From now through the end of July 2020, TYC is offering RockAuto customers an exclusive 10% instant rebate on all TYC brand Window Regulator & Motor Assemblies! If you have been putting off your window repair, now is the time to take advantage of this special savings.

TYC Window Regulator & Motor Assemblies are designed from the ground up to meet or exceed original equipment (OE) part standards. By using OE motor, spindle, and mounting designs, TYC ensures trouble-free installation and optimal performance. TYC Window Regulator & Motor Assemblies move at the same speed and even provide the same sound as the OE parts they replace. TYC motors are also designed to provide equivalent or higher torque than OE which enables the assembly to move through resistance like dirt, grime, or warped rubber.

Find TYC Window Regulator & Motor Assemblies for specific cars, SUVs and trucks in the "Interior" category of the RockAuto.com catalog. Simply put the part in your cart to instantly save an additional 10% off RockAuto's reliably low prices!

S10forum is the community to discuss the S-Series, Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon. This comprehensive and easy to navigate forum focuses on the technical aspects such as engine, drivetrain and suspension of the S-10 platform.

Join today to discuss rebuilds, modifications, tech articles 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.

I recently purchased a higher mileage 2016 Ford Fusion SE from a local car dealership. The Fusion ran fine for a car with almost 90K miles and was comfortable. The only issue was a noise coming from the trunk; almost like the spare tire tools were loose. The salesman claimed to have tightened them, and while driving the car home, there was no noise. But a "clunk" from the rear of the Ford eventually did return..

The noise sounded like a bad strut mount/shock mount; a "clunk" that occurred when the vehicle's weight shifted from front to back. I checked the spare tire and tools and they were tight. I raised the vehicle and after struggling with swollen lug nuts, a visual inspection revealed no problems. The rear mounts and shocks seemed to be solid but would move a little with force. I went to RockAuto and ordered new upper mounts and shocks for the rear on both sides. After the job was done, I patted myself on the back for a job well done.

But the noise was still there. I feared that I purchased a lemon. I shook the car back and forth, jumped on bumpers and door jambs trying to recreate the noise, but it only occurred while driving. I removed the rear seats and all trim from the trunk area from the car to look for damage. That is where I found a golf ball, then another; then three more golf balls! I took the Fusion for another test drive and heard the noise again, but not as bad as before. I took everything apart again and found one more golf ball. I removed that final golf ball and there has not been a "clunk" since!

Even though I spent some money I did not need to spend with the new struts and mounts, it was a great learning experience. And I really do think I got the car for about $1500 under Blue Book value because the dealership did not want to bother with a car that had suspension issues! They must have heard that noise too.

Mike in Indiana

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!

Legendary actor John Wayne preferred to drive which customized vehicle?

A. 1971 Mercury Montego Cyclone GT powered by a 429 Cobra Jet V-8 and upholstered with brindle tricolor cowhide accented with mesquite wood.

B. 1975 Pontiac Grand Safari station wagon with a stock 455 under the hood and a raised roof to accommodate John Wayne's cowboy hat.

C. 1977 Chrysler New Yorker two door with a 440 cid big block, a supplemental electric A/C compressor and a custom floor-mounted gear shifter made from an antique Colt Dragoon revolver.

Answer below

My family thought the occasional ominous metallic rattle from the rear of our '92 Dodge B250 van meant it needed a new Axle / Differential Assembly (~$1,000 at RockAuto.com). I knew the van actually only needed a new exhaust hanger (~$4 at RockAuto.com) because I had failed to install a new hanger on the tailpipe when I replaced the muffler and tailpipe some months back. The tailpipe was occasionally clattering against a metal heat shield.

I had been eager to decide the old rubber exhaust hanger was still good enough, because I did not want to spend time carefully sawing the hanger's corroded mounting bolt off. My foolish short cut meant driving around with slightly stressed passengers and having to make a second trip under the van. I felt especially chagrined when I discovered the hanger's mounting bolt unscrewed easily. Dodge engineers were apparently kind enough to use high quality, corrosion resistant bolts back in '92. I had the new exhaust hanger installed in minutes with the help of a handy Exhaust Hanger Tool.

Old & New Exhaust Hangers

Hanging new, heavier because they are not rusty, exhaust parts off of old exhaust hangers is like reusing an old gasket when installing a new water pump. Once it was off the van, it was easy to see that the old exhaust hanger (left part in photo) was cracking and had elongated mounting holes. Parts like rubber Door Seals (found under "Body") may get an annual squirt of Interior Conditioner, but even the most devoted vehicle owner is unlikely to lavish any care on rubber exhaust hangers. Hangers/Insulators get exposed to extreme heat, cold, ozone, salt and all the other under-the-car nastiness.

Numerous models built from the '80s through today, everything from Acuras to Volvos, use exhaust hangers like the one on my old Dodge van's tailpipe. Typically, one hole bolts to the vehicle and the other hole slides over a pin welded onto the exhaust piece. Before replacing that axle, find new exhaust Hangers/Insulators for your specific vehicle under "Exhaust & Emission" in the RockAuto.com catalog!

Tom Taylor,
RockAuto.com

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

I bought this 1978 Ford Country Squire Wagon in rural Pennsylvania in 2019. The original owner's family kept this car since it was purchased new and seldom drove it (they owned a Cadillac dealership and had alternate commuter options apparently). The wagon is completely unrestored/original and has only 25,000 miles on the clock. This time capsule screams 1970s with miles of faux wood grain, brown vinyl, and an optional cassette player (state of the art at the time I guess). I had no intention of ever owning a land yacht like this; a guy in his late 20s like myself typically looks for something a little...faster.

However, once I examined the wagon, I could not believe how well preserved it was after all those years. The roomy interior and pillow soft suspension make it feel like you are driving in your living room! RockAuto still had the parts I needed to get the vehicle road worthy (tie rods, coolant hoses, etc.) and after some elbow grease, it was making road trips across New England.

JJ in Massachusetts (RockAuto customer for over three years)

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.

Legendary actor John Wayne preferred to drive which customized vehicle?

A. 1971 Mercury Montego Cyclone GT powered by a 429 Cobra Jet V-8 and upholstered with brindle tricolor cowhide accented with mesquite wood.

Answer: B. 1975 Pontiac Grand Safari station wagon with a stock 455 under the hood and a raised roof to accommodate John Wayne's cowboy hat. (link to article: https://www.hemmings.com/stories/2014/07/14/john-waynes-barris-modified-1975-pontiac-grand-safari-heads-to-auction)

C. 1977 Chrysler New Yorker two door with a 440 cid big block, a supplemental electric A/C compressor and a custom floor-mounted gear shifter made from an antique Colt Dragoon revolver.

Back up to trivia question