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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2001-04-18, Page 8Call now and book your Spring Tune Up - COMPLETE MECHANICAL SERVICE - COMPUTERIZED TUNE-UPS - TIRES - BRAKES MUFFLERS - VEHICLE INSPECTION STATION DAN'S AUTO REPAIR Owned and Operated by Dan & Heather Snell RR 3, [Myth, Ont. NOM 1H0 (on the Westfield Rd.) DAN SNELL, Automotive Technician 523-4356 DIAMOND $4995 Includes: Mopar Oil - Mopar Oil Filter - Lube (where applicable) - 15-point visual inspection Springy Service SPecia(s At MOPAR COOLING SYSTEM SERVICE Includes: Flush & drain cooling system $5 95 - Installation of up to 5 litres of Mopar 4-Season Antifreeze/Coolant - Inspection of radiator belts and hoses .• SPRING MAINTENANCE PACKAGE Includes: Up to 5 litres of Mopar Oil - Mopar Oil Filter- Lube (where applicable) - Rotation of 4 tires- Inspection of cooling system, all fluid levels, 95 front-and-rear brake system, exhaust system, suspension system Road test and report results The Right Price! The Right Parts! The Right Equipment! CHRYSLER 5 STAR SERVICE 524-4466 AT DIAMOND DODGE 888-242-2927 HARDLY USED...PICKS OF THE WEEK! Under Warranty • Priced Right • Your Best Financing SPRING WARRANTY SALE IS YOUR 2000, 1999 OR 1998 VEHICLE NEARLY OUT OF WARRANTY? NOW IS THE TIME TO BUY! V Compare to costs of CAA AND minor vehicle repairs V North America Wide Protection V Rental Vehicle Provided V Roadside Assistance V Plans to cover your personal vehicle use CALL FOR PRICING! AT THE NEW TRAFFIC LIGHTS AT THE CORNER OF HWY 8 & SUNCOAST DRIVE IN GODERICH 524-4466 [ OIL, LUBE AND FILTER i ncludes: Up to 5 litres of Mopar Oil - Mopar Oil Filter - Lube (where applicable) - 15-point visual inspection '24" DIESEL SERVICE SPECIAL - OIL, LURE & FILTER BODY PROTECTION SALE Protect Your Investment! 4 Total Body Protection Packages 4 Lifetime Warranty 4 NO Oiling, NO Waxing, 4 NO Seat Covers NO WORRIES!! (COMPARE TO YEARLY APPLICATION OF OILING PRODUCTS WITH NO WARRANTY) CALL FOR PRICING 2-2000 NEONS DEMOS, Auto., air, tilt, cruise, AM/FM cass. Balance of Manufacturer's warranty. 1-white, 1-silver 1999 PLYMOUTH VOYAGER SE 3.81 V6, quad seats, cass/CD, power seat, overhead console, aluminum wheels, Chrysler Gold warranty plan, only 55000 km. 1999 PLYMOUTH BREEZE 2.4L, 4 cyl., air conditioning, tilt, cruise, power windows & locks, cassette. Balance of Manufacturer's warranty. 16,900 1998 DODGE CARAVAN 3.0L, V6, 4 door, AM/FM/CD, air, tilt, running l5tards, Chrysler 1 Yr/20000 km. Powertrain warranty PAGE 8, THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 2001. GEAR UP FOR S RING 2001 Today's complex vehicles require technician expertise cold, at highway speeds or in the city, shopping 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. Ka-thunk! There it goes again, that noise that tells you your car is about to shed something crucial in mid- morning traffic. You need a good automotive service technician — and fast. In days gone by you might have thought about fixing your vehicle yourself, but times have changed. Vehicles are far more complex than they used to be, equipped with sophisticated computer equipment. Vehicles today require the skill of a trained automotive service techni- cian for their repair and maintenance needs. In 1988, the mechanic installed share of the aftermarket was only 55 per cent, do-it-yourselfers accounted for 45 per cent of repairs. In 2000, that number has changed drastically. Today, 67 per cent of vehicle repairs are performed_by trained automotive service technicians, and that percent- age will probably continue to increase as vehicles become more complex. Rule number one for finding a good automotive service technician: 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 automotive serv- ice technician, ask around. Ask your friends, relatives, business associ- ates, church members — anyone you can think of. You'll probably get a more reliable feel for who's good Spring cleaning Spring cleaning can give more than your house a new lease on life. Your car should be just as important a part 'of that ancient ritual. A well-maintained car is actually like a triangle. Careful attention to your car's three sides, the outside, the inside and the underside, will lead to improved performance, longer wear and greater resale value. Above and beyond the exterior is the engine, where routine car .mainte- nance is a must. However, many car owners have poor track records when it comes to taking care of their cars. A test of nearly 13,000 North American cars revealed that 31 per cent were at least one litre low on motor oil. Oil is the lifeblood of the engine, so the most important thing you can do for your car is change the oil and fil- ter regularly. Wash your car frequently but never use harsh soaps or dishwashing deter- gents as they will remove the wax, polish and protective layer from your car's paint. Instead, use a mild detergent spe- cially formulated for car finishes. Use a mitt or a soft sponge to wash the car and rinse it frequently to get rid of dirt that could scratch the paint. Wax or polish is a must for keeping your ear safe from the elements. Frequent vacuuming of carpets and cloth seats will help maintain the con- dition of the car's interior, which goes a long way toward determining its resale value. Vinyl seats should be cleaned, then wiped down with a vinyl protectant periodically. Saddle soap is best for keeping leather seats soft and pliable. The dashboard and other interior areas should be cleaned and who's bad from a consensus of several opinions than from one per- son. 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 evi- dence that the automotive service technician in the shop takes regular training courses in the latest technol- ogy? The days of the mechanic under the hood with a screwdriver, turning 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 sys- tem and the diagnostic computers in the shop. Where you go to an independent garage, a department store, or a fran- chised repair centre doesn't matter all that much. In the end, it all comes dowli to trust. You're looking for sorkebody who is willing to tell you which repairs should be made imme- diately, which can be delayed with- out affecting safety, and which are completely optional for performance upgrades. A good automotive service technician will also be fair in charg- ing 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 automotive service technician to help you, too. When you take your car in with a problem, tell the technician what the symp- toms are (not what you think the problem is). Describe whether it happens when the car is warm or • important to car using the appropriate cleaning prod- ucts for the material and,a protectant can be used to deter fading and crack- ing. When the worst of winter is over. take your car to a car wash and thor- oughly wash the underside to elimi- nate the corrosive road salt used to melt snow. Actually, it's a good idea to do this periodically throughout the year. When the car is clean, check for spots where its protective undercoat- ing has been eaten away by road salt or chipped by rocks and have them repaired as soon as possible. Think of an automobile tune-up as your car's annual physical. Spring is as good a time as any to schedule a complete maintenance check-up. You can do the check-up yourself or take your car to a professional, but either way you should ensure that your spring tune-up follows this 11-point check list: • Change the oil using the recom- mended oil grade; • Check the air filter and change it necessary; • Check all belts and hoses; • Check all fluid reservoirs; • Tune up car and make sure all electrical systems are operating prop- erly; • Check tires for proper air pressure and any signs of wear; • Check the exhaust system; •Check wiper blades and fill the wiper reservoir; • Check engine coolant level and concentration; • Check air conditioning for leaks and charge; • Check all lights and review your emergency supplies kit.