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Home My WebLink AboutThe Citizen, 1990-10-17, Page 17THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1990. PAGE 17. How to avoid heater that won’t work There is perhaps no greater inconvenience of winter driving than a heater that won’t work. Most passenger compartment heaters use the coolant to warm the incoming fresh air. In addition to providing driver and passenger comfort, the warm air directed to the inside of the windshield gener ally prevents fogging or icing which obscures vision. The personal distress of cold fingers and toes can be avoided, by inspecting the heat producing cool ant system components in your car. Troubleshooting should begin with the coolant level in the radiator (just below the filler neck); and mixture (50 per cent each water and anti-freeze). A low level will reduce or cancel the flow of coolant to the heater, 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 valve which regulates the flow of coolant to the radiator. When the thermostat fails or malfunctions, the engine either will overheat or 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 if you’re in doubt. Flexible hoses convey the liquid coolant between the radiator and the engine. They should be inspec ted for softness, cracks and cuts. In normal service, they are affected by air, heat, chemicals, oil and constant vibration. These conditions either could harden or crack hoses, which destroys flexibility and causes leak age, or soften and swell the hoses, producing lining failure and hose rupture. Two other important hoses run parallel from the engine to the heater, normally found under the dashboard. These, too, should be checked for swelling and cracks, and for abrasion to the hose cover where the hoses come in contact with the engine block. The water pump/fan drive might be called the heart of the cooling system. Coolant circulates through out the engine by means of the water pump, which is driven by a rubber belt. Loose or worn belts could mean failure of the drive. Check the condition of the drive belts by turning them over. Replace any that are cracked, frayed, brittle, wet with oil or highly polished on the sides that contact the pulleys. Regardless of the visual condi tion. belts that are more than four years old should be replaced. These troubleshooting proce dures could solve the problem of a malfunctioning heating system. Other trouble areas, such as a clogged or leaking heater core, faulty electrical connections and fuses, a broken blower motor or a non-operating heater control valve, should be checked by an experi enced mechanic. At the very least, this exercise will prepare your cooling system for the hard winter months ahead. KADIAK) It HOSES mustiiv>7i,X7G" 20222 ..... I be flexible to absorb vibration between the engine and radiator, but, unfortunately, they are not as durable as these metal parts Don 7 blame battery when your c ar won’t start It’s possible the best never-say- die battery won’t get your car i | 6^, started this winter. The reason, according to The Gates Rubber Company, is that not all engine parts and systems are as maintenance-free. But, you can prepare for the effects of cold weather with the following helpful tips: 1) Buy the best battery you can afford when it’s time to replace it, about every three years. Cheap 3) Keep the gas tank full. This Mil .1 IONS OF SCRAP TIRES blight the environment. Retreads can help to reduce the scrap tire problem. Retreaded tires help the environment Every year millions of scrap tires add to the billions of tires already overflowing at our landfills. The use of retreaded tires can help to reduce this growing problem. And retreads help conserve oil since tires are mostly petroleum-based. Thanks to retreaded tires, America is able to save over 400 million gallons of oil every year. Retreaded tires have the same safety and performance character istics as comparable new tires, which is why retreads are used by every major airline, fire engines and other emergencv vehirloc school buses, taxis, all kinds of trucks and millions of automobiles. Here are some interesting facts you may not know, from the Tire Retread Information Bureau: •Retreads are available in all radial sizes and designs. •Retreads are an excellent in vestment and are widely used on 4x4’s, pick-up trucks and recrea tional vehicles. batteries have a lower power reserve. Remember, a battery will lose 35 per cent of its cranking power at 32°F. and 50 per cent at 0°F. 2) Check the condition, tightness and cleanliness of the battery posts. The electrical resistance that develops when a battery cable terminal is loose or badly corroded can cause a no-start problem. •More retreaded snow tires are sold than new snow tires. Retread ed snow tires will often outperform new snow tires on icy roads. •When shopping for retreads, it's a good