Floor Mats
For serious protection against winter grime and spills, choose Westin Profile Rubber Floor Mats and Cargo Area Mats. Precise laser measured fit, raised edges, factory retainer hook connections, and shape retention under heavy loads/extreme temperatures are just some of the features built into these mats that ensure they fit, last, protect and make interiors look like new. From now until December 31st, 2018, Westin is offering a $15 mail in rebate on Profile Floor Liners. Find them for your specific car or truck under "Interior" in the RockAuto.com catalog.

Beam Wiper Blades
Help your loved ones travel safely this winter and introduce them to the most advanced wiper technology with beam wiper blades. The sleek, curved design will not only look great on their windshield, but also provides superior performance. Unlike conventional frame style blades, beam blades deliver a uniform, streak-free wipe every time, and the one-piece structure is resistant to ice and snow clogging. See all the Wiper Blades available for your vehicle listed under "Wiper & Washer."

Inexpensive Gifts & Stocking Stuffers:

• Headlamp Restoration Kit (Philips HRK00XM) Sold Out (sign up for an availability alert)
  Yellow, hazy headlight lenses are an eyesore and a danger to drivers and passengers. Take the haze away with a Philips Headlight Restoration Kit. Restore your headlights to like-new condition and finish!
• Rain Repellant (Trico 47100)
  Improve what you see through your windows and windshield. Apply Trico’s glass treatment and rain repellant to provide all season performance by repelling rain, sleet and snow, dramatically improving visibility.
• SolarGuard (XL or STD)
  Want a cooler, more comfortable interior waiting for you when you are ready to hit the road? Want to protect your interior from sun damage? SolarGuard will stop the sun's rays from entering through your windshield from virtually any angle, keeping your vehicle cooler even on the warmest of days! Wholesaler Closeout priced at less than $5 and individually boxed, SolarGuards make great gifts.

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

GarageRiot.com is an online community for car enthusiasts everywhere. If you want to show off your ride, attend local events or simply share experiences with other car nuts – this is the place for you. No more jumping all over the net trying to satisfy your passion. If it is auto-related, it is here, all in one place.

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.

One icy winter evening, the family set out in our ’68 Catalina. The Pontiac had a “miss,” which we noticed before, but had not diagnosed. After a few miles, the miss became more pronounced and rather than chance breaking down on a cold night, we decided to return home. Once home, my dad opened the hood, saw dripping fuel from a fuel line burst into flames and quickly ran for a fire extinguisher. Unfortunately, it was too little, too late. By the time the fire was doused, the wiring, tires and everything else in the front end had gone up in flames. The keys even melted in the ignition. We reported the incident to the insurance company, and they agreed to send a tow truck sometime in the next day or so.

The following morning, our next door neighbor was having trouble starting her car and called her roadside assistance service to check the battery. Later that day, a tow truck came up our driveway, and the driver asked my mother, “Is this the car?” while pointing to the burned out Pontiac. She said "yes," thinking our insurance company had come to tow the car. He pensively walked around the Pontiac's carcass, looked at the burned tires and melted dash, lifted the scorched hood and replied, “Lady, I don’t think I can get this started.” The tow truck driver was at the wrong house.

Gary in Pennsylvania

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!

The "Iron Duke" 2.5L four cylinder engine was installed in which vehicle?

A. 1980-1983 Jeep CJ
B. 1980-1985 Chevrolet Citation
C. 1987-1993 US Postal Service delivery vehicle built by Grumman
D. all the above

Answer below

Battery charger owners manuals warn, "Do not charge a frozen battery." The altered chemistry/conductivity inside a frozen battery may trick the battery charger into indicating the battery is fully charged and healthy when it is actually discharged and full of ice.

But, when does a car battery freeze? The battery does not freeze when I leave my car parked outside when it is 40 below. (-40 F happens to equal -40 C, and it is also frequently the temperature in my wife's home town in northern Minnesota.) Do I need to drive north in Canada until I find temperatures that will freeze a battery?

Inside a conventional car battery is a mixture of acid and water. When the battery is fully charged, the acid/water mixture will not freeze as long as the temperature is above about -70 F (-57 C). In a discharged battery (anything below 12 volts), pure water separates out from the acid/water mixture. The temperature only has to drop to 32 F (0 C) to freeze that water.

If a conventional car battery is likely discharged and the temperature is below freezing, then assume the battery is frozen. Remove the battery from the vehicle and take it somewhere warm where it can thaw out before trying to charge it with a battery charger.

The absorbed glass mat (AGM) car batteries RockAuto sells do not have that acid/water mixture sloshing around inside and are much more resistant to cold, even when the battery's charge drops below 12V. Something that avid RockAuto.com shoppers may have noticed is that the AutoMeter and Bosch battery chargers we carry (under "Tools & Universal Parts") have "AGM" charging modes. The AGM mode on the newest battery chargers often (photo on right) is for AGM batteries OR conventional batteries at cold temperatures (Bosch defines cold as less than 41 F (5 C)). In AGM mode, the battery charger creates a slightly higher voltage to help the AGM or chilly conventional battery charge a bit faster.

Tom Taylor,
RockAuto.com

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

This is my Factory Five Racing Mk3 Roadster built in 2009. I purchased it in 2017 from the original owner. My wife supported this endeavor in celebration of my recent advancement to Chief Petty Officer (E-7) in the US Coast Guard. She said it would also serve as my birthday, anniversary and holiday gifts for the foreseeable future, which was absolutely fine by me.

Like most hobbyists, I wanted to freshen up a couple things and change others to my liking. With the drivetrain and suspension primarily comprised of 1987-2004 Ford Mustang parts, RockAuto has been an excellent source for high quality parts at low prices. I have purchased engine gaskets, spark plugs, hoses, clamps, belts, a speedometer cable, sensors/solenoids and brake pads. Thank you again for offering a wide variety of quality products for the budget-minded consumer.

Brian from the Gulf Coast

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.

The "Iron Duke" 2.5L four cylinder engine was installed in which vehicle?

A. 1980-1983 Jeep CJ
B. 1980-1985 Chevrolet Citation
C. 1987-1993 US Postal Service delivery vehicle built by Grumman
Answer: D. all the above (GM's Iron Duke was installed in numerous GM and AMC models and other diverse vehicles, including boats!)

Back up to trivia question