Do you have a scratch or ding that you need to fill in? Or have you always dreamed of painting your car Chrome Yellow?

RockAuto now carries paint products in a variety of OE and custom colors and finishes! From Touch-Up Paint pens and sprays by ACDelco and Dupli-Color to custom paint colors, primers and clear coats, RockAuto has what you need to restore or personalize your vehicle at our reliably low prices.

Find Touch-Up Paint for your specific car or truck in the “Body" category of the RockAuto catalog. Custom colors and other paint products can be found under Paint in the "Body" category of the "Tools & Universal Parts" tab.

With Haynes manuals, you can do-it-yourself...from simple maintenance to major repairs. Haynes writes every procedure based on a complete teardown and rebuild of the vehicle. During this process Haynes learns the best way to do a job and that information makes repairs and maintenance quicker, easier and cheaper for you. Haynes procedures have clear instructions and over 700 photographs that show each step. Whether you are a beginner or a pro, you can save time and money with Haynes!

Haynes is offering RockAuto customers an exclusive 10% off discount on any manual through the month of April. Find the complete selection under the “Literature” category for your specific vehicle in the RockAuto catalog. Simply add the manual to your cart to see the instant savings!

More Rebates & Promotions
Go to the Promotions and Rebates page to see details for all the current rebates.

While shopping, watch for the Promotion or Rebate Star next to the part names to help you save even more on RockAuto’s reliably low prices!

Do you drive a Chevy or GMC truck with a Duramax Diesel? If so, you should visit DuramaxForum.com. This website is loaded with useful information to keep your truck running at its peak performance. The "How To's, DIY and Write Ups" section is especially valuable.

Join today. Registration is FREE, fast and simple!

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 megant@rockauto.com

I have always changed my own oil. When I got married, I also changed my wife's car's oil. So naturally, when my daughters had cars, I changed everyone's oil (usually all on the same day, to keep everything on the same cycle).

One time, I was in the middle of changing the oil of my daughter's Honda in the driveway, when a neighbor walked by and commented that he never changes his own oil because he "doesn't like to deal with the mess." I commented that in all the years I have been changing my oil, I have never really had a mess, and then I went about finishing the oil change. The neighbor continued on his walk.

I poured four quarts of oil into the fill hole, put the cap back on, started the car, then turned it off and checked the oil level, just to be sure. But, when I looked at the dipstick, there was no sign of oil. Hmmm. I knew I replaced the oil drain plug. I knew I poured in the four quarts. I knew I replaced the oil filter. So what was going on?

I looked under the car, and there on my driveway, was the four quarts of oil! It did not take me long to figure out what happened. When I removed the used oil filter, the gasket did not come off with the filter. Since the oil filter is tucked up out of sight, I typically remove the old filter, and install the new filter by "feel", so I never noticed the old gasket still stuck to the mounting surface. When I installed the new oil filter, the old gasket was still in place, so the new filter never sealed correctly. When I started the car, the oil sprayed out rapidly.

I learned a valuable lesson that day - always look at the oil filter you remove, and make sure it still has the gasket! Good thing my neighbor did not walk past while I was sprinkling sawdust all over my driveway to soak up the oil!

Kevin 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 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!

Which of these is NOT a real auto part?

A. Banjo Bolt
B. Spider Gear
C. Wiper Transmission
D. None of the Above
E. All of the Above

Answer below

Distance & Blind Spot Detection Sensors

Over the decades, the car bumper has struggled to find its true identity. Protecting more delicate and expensive parts of the vehicle has always been the bumper's apparent purpose. In practice, styling, pedestrian safety and other factors have often taken precedence over protecting sheet metal. The bumpers on many of the newest cars have rejected nearly all responsibility for providing protection. They not only do little to shield the car body, but they may house electronics that are as expensive to replace as a fender or grille.

Some of the radar and laser systems of the prophesied autonomous car are already being installed in the bumpers on new cars. There may be a Cruise Control Distance Sensor hidden inside or visible in the center of the lower front bumper. Blind Spot Detection Sensors may be behind both corners of the rear bumper.

These vulnerable locations mean bumping a curb or post in a parking lot might barely scratch the paint but damage a complex sensor. These sensors may cost hundreds to replace if purchased from RockAuto.com and easily cost over a thousand dollars if purchased from a car dealer.

Look under the "Electrical" section of the RockAuto.com catalog to see the Blind Spot Detection Sensors, Cruise Control Distance Sensors, Parking Aid Sensors and other bumper-dwelling sensors for your specific car or truck. RockAuto.com will continue to carry more of these Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) sensors as they become increasingly common.

I hope the autonomous cars will all know to avoid that one unusually high curb in the parking lot at my favorite teriyaki restaurant...

Tom Taylor,
RockAuto.com

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

I was given this 1980 Dodge Colt by my grandmother when I was 16. The Dodge was purchased new by my great grandfather, passed down to my grandmother, then my father and now to me. This car has become a family heirloom and while it is not a limited edition, limited run, or anything special, it is special to my family and me.

The Colt was manufactured in Japan by Mitsubishi for Chrysler as a Dodge. Other variations of the car include the Plymouth Champ and Mitsubishi Colt. My specific model is the 1.6L four cylinder with three speed automatic. Through research and perusing old dealership pamphlets, I discovered these little cars have hemispherical cylinder heads. It's got a Hemi!

My father and I have taken the car to local car shows and have won several awards (youngest driver, smallest car (twice) and coolest 1980s car). My goal is to expand our car show radius to other states with a trailer. The farthest distance we have driven to a show is 100 miles one way. We managed to average 30 mpg!

I have purchased many parts from RockAuto to restore and maintain my Dodge Colt. Without this great website I would not be able to keep this car on the road today. I have ordered a wide variety of parts including emissions, brake hardware/pads/shoes/rotors/drums, brake hydraulics, belts, hoses, cables, switches, internal engine components, gaskets, seals, suspension, steering parts and I am sure much more to come.

Thank you for your excellent customer service, selection of parts and a chance to share my car. RockAuto is my go to parts store!

Sincerely,
Sam in Pennsylvania

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 or RockAuto social media. 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.

Which of these is NOT a real auto part?

A. Banjo Bolt
B. Spider Gear
C. Wiper Transmission
Answer: D. None of the Above (hollow banjo bolt connects brake line to caliper, differential's spider gears allow wheels to turn at different speeds, wiper transmission links wiper motor to blades)
E. All of the Above

Back up to trivia question