RockAuto offers NGK Ruthenium HX spark plugs, which introduce the latest technology in high-ignitability to the automotive aftermarket. Today's increasingly efficient engine designs create more power while using less fuel, which has shortened the life of some traditional Iridium and Platinum spark plugs. In response, NGK's patented Ruthenium technology is used for maximum durability and performance in newer engines.

Features and benefits include:

• Electrode tip designs that maximize ignitability while reducing emissions for low heat (non-turbo) engines, and provide the best ignitability and service life for high heat (turbo and supercharged) engines.
• Superior oxidation resistance and enhanced blistering/anti-peeling to provide the most optimal durability at high temperatures in various driving conditions.
• Advanced high-ignitability technology that provides more complete fuel burn than other precious metal spark plugs, resulting in quicker throttle response, smoother idle and better cold starts.

In addition to state-of-the-art Ruthenium spark plugs, RockAuto has a wide range of brands and types of plugs to suit your particular vehicle's needs, whether you want to restore original equipment performance at the lowest cost or prefer a performance/durability upgrade. Find the Spark Plugs you need for your specific vehicle in the “Ignition” category of the RockAuto.com catalog.

Also, do not miss out on the spark plug rebate currently being offered by Autolite, with savings of up to $48. While shopping, watch for the yellow "Promotion/Rebate" in the RockAuto.com catalog signifying parts with promotions or rebates to help you save even more on RockAuto's reliably low prices!

AcuraZine.com is an online community dedicated to all things Acura. From MDX to NSX, if you drive an Acura, you should browse this forum. General Acura related chit-chat, audio, electronics, modifications, problems and fixes are all discussed in this active forum.

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 VW Transporter van with a rear 1.6 liter inline-four, water cooled diesel engine. I took it on a long vacation to the mountains with a couple of my buddies. Going uphill on a long steep grade, it started overheating. After stopping, I noticed a coolant leak. It was coming from the hose clamp on one of the hoses spanning the length of the van, from the engine in the rear to the heater core in front. I fixed the leak, but realized I had no coolant available or place to buy it anywhere nearby. I decided to fill up with water from the mountain stream flowing through the rocks. I was amazed how much water this car needed. For such a small engine, it had a huge radiator and four large hoses going from back to front, providing heat to the cabin and running to the radiator. The rest of the trip was uneventful, but once home, I immediately replaced the water with fresh coolant.

On my first drive afterwards, the van overheated. I figured that the stream water had destroyed the water pump impeller or plugged the radiator somehow. I checked the cooling system piece by piece. I could not find anything obviously wrong. I made sure that there was no air pocket trapped in the coolant. I checked belts, pump, thermostat...all looked OK. I was about to pull the radiator from the car when I realized my mistake.

To remove all water from the system, I had disconnected the lower radiator hose and pulled it from its normal position to below the front frame rail, letting out the water into the drain pan. What I did not realize was that when reinstalling the hose, I had forgotten to place it above the frame rail. Reinstalling the spare tire in its place, behind the front bumper (underneath the van), had pinched the hose to the frame rail almost completely cutting the flow of coolant. Once I rerouted the hose like it should be, the VW ran with the coolant gauge needle sitting right in the middle; no more overheating.

Mateusz 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 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!

Which manufacturer has built cars in North America?

A. BMW
B. Mazda
C. Rolls-Royce
D. All the above

Answer below

Steering Wheel Position Sensors

Anti-lock brakes (ABS), stability/traction control (ESP, DTC, etc.), all wheel drive (AWD), active cruise control, adaptive headlights and even turn signal switch reset might rely on signals from the Steering Wheel Position Sensor (angle sensor) on your modern vehicle. In this case, “modern” extends from 2019 back to the 1990s and even includes cars by Mercury, Oldsmobile and other brands that are sadly no longer in production. Vehicles with new electric or conventional hydraulic power steering systems may have steering wheel position sensors.

The steering wheel position sensor is most often a doughnut that encircles the steering column shaft below the airbag and steering wheel. Symptoms of a failing steering wheel position sensor can include:

• The power steering feels over or under assisted as the power steering hydraulic pump or electric motor provides incorrect assist at the wrong times because the computer does not know the position of the steering wheel and/or how fast it is turning. The steering may feel unusually light and loose and/or unusually heavy and quick.
• Computer trouble codes or dashboard warning lights for ABS, ESP, AWD, and/or other systems that need a signal from the steering wheel position sensor. Some vehicles have unique trouble codes for steering sensor problems, but on many others it might be necessary to just deduce that multiple codes/warnings are all coming from systems that share the steering wheel position sensor.

Some vehicles require the steering wheel position sensor to be re-calibrated when it is replaced. Re-calibration might also be needed after the vehicle is involved in a collision, the steering gear is replaced or the front end is aligned. With these vehicles it is necessary to follow the procedure in the repair manual (found under “Literature” at RockAuto.com) and/or use a scan tool to reteach the computer what the steering wheel position sensor's signal looks like when the steering is centered and when it is at its end stops.

See Steering Wheel Position Sensors and other steering system parts for your specific car or truck under “Steering” 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.

This is my 1981 Fiat 124 Spider. I bought this car as a treat for myself after graduating university. I had owned a few older American cars as a teenager, but sold them off before going to university. I never had much interest in European cars before, but after seeing this car in the local classifieds and in person, I could not resist buying it.

Before I bought the car it had been sitting in storage for several years and a lot of maintenance had been neglected. When I started trying to fix up the car I soon realized I could not just go to the local auto parts store like I had for my other vehicles, because they did not even have such a car in their databases.

Soon after, on a forum, I learned about RockAuto and discovered how great a resource it is. RockAuto has a surprising amount of parts for a classic import car. Over the past few years I have been able to completely rebuild the front suspension, entire brake system, and fix many small items using RockAuto parts. Even things like seat upholstery and convertible tops are available which I plan to use in a future project on this car. RockAuto is now my #1 source for parts for any vehicle.

Thank you,
Jon in Winnipeg, Canada (RockAuto customer for over 3 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 your vehicles history, interesting details, your favorite images (tips for taking pictures of your car) and what parts from RockAuto you have used.

Which manufacturer has built cars in North America?

A. BMW (production in South Carolina from '94 to present)
B. Mazda (production in Michigan from the late 1980s until 2012, future production planned in Alabama)
C. Rolls-Royce (production in Massachusetts from 1920 until the early 1930s)
Answer: D. All the above

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