HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2003-04-16, Page 16PAGE 16. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16, 2003.
Spring cleaning tips for your car
With spring and warmer weather
quickly approaching it’s time to
clean the dirt, road salt and winter
grime from the body of your car.
Washing and caring for your car are
important steps in maintaining shine,
appearance and prolonging the life
of your vehicle.
A top priority for motorists should
be to undo the ravages of winter to
ensure their vehicles are tuned up
and spring ready. Follow this
checklist:
Interior:
• Protect interior surfaces: Clean
your car’s vinyl, plastic and rubber
surfaces with a treatment to prevent
drying and cracking. Use a
protectant wipe to reach into the
tightest spots, such as seams, the
areas around panel switches and
inside air-conditioning vents.
Remember, the dashboard, seats
and steering wheel are most
susceptible to sun damage, cracking
and fading. The regular use of these
treatment products will prevent UV
Take time for auto checks
You’ve endured another winter
chock full of snow, sleet, hail and ice
— but how well has your car
endured wild weather?
As spring comes coasting in this
month, it’s time to tap the brakes on
some spring activities in order to
perform a quick check oh your car’s
condition.
Unless your car is making strange
noises or emitting foul-smelling
fumes, you can perform a simple
weekly car check on your own
vehicle in a matter of minutes. The
better in tune you are with your car,
the better you’ll be able to
communicate car problems to your
mechanic, should trouble arise.
Following are some basic items
you should be sure to check on a
weekly basis, courtesy of The
Pocket Idiot’s GuideTM to Car
Repair (alpha books), by Dan
Ramsey.
• Oil level — Circulated in the
engine, oil keeps the car’s engine
parts lubricated and prevents them
from wearing out. When the engine
is off, the oil settles to the oil pan
under the hood. The oil-pan stick or
dipstick will indicate the oil level
and whether or not the oil needs to
be refilled.
• Coolant level — A mixture of
antifreeze fluid and water, coolant
(located under the hood of the car)
circulates throughout the car’s
engine to remove excess heat. It then
circulates throughout the radiator,
where the airflow cools it before it
k
damage to interior surfaces.
• Clean the interior: Aside from
aesthetics, there are practical reasons
for keeping your car’s interior clean.
Dirt that’s ground into the carpet and
upholstery will accelerate wear of
the fabric. Use your vacuum’s
crevice tool to clean between seat
cushions and in other tight spots
such as ashtrays and coin holders
and around the gearshift and
parking-brake handle.Clean the
trunk as well and pay special
attention to spills, grease spots, etc.
• Carpet check: If your car’s carpet
is subjected to a lot of salty water
during the winter, a rug shampoo can
help remove salt from the carpet
fibres and prevent rust from forming
underneath.
Under the hood:
• Change oil: Check your owner’s
man aal for specific oil
recommen .lations. If you are
planning on towing a heavy trailer or
boat in tne coming months be sure to
switch to a motor oil with 10W30
returns through the engine.
• Windshield-washer fluid level —
Stored in a container or reservoir
beneath the hood of the car,
windshield-washer fluid keeps the
windshield clean. If you expect to be
able to see while driving, make sure
that the fluid never falls below its
appropriate level.
• Power-steering fluid level — If
your car has power steering, power
steering fluid is what makes the car
easier to steer with less effort. The
fluid usually is stored in a reservoir
under the car’s hood.
• Brake fluid levels — Hydraulic
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viscosity designed for these special
performance requirements.
• Clean the fuel system: By
ensuring the smooth flow of gas, you
will increase fuel efficiency by as
much as eleven per cent.
• Battery check: The battery
should be tested for performance and
replaced if necessary. Remember
driving in extreme weather can
shorten the life of a car’s battery, and
corrode the terminals.
Exterior:
• Inspect tires: Inspect tires
thoroughly for wear and proper tread
depth — look for cracks, and use a
ruler to measure tread grooves all the
way around the tire to detect any
uneven or excessive tread wear.
Clean the grease, salt and dirt out
of your wheel wells and repair any
rust. Since driving in winter weather
can be hard on tires, it’s also
important to rotate all season radials
or remove winter tires.
• Check exterior: Check the
exterior of your vehicle for any
fluid, or brake fluid, is used by the
car’s hydraulic system to magnify
the pressure of your foot on the
brake petal to stop the car. The fluid
is located in the master brake
cylinder, usually under the hood of
the car.
• Tires and pressure —
Underinflated tires reduce fuel
economy, while excessive pressure
makes tires wear unevenly, reducing
their usable life.
The tire gauge indicates how
much pressure is in the tire and
whether you’ll need to add more
air.
scratches or chips. If you find minor
paint damage, buy some touch-up
paint as soon as possible and apply it
to keep rust from forming.
Sources:
www.autoeducation.com
Canadian Automobile Association
- News Canada
A Personal Trainer
For Your Car!
See your local
garage for great
Spring Tune-up
Specials
Supplier of quality
Auto Parts Plus
CLINTON AUTO PARTS LTD.
Hwy. 4 South, Clinton 482-3934
Rm
Don't get stuck waiting around for your car
See your
local
garage
for great
Spring
Tune-up
Specials
Supplier of quality
■ Auto Parts Plus
Steffen Auto Supply
100 Pine St., Wingham (519) 357-1550
Hwy. 4 South, Clinton, Ont.
MECHANICAL
SERVICE
AUTO - TRUCK - FARM - SPECIALIST
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