HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2010-04-08, Page 19THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, APRIL 8, 2010. PAGE 19. Ready your car for springCanada’s long, harsh winters notonly add stress to our lives, but alsoto the systems that keep our vehiclessafe and reliable and that means aspring makeover should includemore than just cosmetics.
While your immediate focus will
likely be on restoring your car, van,
SUV or truck’s exterior and interior
to pristine condition, make sure you
also give its mechanical systems a
careful once-over to ensure they’re
ready to deal with the hot summer
weather ahead, particularly if its an
older or high mileage vehicle.
You can have your service
technician do this for you – and
many service shops offer spring
service special deals, but by
following some basic procedures
you can spot potential problem areas
yourself and then have them dealt
with if necessary by a pro.
You should have been keeping
your vehicle washed regularly to
help keep rust at bay, but if you
haven’t you need to do so before
checking it over as it will be easier to
spot damage or problems.
A do-it-yourself spring cleaning
process also allows you to flush out
salt and sand deposits from areas
that a quick run through the car wash
often misses. Don’t forget the
radiator, which may have become
partially clogged with debris. A fine
spray and a fairly soft brush with
long bristles can help here, but don’t
be too aggressive and damage the
thin fins. Visually check it for
corrosion or leaks.
With the engine stopped and cool
you can clean the compartment with
an engine specific spray cleaner,
followed by a rinse (avoiding high
pressure spray on electrical parts).
This will not only make this area
look good but often reveal problems.
Hoses should feel firm, not mushy,
be free of obvious cracks and show
no evidence of leaking at
connections. Belts shouldn’t be
cracked, frayed, brittle or glazed
looking and should be firmly, but not
too tightly tensioned.
Make sure the engine is
completely cool before you check
coolant levels. This can usually be
done by looking at the reservoir
which is marked with maximum and
minimum levels. Never remove the
radiator cap of a hot engine. If your
coolant level is low you can add a
50/50 mixture of anti-freeze and
water, but make sure you check itagain in a few days and if it is down,or you notice fluid under the vehicle,you probably have a leak that willrequire attention. Car Care Canadarecommends flushing your cooling
system and refilling with fresh
coolant every two years as the
beneficial chemicals in the coolant
break down with age.
A look around underneath your
vehicle, don’t actually get under
there unless you have the right
equipment and knowledge, might
reveal a muffler or a hidden part of
the body that has been damaged by
road debris.
Also look for fluid leaks,
particularly from the brakes, and
under the engine and transmission.
Now, after checking tire pressures,
take it for a short test drive. We tend
to compensate for developing
problems, so adopt an analytical
approach when you do this. The
brake pedal should feel firm and not
move more than a centimeter or two.
If travel is excessive, if you have to
pump the pedal, or if the car pulls to
one side have the vehicle inspected
immediately.
Simply driving in a straight linewhile holding the wheel lightly canalert you to alignment problems.There shouldn’t be any side-to-sidewander, or pull under braking. Ifsteering response isn’t direct and
linear and if body roll and reaction to
bumps doesn’t feel controlled, or if
you hear any clunks or clonks,
components may be worn or have
been damaged by winter road
conditions.
There’s no sense in putting more
dry-road kilometers on those winter
tires that kept you safe than is
necessary, as this can rapidly reduce
their effectiveness. And you should
never use winter tires all-year round
as they won’t provide the same level
of traction as summer tires,
particularly if they are part worn.
Hot weather highway travel can
cause their coarser treads and soft
compounds to overheat possibly
leading to failure.
If you’re re-using last year’s
summer tires have the person
installing them check them carefully
for tread wear, damage and balance.
If you’ve kept your summer tires
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215 Huron St.,
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519-482-9363
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519-482-3534
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Fax: 519-357-9978
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Continued on page 20
2000 Ford Taurus -V6, auto, loaded, 232,000 kms.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $3,495.
2000 Dodge Caravan -maroon, 7 pass., V6, auto, loaded, 154,000 kms.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . $3,495.
2000 Jeep Cherokee -black, 4L, auto, loaded, 230,000 kms. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $5,995.
2000 Ford Ranger -green, 4x4, loaded, V6, auto, quad cab, 118,000 kms. . . . . . . . . . . . . $6,495.
2000 Ford Ranger -black, V6, auto, quad cab, 200,000 kms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $4,995.
2002 Dodge Dakota -4x4, silver, ext. cab, V6, auto, loaded, 242,000 kms. . . . . . . . . . . . . $5,495.
1984 Rampage -neon green, 4 cyl.auto, 69,0000 kms. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $4,995.
1984 Fiero -white, 4 cyl. 5 speed, 220,587 kms.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2,995.
1997 Chrysler Sebring -black, convertible, leather, 2.5 L, V6, loaded . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $3,495.
1998 Chev -red, V8, auto, 280,000 kms. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $3,495.
2000 VW Golf -silver, TDI diesel, 5 speed, 110,000 kms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $6,495.
2002 Pontiac Sunfire -4 cyl., auto, 4 door, 170,000 kms. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $3,495.
1993 Jeep YJ -blue, 4L, 6 cyl, 5 speed, 4x4, hard top, 182,000 kms. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $5,495.
2001 Pontiac Grand Am -red, loaded, 4 door, V6, auto, 170,000 kms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $3,695.
1999 Buick Regal -burgundy, V6 3800, loaded, leather, 212,000 kms.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $3,495.
1998 Dodge Stratus -white, 4 cyl., auto, 178,000 kms.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2,495.
2000 Chev Impala -silver, V6, auto, loaded, 149,000 kms... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $4,495.
2002 Ford F150 - 4x4, white, air, cruise, ext. cab, short box, 4.6L, V8, auto, 259,000 kms. $6,995.
2000 Ford Winstar -blue, 7 pass., V6, auto, loaded, 208,000 kms.... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2,995.
519-524-9878
37117 Blyth Road, Goderich, ON
Service all makes & models
Custom Exhaust Bending
Doug & Jodie Ruston