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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1998-10-21, Page 17A little exercise can go a tong way! Walking 3 km in 35 minutes can do wonders for your health. OW Its that simple. Sharing a Healthier Future paRriapacrion • 98 FO R OU 1-1‘ cc w w 0 z E u. z w 0 C.) JWILONTGOMERY I YOUR TOTAL TRANSPORTATION DEALERSHIP Celebrating 50 Years In The Automotive Industry LUCKNOW 51-18702_586 1 -27-813 2012 KINCARDINE 519-396-3436 800-263-6781- THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1998. PAGE 17. Automotive 1998 Answers to questions about your cranky battery When the cold weather comes, most of us slow down a little and do some of that good old Canadian grumbling. Your car battery is no exception. Your engine is more dependent on electrical power than ever before. It seems as though every single engine function runs off a computer. All those computers, electrical clocks, etc. maintain a power drain on the battery, whether you drive the car or not. That's why you can sometimes end up with a flat battery (even if you didn't leave the lights on) after a prolonged ski trip, for example. Here are some common questions and answers, reported by Car Care Canada. What's the white powder that I see on my battery terminals? The powder is corrosion, and it acts as an insulator. When you get enough of it on the battery posts, no current can get through and your car won't start. You can clean if off with a wire brush, or with battery post cleaners available at all automotive stores. You can also clean off your battery with a solution of baking soda, which will counteract the acid in the electrolyte. When the posts are clean, give them a coating of battery terminal grease to keep the corrosion from recurring. My battery is called maintenance free, but it isn't really, is it? Actually yes. Other than keeping corrosion off the terminals, there is very little you need to do to a good battery. It's no longer necessary to check each pot and top up with distilled water. The battery pretty much holds its own electrolyte level. Here's how the battery works. It consists of lead oxide on the positive plates, lead on the negative plates, submerged in an electrolyte (dilute sulphuric acid). The chemical reaction between the plates within the electrolyte creates the electricity, and the reaction reverses when the battery is charging so that the components regenerate themselves. How long will my battery last? It varies depending on how much you drive and how rugged the winter is where you live. Batteries should last four years, and will sometimes hold on longer. In really cold weather, will my battery freeze? Yes. The electrolyte is acid, diluted with water. A fully charged battery will freeze at about -65°C (- 80°F), and a fully discharged battery at about -12°C (+10°F). Keeping your battery clean and charged is good policy. If the battery does freeze, it is likely to crack the case. That means a new battery. -I've heard that the battery can recharge itself. Is that true? Not exactly. When you crank hard to try to start a reluctant car, the battery acid gets weak near the plates inside, eventually not producing enough power to turn the engine over. If you let the battery recuperate for 15 minutes, the acid will redistribute around the plates and you'll be able to generate some more power. So if you leave the lights on, all may not be lost. Give it 15 minutes and try again — you may be able to start the car after all. But then drive for 20 minutes or so to give the alternator time to recharge your battery. The other trick used by people in really cold climates is to take the battery out of the vehicle and into the house to warm it up. Compared to 27°C, a battery at -18°C has only about 40 per cent of the cranking power. When my battery quits, should I buy the same kind of battery? You may not need to buy a battery at all. Your battery is called a storage battery because it stores electricity, which your vehicle draws out like money from a chequing account. If your alternator stops making deposits, you have no overdraft protection! Even a loose belt (driving the alternator) or a faulty voltage regulator can cause the battery to discharge. There may be an electrical short circuit, or a bad cable. The first thing to do is check the battery — your garage has a tester that takes out all the guesswork. If you do need a new battery, go for the highest cold Cranking Amps (CCA) you can get for your vehicle. CCA refers to the cranking output at -17°C for 30 seconds. It may take 300 - 400 amps to start your car, so on a cold morning you'll be happy if you chose a battery rated at 500 CCA over one rated at 400. 50 YEARS IN BUSINESS BASH LOOK ALIKE 1998 F150 4X2 STYLESIDE 4.2L, V6, 5 speed, air, AM/FM Cassette, cargo box light, rear chrome bumper, chrome wheels, 40/60 split bench, body side molding, silver & frost clearcoat. List Price At 23,935 Montgomery Discount $ 6,035 7,900 We also have a great selection 24 in.. 1998 F150 4X4's and 4X2's Regular cab, extra cab, light duty 4X4's, 250's, all at similar discounts or 0 I Zr financing 48 months O.A.C. COME TO OUR 50TH YEAR IN BUSINESS BASH NOV. 13TH 5':00 PM - 10:00 PM C) C m cn (71 0 O 0