The Citizen, 2004-04-15, Page 13M.G.M.
Townsend Tire
We sell, service & install a full line of
farm, truck & passenger tires •
1 mile east of Londesboro
on County Rd. 15
"We'll keep you rolling"
Matt Dan
Phone 523-4742 George Carrie
Wes
IN NEED OF A SPRING TUNE-UP?
- Complete Mechanical Service
- Computerized Tune-ups - Tires - Brakes
- Mufflers - Vehicle Inspection Station
DAN'S AUTO REPAIR
R.R. #3 Blyth (on the Westfield Rd,)
523-4356
I frfi . 4:111m,
Oldsmobile MOTORS CHEVR.0LET
Downtown BRUSSELS
887-6856 or 1-888-351-9193
LIME, OIL & '27
FILTER 111
& 10 POINT CHECK CO
Includes... 10 Point Check (,(
Test Antifreeze PH
Check Cooling System Leaks c•
Check Wiper Blades
Top Up Washer Fluid
Check Air Conditioning Performance
41111
41111 Check Air Filter
Check R 95 Check Fan Belts
ad Hoses
Check Tires
Check all Lights
With this Coupon and Lube, Oil & Filter recieve a
FREE SPRING SPECIAL
(value $9.95)
Coupon Expires May 31/04 (not valid with any other specials)
o McCUTCHEON MOTORS <_
Downtown BRUSSELS 887-6856 or 1-888-351-9193
-1
4111
034 Oil Coat $5995 and up
Dripless Oil Coat $6995 and up
Remember...Every Wednesday is Seniors' Day
Receive 0% Off parts & labour
Free pickup and deliver within
5 miles of Brussels
J.L. McCutc eon Motors Ltd.
Brussels (519) 887-6856
THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, APRIL 15, 2004. PAGE 13
on the ROAD 2004
Something or women who enjoy shopping
When it comes to smart Shopping.
women generally have the upper
hand and, because they buy their
share of batteries, this information
will help the ladies stay up to date in
the automotive department.
Gender-wise or otherwise, if your
car battery is dead or even weak,
you're not going anywhere. It is the
leading cause of starting trouble,
whether because of lights left on, a
charging system problem or other
cause. SometiMes it is just that the
battery has outlived its usefulness.
But even at best, a healthy battery
in 80-degree weather has only half
of its output when the thermometer
dips to zero.
When shopping, remember that a
Cleaning a car: a piece of cake,
right? Certainly, if you follow the
procedures suggested by the Car
Care Council.
While it's the most basic
procedure in car care, it does deserve
some thought. The first step in
cleaning the car is to wash it. Give it
a good rinsing from top to bottom.
including the wheels and inside the
tenders.
Always clean the tires and wheels
before washing the body, and don't
use the same mitt for both. This way
you'll avoid contaminating the
vehicle's paint with debris from the
wheels and tires.
Use a good tire cleaner with a stiff
brush, to improve your tires'
appearance even if you don't have
white sidewalls or white letter tires.
Next, clean the wheels with a
wheel cleaner that removes the
brake dust, which often blackens the
Springtime brings with it the
beautiful echo of birds chirping into
the wind and the repetitive thump of
car after car coming face to face with
this season's driving challenge -
potholes.
The roads have just experienced
several months of degenerative
freezing and thawing cycles and now
it's time for drivers to- pay the price
of poor pavement.
Potholes can "deflate" a car's
performance in ways ranging from a
misaligned front end to a complete
tire blowout, and although there may
not he a way to prevent these nasty
"road defects" from forming on our
city streets and highway'S, there are
ways to reduce the potential
damages motorists can cause to their
tires.
"Regular tire maintenance and
heightened driving awareness can
dramatically affect the price drivers
pay on tire and wheel repairs". It is
always recommended that drivers
adhere to a regular maintenance
schedule and stay cognizant of
factors such as tire pressure and
tread condition. It also doesn't hurt
to stay focused on the road and
obstacles ahead.
Most commonly, drivers are
churning the pavement with
underinflated tires, a condition
inducing many driving downfalls.
Underinflated tires, especially upon
impact with potholes, risk damage to
the wheel itself and even potentially
a complete tire blowout.
