HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2009-04-09, Page 12Canada’s long, harsh winters not
only add stress to our lives, but also
to the systems that keep our vehicles
safe and reliable and that means a
spring makeover should include
more 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 it’s 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 it
again in a few days and if it is down,
or you notice fluid under the vehicle,
you probably have a leak that will
require attention. Car Care Canada
recommends 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 centimetre 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 line
while holding the wheel lightly can
alert you to alignment problems.
There shouldn’t be any side-to-side
wander, or pull under braking. If
steering 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 kilometres 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
mounted on your "good" alloy rims
and are installing them yourself
ensure they are inflated to the correct
pressure and lug nuts tightened to
the correct torque.
Check winter tires for damage
before storing them, preferably in
plastic bags and out of any direct
sunshine, so they won’t present you
with any surprises next fall.
If you didn’t replace your
windshield wipers last fall, a hard
winter will certainly have seriously
reduced their effectiveness. If you
replaced wipers with the winter type
you’ll want to switch back to the
summer variety.
If you’re not sure about any of the
things you may have discovered on
your spring inspection have them
checked out by a properly trained
service technician.
It’s a good time to go and see him
or her anyway, for that spring oil
change and tune-up, or just for the
peace of mind of having a pro check
to make sure you didn’t miss
anything that will cause problems
during the (hopefully) long hot
summer.
And speaking of that, an annual
inspection of your air conditioning
system is also recommended,
certainly for older vehicles.
PAGE 12. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2009.
Are you tired of smearing,
screeching and chattering wiper
blades? Do you dread another rainy
drive without the benefit of an
unobstructed view of the road?
Buy a set of wiper blades and
install them yourself. It takes only a
few minutes, and simple instructions
are right on the box. More than 70
per cent of Canadians change the
wiper blades themselves.
Before you begin, here are two
suggestions:
• You can make the wiper blade
more accessible by stopping it in the
most convenient location with the
ignition key. Don’t use the wiper on-
off switch, as it causes the wipers to
stop in their parked position.
• Look for replacement rubber
squeegees to avoid the cost of
buying the entire blade and holder.
They’re usually easily installed and
can restore wiping action, as long as
the rest of the components are OK.
The normal life expectancy of the
rubber squeegee is six to 12 months.
That’s reason enough to learn to do
it yourself. Seasonal differences in
Canada, make it important to ensure
your wipers are working
properly.
Spring car care should mean more than a quick shampoo
Replace wipers
for safety’s sake
519-523-4356
R & S
ALIGNMENT SERVICE
ALIGNMENT - SUSPENSION SERVICE
& TIRES
519-357-1230
Hwy.86 West,R.R.3 Wingham,Ont.N0G 2W0
OOnn tthhee RRooaadd
John Cullen Chevrolet Ltd.
“We sell and service cars and trucks but our business is pleasing people.”
115 Josephine St., Wingham 519-357-2323
Sales Hours
Mon. - Fri. 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Sat. 9 a.m. - 1p.m.
Service Dept. Hours
Mon. - Fri. 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Sat. 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
We Service All Makes and Models
at
Spring Is Here
Is Your Vehicle
Ready?
SPRING MAINTENANCE SPECIAL
- Lube, oil, filter
- 15 point inspection
- tire rotation
- complete brake inspection
- battery electronically tested
- weather strip, locks and hinges lubed
- complete vehicle checkover
$7995 $7995All for only
Flush The Winter Out
With Fuel Injector Flush
Helps Vehicle Run
Cleaner And More
Efficiently