I had someone looking to buy some videos for a car parts project they were working on. They wanted more than just a book walking them through it, they wanted to see it. I recommended the browse youtube. Try some variations on your search and you’re likely to find something useful there. Most of us are visual learners, so just watching a bit can go a long way towards making a project easier.

Believe it or not, there are some good videos out there. YouTube.com has everything from published professional videos to amatuer stuff. I would stick to ones that look legit, or are almost identical to what you are doing. Don’t be too trusting.

A few auto parts companies even publish some videos on YouTube. I found Car Parts Warehouse had some wheel hub videos. Discount AC Parts had some AC Compressor installation Videos and Turbochargerpros.com had some of their turbos videos there. Might be good to see some info on the parts before installation. Like mentioned earlier, just being able to see something and how it looks makes things easier.

Beyond YouTube there are other sites offering videos on installation. Many are free, but many are require subscription. If you really need help, then paying for it will save you in the long run.

For many home mechanics, this can be a real nuisance. You take out your original part, do your research and make sure you get the “OEM” Original equipment replacement part from the parts store. However, when you open the box, it looks nothing like the original. You immediately think the parts store is pulling a fast one on you.

The truth is, OEM car parts over time improve in design. OEM number changes commonly occur in car steering racks, ac compressors and fuel pumps. This is especially true if your car is at least 5-10 years old. I found such an issue with a client who thought he had purchased the wrong fuel pump. The one in particular was a Delphi fuel pump. Manufacturers often make adjustments to assure higher efficiency and better overall operation.

I have included pictures of the Original Fuel Pump and the Improved design. In this particular case, the original fuel pump had the fuel strainer on the outside of the physical pump whereas in the new design the fuel pump has the strainer built inside the body of the pump itself. This change, along with the new locking ring, improved RFI noise filtering and reduced amperage. Tons of changes, but the part number stays the same.

OEM number changes occur and it is a natural part of the car parts industry. Instead of immediately questioning the parts store, question the part itself and look for any OEM changes when in doubt.

I was working with someone who had a kit car. It was a classic mercedes that required a Mustang manual steering rack.

I was fairly impressed with the price and availability for these. Apparently alot of companies are building kits that use this Ford Steering Rack. Who would have thought a 70’s Mustang II steering rack would still be so popular?

They can also use power racks, which are nice if the car is bigger or heavier. If the car is lightweight and small I recommend sticking with power, since the power steering pump sucks power from the engine. Either way its nice to have a good supply of new racks and not have to worry about returning a core.

I am a little frustrated. My car radio decided to leave me for eternity; it was time for us to part ways. The solution seems pretty simple right? Just go to the dealership and get a replacement CD changer. WRONG. I don’t understand how someone can ask for such a large amount of money for a 7 year old part. I know I am not getting the best bang for the buck. I know I am not getting the most up to date, audiophile quality head unit.

Truth is, I don’t want to. I am a simple human being. I want a simple replacement to what I’ve had in the my car for the past 7 years. So I try Best Buy, Fry’s, and other local electronic stores. Again, nothing. After banging my head online for a few hours, I found a great car radio replacement solution. Best Buy size selection and warranty in car audio minus the outrageous stealership prices – all for stock car radio parts.

Why aren’t there more of these? I am still searching but quite frankly, getting tired of stolen car stereos on ebay and craigslist and the lack of warranties from other stores. I am curious, am I the only one who likes my car audio the way it is – stock? And willing to go through all this to get my car back to its simple, clean look? Call me crazy but I’d rather rebuild my CD changer than part ways with it for eternity.

In a sign on the times, AAPEX and SEMA announed new lower prices for hotels and flights for the big auto parts convention.

The word is they are trying hard to stem the number of cancellations that are going on. I imagine most companies that were planning on sending say 5 people, may now just send 2-3 to keep costs down.

Cannot say I blame them for trying, but most of the aftermarket is actually doing pretty well. As people refuse to buy new cars (did you catch GM and F stock price this week?) they seem to be buying car parts to repair their old ones.

The problem is that most of the buying is going to the ultra cheap stuff. Think used and cheap Chinese. Merchants will have to either stand firm against that junk, or remix their products. Hopefully they will stand against it.

Are you still going to the show?

Here are some basic car maintenance tips to save gas.