On the converse, overinflated tires
run risks of their own: An
battery is rated by cold cranking
amps (CCA), indicating its power
and the reserve capacity rating (RC),
which indicates how long your car's
accessories can run and still have
enough-power to start the engine.
Since starting a car in cold weather
can take up to twice as much current
to turn over a cold engine, cars in
colder climates would benefit from a
higher CCA rating. Check your
owner's- manual for the original
equipment manufacturer's (OEM)
minimum requirements needed for
your car and select the battery
adequate for you needs. Buying one
with an excessive CCA rating may
be a waste of money.
In every situation, more RC
front wheels. Applications of these
cleaners vary,- so be sure and follow
the directions on the container.
Now it's time to wash the body.
Use a product sold specifically for
automobiles. (Household cleaners
can strip the wax from the paint and
damage the 'finish.) Starting at the
top, wash one section at a time,
thoroughly rinsing away the soap.
Work your way down toward the
front, sides, and rear of the vehicle.
Clean the rear last since it usually
has the largest accumulation of dirt
and grime, which can contaminate
the wash mitt. Wash the inside door
jams about once a month.
To rinse, remove the spray nozzle
from the hose. Starting at the top, let
the water cascade down the surfaces
of the vehicle. Then, to avoid water
spotting, dry with a chamois or other
product made for this purpose.
Now is an excellent time for
overinflated tire, upon impact, can
cause structural damage to the tire
itself. The most important thing to
remember is that visually inspecting
a tire is not enough. A tire pressure
gauge is the only effective way to be'
sure proper inflation has been met."
Other indications that tires and
alignment are in need of service
include:
• Noticeable bends/dents in wheels.
• Bumps protruding from the
sidewall of the tire
• Recurring loss of air pressure
-• Vibration in the wheel or in the
feet and seat
• The car's front end wanders on a
flat straight surface
(reserve) is better, like a little extra
in the chequing account. The size
and number' of plates in a battery
determine how many amps it can
deliver. By having more and/or large
plates, you can increase the normal
life of the battery. This is what
distinguishes, a three-year from a
five-year warranty battery.
Battery manufacturers build their
products to an internationally
adopted Battery Council
International (BCI) group number
based on the physical size, terminal
placement (where you connect the
cables to the battery) and terminal
polarity. BCI and the battery
manufacturers offer application
guidelines that contain the OEM
waxing, which not only protects the
finish but it also makes subsequent
washing easier. Before proceeding,
look for foreign particles on the
paint. Use a car cleaner, available at
auto supply stores, to remove
contaminants imbedded in the paint.
Once the surface is clean, apply
the wax, followin g the
manufacturer's instructions for
application of the product. .Often
they recommend not using the
product in direct sunlight.
Keeping your vehicle clean, while
it doesn't require a lot of effort, says
the Council, it does foster a feeling
of pride and accomplishment.
The Car Care Council is a source
of information for educating
consumers about the benefits of
regular vehicle maintenance and
repair.
For more information visit
www.carcare.org
This season, try to avoid potholes.
If you can't, remember that the best
-solution is to brake before impact
and then roll through the obstruction
at a low speed.
Braking during impact only
increases the damage passed to the
vehicle.
Staying aware of your vehicle's
performance, and the driving
conditions you are subjecting i< to.
are important to your safety. If you
notice a change in the way your cal-
k handling, see a tire service
professional. Regular maintenance
and preventive measures can
significantly extend the life of your
tires.
cranking amperage requirements and
group number replacement
recommendations by make, model
and year of car and battery size,
CCA and RC specifications.
After all of this information, it is
still best to shop where
knowledgeable salespeople can
assist you in selecting the right size
and requirements for your vehicle.
Finally, compare warranties. Most
manufacturers prorate warranties
based on the full list price of both the
bad and the replacement batteries. If
failure occurs halfway or more
through the warranty period, buying
a new one on sale may cost less than
paying the difference under a pro-
rated warranty.
The Car Care Council is the source
of information for the "Be Car Care
Aware" campaign, /educating
consumers about the benefits of
regular vehicle maintenance and
repair. For more information visit
www.carcare.org
Cleaning car a piece of cake
Spring drivers take hard hit