HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1997-04-23, Page 16PAGE 16. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23,1997
Spring Car Care 1997
Finding a good mechanic
Ka-thunk! There it goes again,
that noise that tells you your car is
about to shed something crucial in
mid-moming traffic. You need a
good mechanic - and fast.
Rule number one for finding a
good mechanic: don't wait until
you're desperate for help. Finding a
mechanic you trust is like finding a
doctor or a minister - you need to
build a relationship based on trust
and mutual respect. These things
don't happen overnight.
Most of the business for a repair
garage is from referrals. The only
way to get referral business is from
satisfied customers. So if you are
looking for a new mechanic, ask
around. Ask your friends, relatives,
business associates, church
members — anyone you can think
of. You'll probably get a more
reliable feel for who's good and
who's bad from a consensus of
several opinions than from one
person.
If you get a chance, drop in and
meet the people who will be
working on your car. Is the shop
tidy and well organized? Do they
have the latest computer
equipment? Is there evidence that
the mechanics in the shop take
regular training courses in the latest
technology?
The days of the mechanic under
the hood with a screwdriver, tuning
things until they sing just right, are
a distant memory. Now, they have
to be computer literate technicians,
interpreting the communications
between the on-board computer
system and the diagnostic
computers in the shop.
Whether you go to an
independent garage, a department
store, or a franchised repair centre
doesn't matter all that mr~h. In the
end, it all comes down to trust.
You're looking for somebody who
is willing to tell you which repairs
should be made immediately,
which can be delayed without
affecting safety, and which are
completely optional for
performance upgrades. A good
mechanic will also be fair in
charging for time - for example, if
he's tracing an electrical fault and it
takes longer than it should because
he is unfamiliar with your model of
car, he'll reduce the hours.
Car Care Canada notes that you
can help the mechanic to help you,
too. When you take your car in
with a problem, tell the mechanic
what the symptoms are (not what
you think the problem is). Describe
whether it happens when the car is
warm or cold, at highway speeds or
in the city, stopping or accelerating.
Get to know your car, too. Read
through the owner's manual so you
know what to expect. Turn off your
stereo once in a while and listen to
the sound of your car when it's
healthy, so you're better able to
notice when it needs help.
And if you're really enthusiastic,
sign up for a night course at the
high school, or look for a car care
clinic at some of your local repair
facilities. What you learn could
save you quite a few dollars down
the road.
V CLASSIFIEDS
NEIL'S ■
AUT09 0 0Y -f
jt
From the insurance bump to the
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We repair them all!
We specialize in Collision and Refinishing
Classic & Antique Car Repairs
Antique & Classic Car Appraisals
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Cooling
system
service
Continued rrom page 15
frayed or glazed conditions.
You may not know that the
radiator cap serves as the safety
valve in your cooling system. The
pressure test, available at most
service dealers, will not only
disclose existing or potential leaks
in the system, it also will detect a
faulty pressure cap.
2. Save gas with a new
thermostat.
An engine, like your body, has an
optimum operating temperature.
Most engines run in the 97 - 113 °C
range, controlled by the cooling
system thermostat. But fuel
economy will drop as much as 10
per cent to 20 per cent when engine
operating temperature falls below
53°C.
The small investment to replace a
faulty thermostat can soon pay for
itself, not only in gas savings, but
also in terms of reduced engine
wear.
3. Avoid premature engine
overhaul through timely
maintenance.
The cost of repairing an engine
damaged by overheating (or by
operating too cold in the winter)
can run into thousands of dollars,
an expense that can be avoided
with thorough and proper servicing
of the cooling system.
In addition to the above
mentioned inspection, complete
cooling system service should
include flushing of the system and
installation of fresh anti-freeze
coolant (in a 50-50 mixture with
water).
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1995 AEROSTAR XLT EXTENDED • All wheel drive, fully loaded .. - OCA
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1995 CHEV LUMINA APV - 3.8, V6, 7 pass., air cruise, tilt, cass., «. c
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1994 CHEV CHEYENNE 4X4 • One owner, mint cond., red, V6, 5 spd.,
boards, rear slider, box rails, bug deflector, cloth seat, AM/FM, only 68000 km.