1. A faulty oxygen sensor can be very bad. Replacing it can improve your mileage up to 40 percent.
2. Replacing a clogged air filter can save up to 10 percent. It also protects your engine from contamination and long term damage.
3. Replace spark plugs every 60-90K miles. Spark plugs get weaker over time. An improperly firing spark plug will decrease engine performance. Platinum plugs are usually only a few bucks more too.
4. Don’t speed. I don’t like this one either, but it does help. Note that best gas mileage is not low speeds but usually around 50-60mph when you transmission gets into top gear.
5. Easy on the brakes. Don’t speed up to stop. If you are coming to a stop, take your foot off the gas earlier. Using brakes equals bad gas mileage.
6. Overuse of AC compressor. A/c does not really take that much to run, but having cranked to max all the time will hurt a bit. Try a lower setting.
7. Lose gas gaps. Takes less than a second to check the cap each time.
8. Keep Tires Properly Inflated. You can improve your gas mileage by around 3.3 percent by keeping your tires inflated to the proper pressure
9. Dirty or wrong engine oil. Do not used unsealed or unknown oil. Go with a Valvoline, Castol, Penzoil, etc, etc. Also be sure to use the exact oil. Using the wrong oil can take a few MPG off your trip.

We have discussed previously about the dessicant element in the air condtioning compressor system, but more questions came up. When is it used and how and when do you change it?

So the first question is when do vehicles have it. Starting in the late 1990’s Toyota a/c compressor began using the dessicant element instead of the drier. Most manufacturers like Honda began using it shortly after, while some like the Isuzu AC Compressor never used it. It really depends on the vehicle and if you look at a AC Catalog like discountacparts.com you will be able to find out what your vehicle has.

The other part is how do you change it. Most cannisters use a 10mm hex nut on top. You pop off the top and change it over. Usually you should flush before you change the ac drier, but since the flush could cause the bag to tear or rip, I recommend removing the dessicant, then flushing. Once it is clean you can add the new bag in.

These days most every fitting on a car is sealed by an o-ring. An O-ring is a circular piece of rubber(usually) that creates a leak proof seal between fittings. In most car parts applications, these are made from polyurethane, which is a high end rubber. This material has shown to provide the best seal between parts and provide the lowest level of leak

Having your car not leak is not only beneficial to your driveway, but also to your performance of your ride. Those fluids need to be in your car to ensure they work correctly. An auto Air Conditioning Compressor will almost certainly lock up and smoke with fluid too low. A Lexus Steering Rack will rust out and break without lubricant.

O-rings are measured by both thickness and diameter. You’ll need to get an exact match and placement to ensure it works correctly. Wrong o-rings can be very frustrating when trying to work on the car. I always recommend taping an o-ring to a piece of paper and writing where it came from. You can put the new ring next to it. This should ensure you get the correct fit. This is not horseshoes, close does not count.

Brake noise to some extent is normal, especially on new pads. Most cars are using a harder compound, usually a semi-metallic material. Honda Parts and Toyota Parts are often the most guilty of this. Squeals heard the first few stops in the morning when the brakes are cold, and squeals that are heard the last few feet while coming to a stop are usually nothing to worry about. Constant noise or harsher sounds should be checked out asap. They could be signs of bigger problems.

The most common cited reason for the noise. Semi-metallic brakes are made of bits of metal shavings in place of the banned aspestos material. These semi-metallic brakes have great stopping power and have a long wear life, but can cause a high-pitched squeal that drives car owners crazy and frustrates mechanics who can’t get it to go away to please their customers.

If you have any noise you should inspect your brakes. You are looking for any signs of cracking, inconsistent wear, loose fittings, etc, etc. Constant noise or harsher sounds should be checked out asap. They could be signs of bigger problems.

The do make brake noise reducer which just dulls the pads. This is best used when brakes are first installed. This is only a band air and should be used lightly. If you are still having these problems, switch to a better material like ceramic pads

More Brake Noise Reading.

So I was filling up my car today, an 2005 4runner with a 4.0L engine, and it was not a good experience. Spending $82 to fill up is not fun. While not all of us can go get a hybrid or bike to work, there are a few things you can do to ensure your car is getting the best gas mileage.

1. Fill up the tires. Usually about 35psi each. (check yours). Going 35 on the front and 36 on the rear will give you the best combination of gas mileage to ride ratio.
2. Check the air filter in your car. Dirty air filters can cause the car to work harder than it should.
3. Run the air conditioning at lower speeds and roll up the windows. That is the best combination for low speeds.
4. If you are running a turbo or superchager make sure they are clean and well lubricated. They can really improve the performance, but have to be working properly.
5. Check the spark plugs and oxygen sensors. They usually need to be changed at 75K – 100K miles, but really vary depending on vehicle.

Let us know other tips and we’ll add them to the list.