idea to comparison shop and to ask for a written warranty. The warranty on a retreaded tire will often be better than that offered on a comparable new tire. For more assurance, look for a dealer who is a member in good standing of the American Retread ers' Association, National Tire Dealers and Retreaders Associa tion and/or the Tire Retread Infor mation Bureau. Once you have retreads installed on your vehicle, be certain the wheels are properly aligned and check the tire pressure regularly to add miles to the life of your tires. For a free brochure about the features and benefits of retreaded tires, write to the Tire Retread Information Bureau, Box 374MC, Pebble Beach, CA 93953. prevents condensation of moisture in the tank, which leads to fuel line freeze-up. 4) Use the correct grade of winter motor oil for your area of the country. Most vehicle manufactur ers recommend a thinner 10W-30 multi-viscosity oil to reduce engine part wear during the winter. 5) Consider a minor engine tuneup, including checks of the charging and starting systems, spark plugs, ignition wires and the Slow warmup can harm engine A familiar scene on a cold morning is a car idling in a driveway with exhaust billowing from its tailpipe. In the house, the owner comfortably finishes a se cond cup of coffee. The car will be toasty warm when the time comes to take off for work. The owner may justify this wasteful practice with the excuse that the car operates better when it is allowed to warm up before driving. Wrong, says Car Care Council. When the choke is set, as is the case when a cold engine is started .nd then left at fast idle, the car is burning gas at a furious rate. Engine wear is accelerated be cause raw fuel from the enriched mixture washes lubricating oil down the cylinder walls. This also contaminates the oil in the engine crankcase, further inviting engine damage. There is a greater tendency for spark plugs to foul under these conditions, too. The excessively rich mixture is an ideal environ ment for plug fouling. Another consideration is the possibility of overheating the catalytic converter in the exhaust system. Unburned fuel in the exhaust is burned off in the converter. If it gets hot enough, it could set something on fire, especially if the car is parked over a flammable substance which could ignite. The car itself could catch fire. In any type of weather, the car should be started, run for a minute or less at idle, and then driven at moderate speed until the engine has reached normal operating tem perature. choke. Wet or cold winter weather increases deficiencies in ignition components, and worn spark plugs easily require twice the electricity of new ones. If the choke is not operating properly, the engine will crank slowly and will be hard to start. 6) Rust, seeping antifreeze and just plain old crud in the cooling system can cause your engine to crank sluggishly or not at all. The system should be flushed out and new coolant added every USED CAR FEATURE 1986 HONDA ACCORD LX SEDAN 4 cyl., automatic trans., am/fm cas sette radio, cruise control, tilt steering & more. Finished in graphite grey. 59,000 miles. “One owner". Excellent condition. #672A Sale Price: $9,850 1987 PLYMOUTH DUSTER, 2 door hatchback 4 cyl., (2-2 litre), 5 speed manual trans., a,ki/fm radio, deluxe cloth bucket seats, body side decor pkg. & more Finish cd in red. "One owner”. Like new condition. Only 42,000 miles. #340A SC Sale Price: 0,^/0 1986 HONDA ACCORD EXI SEDAN 4 cyl., automatic transmission, loaded with options, power sunroof, pw., pl , p mirrors, cruise control, tilt steering, am/fm cass. radio. Bodyside decor pkg. and more Finished in Graphite Grey Only 47,000 miles. "One We’re Here To Help! Come and see us today for all your transportation needs. Doug Johnson, Sales Representative Jeff Johnson, Manager John Kerkhof, Sales Representative car city HIoIivIdIa Open every night till 9; Saturday till 5 1020 Wallace Ave. N., Listowel Ca' City Phone 291-2490 IBeBBBIBBBBBIBeBBBI other year. This also is the most convenient time to check the radia tor hoses, and replace those that are soft or that show exterior cracks. 7) Check all V-belts, especially the alternator drive, says The Gates Rubber Company. The alter nator should carry most of the electrical load, thereby reserving battery power for starting the engine and operating emergency accessories. If the belts have not been replaced in four years, they could fail at any time. 1987 DODGE OMNI • 4 dr. hatchback 4 cyl, (2.2 litre), automatic trans , am/fm radio deluxe interior pka & more, 50,000 miles, dependable & economical transportation. #551A Sale Price: $4,950 1986 HONDA ACCORD EXI SEDAN 4 cyl., auto trans., loaded with op tions, power sunroof, pw., pl , p mirrors, cruise, tilt, am/fm cass , rear deck rack and more. Finished in med. blue. Only 52,000 miles "One owner”#625A Sale Price: $10,