Lund International Accessories

RockAuto now carries Lund International products. Lund has been manufacturing parts since 1965 and is now one of the world's leading automotive accessories providers offering functional, high-performance, protective and stylish upgrades. RockAuto has Lund fender flares, running boards, step/nerf bars, hood deflectors, truck bed accessories and much more for Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford, Toyota and other truck, SUV and CUV brands.

Add style and function to your vehicle with Lund products found under the "Accessories" and "Body" categories in the RockAuto catalog!

Forum of the Month

FordRSNation.com is an enthusiast owned and operated website dedicated to the soon to be released 2016 Ford Focus RS. RSNation has members from all over the world that come together to share their passion for the Focus RS. If you are a fast Ford fan, come join us at FordRSNation.com where our motto is One Team, One Passion, One Nation, FordRSNation! 

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.

Repair Mistakes & Blunders

Talk about “Ouch!” and a hard lesson learned. Back in the early '80s when I was just barely 20, I purchased a '69 Mercury Cougar with an automatic transmission. The transmission had a problem of popping out of park when the engine was not running, which sometimes meant I would find my car parked in a different location than where I left it (luckily the car never hit anyone or anything). This was an unacceptable condition which I had to fix ASAP, so with a limited budget, I embarked on fixing this problem on my own.

I was at the early stage of my mechanic career, and I loved using ramps because they are an easy alternative to jacking. I was also careless and never used wheel chocks or set the parking brake when using ramps! So, to fix this particular problem, I put the Cougar up on the ramps and proceeded to work on the shift linkage: no parking brake set and no wheels chocked, relying on the transmission to hold the car in place. Hold on...didn't I just say that the car didn't hold in park? That is what I remembered thinking as I lightly touched the linkage and the car started rolling down the ramps, pinning me under the car.

Luckily, I only broke my pinky. I look back on that moment and know that much worse could have befallen me. I learned a hard lesson from that experience, and since then, I've continued to work on cars, motorcycles, boats and even planes without serious injury. From that incident I learned the meaning of safety and to always chock wheels, set the parking brake and use jack stands when working under vehicles.

Bruce in Seattle

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!

Automotive Trivia

Why do many bumper covers have golf ball sized openings?

A. Remove the tow hook cover from the opening, screw in the tow hook and pull the vehicle out of snow, mud or some other emergency situation.

B. Remove the cover from the opening and screw in a tie-down hook for securing the vehicle to the deck of a ship.

C. A or B but typically not both uses.

Tow hook cover on Subaru Impreza bumper cover

Answer below

High Tech Safety Parts

My family's fleet includes one vehicle built this century, a Dodge Challenger. This car is loaded with safety features including anti-lock brakes, electronic stability control and air bags. Its body is even painted purple for increased visibility. I occasionally have to shuttle my children and their friends around town. It is ironic that when I pick kids up in my '71 Ford LTD, parents frequently comment how safe that big old American car is, but parents look a little anxious when the purple Challenger pulls into their driveways.

The old car may have an aura of safety, but the modern car has the high tech safety parts. One safety part that is failing on some newer models is the impact sensor. Impact sensors are accelerometers or pressure sensors that help the computer decide when to activate the airbags. More airbags in vehicles means more impact sensors up front, in the doors and behind quarter panels.

The front impact sensors are typically mounted on the metal structure surrounding the radiator. On some vehicles the sensors are located below the radiator where they are more likely to be damaged by water or road debris. A leaking radiator or heat under the hood might damage the plastic potting material that protects sensors' circuitry. Impact sensors inside body panels might be damaged over time by moisture or just too many slams of a door.

The airbag warning light on the dash should light up when an impact sensor fails. Replacing impact sensors is typically not difficult. Follow the instructions in the owners manual or repair manual (found under "Literature" in the RockAuto catalog) for disabling the airbag system. This usually requires disconnecting the car battery and waiting for the capacitor that provides backup power to the airbag system to discharge. Remove the door panel or any other parts that must come off to gain access to the sensor. My Challenger's front, right impact sensor is in plain sight while access to the left sensor requires removing some of the air intake plumbing. Unscrew one or two bolts and disconnect an electrical connector to remove the impact sensor.

2008-2014 Dodge Challenger front impact sensor

RockAuto's manufacturers (Airtex/Wells, Mopar, etc.) are building replacements for the impact sensors most likely to fail. Dorman impact sensors provide exceptional coverage of many GM and Hyundai/KIA models. Find impact sensors for specific vehicles under the "Body" category in the 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.

Alan's 1999 Volvo V70R

This is my 1999 Volvo V70R, with a 2.3L I5 high-pressure turbo and only 243,000 miles. I bought the car from another Volvo enthusiast. He had three, and this one was in the worst shape. It had some big dings and a few problems. But the price was right, and I had spare parts. The biggest problem it had was a starting issue; the car wouldn't always start and when it would, it was only after cranking for a while. This would sometimes kill the battery and leave me stranded. I replaced the entire engine's wire harness, which fixed most of the problem. But, it still cranked a lot to start up. So I figured it must be a faulty crank position sensor. I found an OEM crank position sensor on RockAuto for a great price! Took me 15 minutes to replace it, and now the car starts right up. I also replaced the spark plugs, filters, and numerous hoses, all from RockAuto.

The car is a joy to drive: powerful (nearly 240 HP stock), handles well, comfortable, and because it's a wagon, it can comfortably hold four grown men and all their stuff for long road trips. We have driven it taken it to Pittsburgh and back without issue (600 miles one way), and my eventual goal for the car is to take it on a cross-country photo expedition.

Thanks to RockAuto, this car is reliable as ever!
Alan in Massachusetts

Automotive Trivia Answer

Why do many bumper covers have golf ball sized openings? A. Remove the tow hook cover from the opening, screw in the tow hook and pull the vehicle out of snow, mud or some other emergency situation. B. Remove the cover from the opening and screw in a tie-down hook for securing the vehicle to the deck of a ship. Answer: C. (Read the owners manual for your specific vehicle. For example, a Subaru might use the holes in the bumper cover for emergency towing and have separate tie-down hooks hidden under the vehicle. On a Mazda, the holes in the bumper might only be for the tie-down hooks used during shipping. Using the hooks to tow the Mazda will damage the car. Once again, read the owners manual. Towing and tie-down hooks are typically stored with the spare tire.) Tow hook cover on Subaru Impreza bumper cover Back up to trivia question

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