM Battery options we have for your specific vehicle, go to the RockAuto catalog and click on the "Electrical" category. Order a replacement AGM battery today and avoid getting stranded out in the cold.

Gift ideas for the DIYers and auto enthusiasts on your list from the RockAuto catalog!

Mobile Worker: For those who work outside an office, and are always on the go, gift a Cell Phone Holder, Interior Cleaners, or a Dash Board Cover (found in “Interior”) to enhance their mobile workspace.

Hauler: Whether they are hauling precious cargo or bicycles for their next adventure, RockAuto has you covered. From a Hitch Lock, to an Outside Mirror Extender, to a Bike Rack, find parts for the hauler in your life.

Customizer: Give parts and kits that improve performance and appearance. From Mud Flaps (found in “Accessories”), to a performance Caliper, Rotor & Brake Pad Kit (found in “Brake & Wheel Hub”), to an Exhaust System Kit (found in “Exhaust & Emission”), help express their individuality.

Restorer: Whether they are working to get a barn find running again or finalizing details on a meticulously maintained ride, find Lift Supports, Emblems (both found in “Body & Lamp Assembly”), Repair Manuals (found in “Literature”) and more to help roll back the years on someone's favorite daily-driver or classic.

Let Them Choose the Part, Repair Manual or Tool They Need Most
Make your gift giving effortless this year with a RockAuto Gift Certificate and let the recipient get the parts or tools he/she most needs! Gift certificates are available for any amount, are easy to purchase and even easier to use.

FordFE.com is a community of like minded people that want to help grow the knowledge base for the Ford FE series engines (352, 360, 390, 406, 410, 427 and 428) and the cars and trucks they reside in (Galaxie, Thunderbird, Torino, F-Series trucks, etc.). Everything FE engine related (and even sometimes just Ford related) is discussed on this easy to browse website.

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.

Many years ago, I had a 1989 Cadillac Eldorado with some brake issues. I had been changing drums, rotors, and pads on my own vehicles since 1980 so I knew I could handle this. I swapped out the front pads without much effort and proceeded to the rear. For some reason I could not get the rear caliper pistons to push back into the caliper to make room for the new pads. I bent my rusty C-clamp and finally graduated to a pulley puller and a sizable pipe wrench to press the pistons back into the calipers. Upon test driving the Caddy, I realized the rear brakes were not functioning. Frustrated at the failure, I took the car to a reputable mechanic.

They called me shortly to let me know the Caddy was ready. Trying to act like I did not know what happened, I asked how the old calipers failed. They told me "whoever" worked on them last destroyed the rear calipers because they did not know the caliper pistons on this model “screw” back in. Lesson learned.

Now I know what those four little slots are on the piston. I could have used Disc Brake Piston Tool W80621 from RockAuto.com and saved the repair expense at the mechanic.

Lee in Arkansas

Notched Rear Caliper Piston & Brake Piston Tool

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!

Where did the Lincoln car brand name originally come from?

A. In 1917, Henry Leland chose to name his new car company "Lincoln" to honor President Abraham Lincoln.

B. British immigrant, Richard Trevithick founded "Lincoln Boiler Company" in 1844. In Old English, "Lincoln" means "freshwater." By 1909, Lincoln had completely switched from making industrial steam boilers to complete cars.

C. "Lincoln" is the name of the ancient pharaohs' enormous palace in the center of Luxor, Egypt. Investors in Lincoln Motor Company thought the name conveyed wealth and exclusivity appropriate for a luxury car.

Answer below

The bad news is there is possibly something new to worry about. The good news is that awareness and simple tools are enough to prevent this problem from literally striking you in the head or hands.

Pressurized gas Lift Support struts have been holding up hatches for over forty years. I replaced the lift supports (found under "Body & Lamp Assembly" in the RockAuto.com catalog) that hold open the huge, heavy hatch on my '86 Mustang GT when I noticed on cold days the lift supports were unable to hold the hatch open. The pressure exerted by the gas inside a lift support gradually drops as the temperature gradually drops. A failing lift support will eventually not have enough gas pressure to hold open the hatch, especially if the temperature falls.

Pressurized gas lift supports now also commonly hold open hoods on newer cars. Many of these "newer" cars, like my youngest daughter's 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe, are old enough to have failing lift supports with low gas pressure. Unlike hatches/trunks, hood lift supports are more likely to be exposed to sudden temperature changes that may lead to quick, potentially disastrous pressure changes inside the lift supports.

For example, imagine my daughter driving around town in her Santa Fe. The car's original equipment (OE) hood lift supports have warmed to a pleasant 80 F (27 C) in the hot engine compartment. She then pulls into our garage and opens the hood so that she and I can change the spark plugs and coil-on-plug-boots. The warm gas inside the failing OE lift supports has enough pressure to hold open the hood.

Hood Prop and Lift Support Clamp

However, the temperature inside the unheated garage is only 20 F (-7 C). The exposed hood lift supports immediately start cooling. The gas pressure inside the lift supports drops rapidly. About 1/2 hour into the repair, there is no longer enough gas pressure inside the failing OE lift supports, and the hood falls on my head. My daughter is anguished that her car's hood has a dent in it.

Luckily, such a hypothetical drama-in-real-life can be prevented by regularly checking to see if hood lift supports perform completely normally on the coldest of days while the engine compartment is still cold. Replace the hood lift supports if they seem weaker at extreme temperatures or otherwise perform inconsistently.

A professional mechanic is at the greatest risk because the hood on a new customer's car may not have been opened for many months. The hood lift supports may have been slowly losing gas pressure with nobody to notice.

Many professionals protect themselves, their tools and customers' vehicles by always using a Lift Support Clamp and/or Hood Prop. The lift support clamp attaches to a lift support's rod so that it cannot retract. (The lift support clamp is made of soft metals that will not mar the hardened steel rod.) Hood props are sturdy, easily adjustable sticks.

Tom Taylor,
RockAuto.com

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

This is my 1981 DeLorean that I purchased about six years ago. I have bought many parts on RockAuto.com over the years and have been consistently surprised as to the number of parts you carry for the DeLorean. I just recently converted the car from an automatic to manual transmission, and I was very happy to see that you carry the clutch for it! I also recently upgraded the engine to an EFI fuel injection system and used parts from various OE manufacturers to do it. RockAuto was a great source for the many Ford, GM and Chrysler parts that I needed.

Jayce in Michigan

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.

Where did the Lincoln car brand name originally come from?

Answer: A. In 1917, Henry Leland chose to name his new car company "Lincoln" to honor President Abraham Lincoln.

B. British immigrant, Richard Trevithick founded "Lincoln Boiler Company" in 1844. In Old English, "Lincoln" means "freshwater." By 1909, Lincoln had completely switched from making industrial steam boilers to complete cars.

C. "Lincoln" is the name of the ancient pharaohs' enormous palace in the center of Luxor, Egypt. Investors in Lincoln Motor Company thought the name conveyed wealth and exclusivity appropriate for a luxury car.

Back up to trivia question