1994 CHEV CHEYENNE EXT. CAB - 305, air, auto, cruise, tilt,
cass., topper, burgundy, 93000 km.,
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1994 CHEV BEAUVILLE - Fully loaded, one owner,
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1993 CHEV CHEYENNE - V6, auto., AM/FM cass., rear slider,
med. green, 114000 km., one owner, excellent condition
1993 CHEV CHEYENNE • 305, V8, auto, air, tu-tone red and
silver, cruise. Excellent condition, 111000 km., one owner
1993 DODGE 150 * 318 Magnum V8, auto, cass.,
112,000 miles, looks & drives like new, spotless red, topper
1992 DODGE 150 4X4 LE * V8, auto, silver grey, boxliner,
rear sliding window, 187000 km. Looks & drives great I
1992 CHEV ASTRO VAN 4X4 * Air, 7 pass., excellent condition,
spotless, burgundy, custom visor, 101000 km. f '
1991 CHEV ASTRO EXTENDED - air, cruise, tilt, cass.,
tinted glass, mint cond., no winters, 111,000 miles, tu-tone black & silver
1991 SUBURBAN - Full size, 4 dr., 350, V8 auto., six pass.,
New CFC-free air, blue/grey, 93000 km., excellent condition
1990 F150 CUSTOM- Red, excellent condition, 302, V8,
4 spd. auto, cloth seat, 150000 km. Boxliner
1989 PLYMOUTH VOYAGER • ONLY 97000 km., air,
cruise, tilt, cass., 7 passenger, like new condition
1989 AEROSTAR XLT • 7 pass., p.w„ p.d.l., air, cruise,
tilt, tu-tone silver/grey, excellent condition
1989 F150 XLT • 302, V8, only 98000 km., tu-tone red,
fully loaded, p.w., p.d.l., 5 spd., topper, like new
1988 CHEV ASTRO - 7 pass., excellent condition, 4.3 V6,
air, cruise, tilt, p.w., p.d.l., tu-tone silver/grey
1988 CHEV 3/4 TON • 350, V8, air, auto, p.w., p.d.l., cass., blue.
Looks and drives like new, 180000 km.
1988 F150 4X4 XL- Tu-tone tan & brown, V8, auto,
boxliner, excellent condition, AM/FM, 129000 km.
1988 CHEV BLAZER TAHOE 4X4 • V6, auto, cruise, tilt, p.w.,
p.d.l., cass., blue, like brand new
1987 F150 XL • 302, V8, auto, cassette, one owner,
brown met., 122000 km., excellent condition
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CERTIFIED USED CARS
1996 CHEV LUMINA • Fully loaded, 4 dr., spotless
light crystal blue met, 46,000 km Bal. Fac. Warranty
1995 CHEV CAVALIER ■ 4 dr., spotless white, 1 owner
41000 km., 4 cyl., auto., air, cass.
1995 CHEV LUMINA • 4 dr., V6, auto, air, p.d.l.,
cass., mauve met Looks like new, 70000 km.
1995 CHEV LUMINA LS - 4 dr., V6, air, p.w., p.d.l.,
keyless entry, mint condition, med. blue, 93000 km.
1994 GRAND AM SE • 4 dr., fully loaded, V6, spotless
aqua, only 88,000 km.
1994 SUNBIRD LE - 2 dr., 4 cyl., auto, air, rear
spoiler, cass., purple, 63000 km. Sporty and economical
1994 OLDS 88 LSS • Fully loaded, 4 dr. luxury sport,
mint condition, complete with leather. Only 65000 km.
1994 OLDS ACHIEVA • Fully loaded, 4 dr.V6, auto p. seat
spotless white, blue interior, 140000 km., looks & drives like new
1994 OLDS 98 ELITE • Fully power equip.,
only 68000 km., light blue, one owner, mint condition
1993 TEMPO GL- 4 dr., auto., cruise, tilts, cass., trunk
rack, cast wheels, red, only 101000 km., one owner, like new
1990 LUMINA EURO • sporty, 4 dr., V6, auto, cruise,
tilt, cass., 169000 km., silver, grey, excellent condition.
1989 DYNASTY LE - Fully loaded, 4 dr. luxury,
Certified. Good condition, Economical V6
1988 CELEBRITY EURO - 4 dr., white, V6, auto,
air, cruise, tilt, cassette, excellent condition. n
1987 OLDS FIRENZA - Economical, 4 dr., auto, excellent cond., blue.
1987 CHEV NOVA • 4 dr., 1 owner, like brand new, 4 cyl., auto.,
Tu-tone met beige, economical, only 47000 km.
1986 BUICK SKYLARK • 4 dr., V6, auto, p.w., p.d.l., air,
p. seat, cass., 112000 km., excellent condition. Reduced to
1984 OLDS 98 REGENCY • Fully loaded, rear drive,
incl. power sun roof excellent cond. 95,000 miles
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