HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1986-11-05, Page 18THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1986. PAGE 19.
Protecting your cooling system vita! for winter
THERMOSTAT
Operating
properly?
LIQUID COOLANT
Proper amount?
Mixture9 Rust9 Oil?
Mineral deposits9 RADIATOR
Rusty? Clogged9
Seeping?
1 —PRESSURE CAP
Tight fit?
Rubber seal,
spring OK?
WATER
PUMP
CLAMPS Secure?
RADIATOR HOSES
Collapsed9 Soft?
Bulging9 Brittle9
heater, normally found under the
dashboard. These, too, should be
checked for swelling and cracks,
and abrasion to the hose cover
where the hoses come in contact
with the engine block. The water
pump/fandrivemightbe called
the heart of the cooling system.
Coolant circulates throughout the
engine by means of the water
pump, which is driven by a V-belt.
Loose or worn belts could mean
failure of the drive. Check the
condition of the drive belts by
turning them over, Gates sug
gests. Replace any that are
cracked, frayed, brittle, wet with_ v belt drives cracked, frayed, brittle, wet with
Cracked6 XT’0’1- Or highlV P0,ished On the sideS
frayed belts? that contact the pulleys. Regard-that contact the pulleys. Regard
less of the visual condition, belts
which are more than four years old
should be replaced, according to
Gates.
These troubleshooting proce
dures could solve the problem of a
malfunctioning heating system.
Other trouble areas such as a
clogged or leaking heater core,
ced mechanic.
At the very least, this exercise
will prepare your cooling system
for the hard winter months ahead.
faulty electrical connections and
fuses, a broken blower motor or a
non-operating heater control valve
should be checked by an experien
Winterizingacar requires more than just checking the tires and
battery. Because the engine cooling system has a vital role during cold
weather driving, all components should be inspected for wear and
possible failures. If your car is four years old, or older, the V-belts are
due for replacement.
EXHAUST SYSTEMS
GUARANTEED For LIFE
ON FORD CARS & FORD LIGHT TRUCKS
There is perhaps no greater
inconvenience of winter driving
than a heater that won’t work.
Most passenger compartment
heaters use the coolant th warm the
incoming fresh air. In addition to
providing driver and passenger
comfort, the warm air directed to
the inside of the windshield
generally prevents fogging or icing
which obscures vision.
The personal distress of cold
fingers and toes can be avoided,
says the Gates Rubber Company,
by inspecting the heat-producing
cooling system components in your
car.
Troubleshooting should begin
with the coolant level in the
radiator (it should be visible just
below the filler neck) and mixture
(50 per cent each of water and
antifreeze is recommended). Alow
level will reduce or cancel the flow
of coolanttotheheater, thereby
reducing or preventing any heat
output.
The radiator pressure cap helps
to raise and control the tempera
ture of the coolant in the system. It
should be replaced if the seat or
gasket is damaged, or if the spring
is broken.
The thermostat acts as a heat
sensitive valvewhich regulates the
flow of coolant to the radiator.
When the thermostat fails or
malfunctions, the engine will
either overheat or it will take longer
to get any heat because the engine
will take longer to reach proper
operating temperature. It is a good
practice to replace a thermostat
that is in doubt, advises Gates.
Flexible hoses convey the liquid
coolant between the radiator and
the engine. They should be
inspected for softness, cracks and
cuts. In normal service, they are
affected by air, heat, chemicals, oil
and constant vibration. These
conditions could either harden or
crack hoses, which destroys flexi
bility and causes leakage; or soften
andswell the hoses, which produc
es lining failure and hose rupture.
Two other important hoses run
parallel from the engine to the
Complete Exhaust Systems from the manifold to the tail pipe., covered for as long as you own your
Ford Car or Light Truck.
COME IN FOR AN INSPECTION OF YOUR EXHAUST SYSTEM TODAY...
ABSOLUTELY FREE
We Fix Cars
For Keeps At
LIFETIME
SERVICE
GUARANTEE
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357-3460
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