OEReplacement News

If you've been following our articles, at this point you might be wondering what the difference really is between OE and OE Replacement parts. It's worth talking a look at the life cycle of car parts to make sense of it all. Read More

Filed under: OEReplacement News by Josh Razgunas On: April 9th, 2010

Even a cautious, experienced winter driver with good tires can get into trouble, however, if the rest of the car isn't up to the task. We already know snow tires are vital, but their effectiveness is dramatically reduced if they're not also in good condition. Read More

Filed under: Industry News by Josh Razgunas On: April 9th, 2010

There's law associated with winter driving. It's the same law regarding weather as the rest of the year, but it means something different. Essentially, the law says that if you have a weather-related accident, it's your fault, not the weather's. Legally, you are required to do whatever it takes to avoid trouble in winter weather. And if you haven't made the proper preparations, that might mean staying home. Read More

Filed under: Industry News by Josh Razgunas On: April 9th, 2010

If the difference between OE and OE Replacement parts is subtle, the difference between OE and aftermarket parts is anything but. Read More

Filed under: OEReplacement News by Josh Razgunas On: April 9th, 2010

When a parts store sells a belt, headlight, filter or wiper blade over the counter, consumers are resigned to a retail markup, usually a minimum of 100 percent--but on small items like bulbs, we've seen over a thousand percent markup! Can you imagine: A 37-cent bulb, being sold for $3.99? But that's what the parts store would charge you; in fact, it's not worth their while to sell something that costs less. Read More

Filed under: OEReplacement News by Josh Razgunas On: April 9th, 2010

The auto industry has been hammered by bad news, seemingly for years now. First, there was the collapse of General Motors and Chrysler, bailouts and bankruptcies. Then in the restructuring, brands like Pontiac and Saturn were killed off, while painful, drawn out legal battles were fought over the sale and survival of Volvo, Hummer, Opel and Saab. Now, Fiat owns Chrysler, Spyker owns Saab and Chinese heavy equipment maker Sichuan Tengzhong owns Hummer. Read More

Filed under: Industry News by Josh Razgunas On: April 9th, 2010

There are great auto shows around the world: Paris, Tokyo, Berlin. But only one takes place in the cradle of the automobile industry: Detroit. Read More

Filed under: Industry News by Josh Razgunas On: April 9th, 2010

Trade-offs are a fact of life. Since we can't do everything at once, and most of us have more things to do than for which we have time, we put things off, cut corners where we have to, and muddle through the best we can. If that involves getting a sandwich from the corner deli, rather than making one at home, we're no worse for wear. But in a car, cutting corners can have serious consequences. Read More

Filed under: Industry News by Josh Razgunas On: April 9th, 2010

Neglect your oil change, and you'll shorten the life of your engine. That's your choice, just like ordering that triple-salami sandwich for lunch. For other items, such as timing chains, CV (constant velocity) boots and joints, they might not actually need replacing, but they do need inspection, because the consequences can be as serious as a heart attack. Read More

Filed under: Industry News by Josh Razgunas On: April 9th, 2010

We’ve looked at the extreme measures carmakers and their suppliers go through to build car parts and truck parts that will last. But some parts, no matter how well built, do need replacement. Oil filters, transmission filters, cabin air filters and engine air filters fill up with contaminants and should be changed, sometimes along with filter gaskets. No HID headlamp is immune to a rock, and the soft compounds that make premium flat wiper blades work so well wear out in time. Read More

Filed under: Industry News by Josh Razgunas On: April 9th, 2010