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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2004-10-28, Page 18See your local garage for great Fall Tune-up Specials Supplier of quality III Auto Parts Plus II 'I'teat vets* cat. tight! Keep it ceean! 389 Queen St., Blyth 523-9725 Tokens available for purchase! ;,:‘,.,.... ,, .i.e. :7,NiSt.:_z2z=firilliiiiiiiiiiiiiii.111111111111111...._ e -. ....,...z..,...________— 1. -‘4 ....,--, .... ------------- --''''-•=0 "*4111ti ii / 1TR' 1 41i VII '.\. Call now for a price on the only tire that sticks to ice M.G.M. Townsend Tire Londesboro 523-4742 or 1-877-619-7877 George, Matt, Dan, Carrie & Wes We also have a wide selectionof used tires for all applications. Call Now! . • 4 4 I 121.1611.444(4°' 1.11M181.4%61 • 0. II • BRIDGESTORE® ir...1.2.1"."11PAp.0.1110. 0, of 14 111 Off • • PAGE 18. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2004. 4 road === Cooling system upkeep key to avoiding breakdowns CCNS - Cooling system problems are a major cause of wintertime automobile breakdowns, but they can easily be prevented. A few peri- odic maintenance steps can keep your family from being stranded on the highway during the cold winter months and save you some costly repair bills. In simple terms, your car's cooling system keeps the engine from burn- ing up. It keeps antifreeze/coolant and water circulating through the engine block and the radiator to disperse the heat. This is essential, since heat build-up can cause engine damage that is sometimes irreparable. The antifreeze also keeps the water in your car's cooling system from freezing in winter when tem- peratures dip below 32° F. This is important because frozen antifreeze (MS) -- Whenever it rains during rush hour, there's a traffic jam on the highway. Poor visibility is often a major contributing factor, but could be alleviated if more drivers paid attention to the condition of their windshield and windshield wiper blades. Many vehicles have windshield wiper blades and/or washer systems that are barely functional, and many, many drivers never change their wiper blades. Worn-out wiper blades cannot effectively clear the windshield of rain, snow or debris, resulting in Car companies are offering cus- tomers paint colours in a vibrant rainbow of hues. From sunny yel- lows to grassy greens, your paint options are endless at the dealership. But people are erring on the side of conservatism. According to a study by DuPont Performance Coatings. the most popular automo- could crack an engine block, result- ing in thousands of dollars worth of repairs. There are several steps you take to keep your car's cooling system working effectively: • Monitor your car's temperature gauge often. Know where the gauge's needle usually rests when your engine is running normally. A higher temperature may be your first clue of a cooling system prob- lem. • Make sure your antifreeze/coolant is clean. New antifreeze is yellow- ish-green and somewhat iridescent. As it ages and picks up impurities, it darkens, turning brown or rust- colored, a signal that rust is build-• ing up in your radiator. A simple device called a hydrometer can measure the amount of protection yam antifreeze will provide. blurred vision for the driver. Most of the choices people make when they are driving are based on what they can see. In other words, if old wipers streak during the rain, visibility is severely hampered. Curing the prob- lem is a no-brainer -- new blades are needed for simple safety. With the amount of road grime that today's traffic kicks up on wind- shields, it is recommended wiper- blades be replaced every six months. "They can go longer, but abrasion takes its toll on even the best blades -- as well as the windshield -- and visibility will begin to suffer. bile colour for 2003 was silver -- retaining its berth for the past sever- al years. White, black, light brown and medium/dark grey rounded out the list of other favourites. With all of these unassuming shades, it seems that the highways will not be as colourful as we once thought. • Thoroughly flush your coolant system and replace the antifreeze- water mixture recommended for your climate at least every two years or every 30,000 miles. Besides maintaining a safe temper- ature in your motor, the mixture protects the cooling system's cop- per and aluminum parts from cor- rosion and deterioration, keeping the system flowing smoothly. • Check your coolant reservoir monthly and top it off as needed with the appropriate antifreeze and water mixture. Check the wind- shield washer reservoir at the same time. • Routinely check cooling system hoses and clamps. Your entire cool- ing system can malfunction because of something as simple as a broken hose or a loose clamp. A periodic inspection will alert you to For best results, replace the blade assembly, rather than just the insert. Older frames may loosen and fail to keep inserts in proper alignment for optimum cleaning. While a variety of replacement wiper blades are available, some are better than others. And with winter arriving, now is the time to take a good look at your wiper blades. These days, wiper blades are easy for the consumer to select and replace. Most auto parts stores offer a range of wiper blades, with refer- ence guides to help match one to your vehicle. Installing the fresh blades does not require a mechanic. For optimum wiper-blade per- formance keep windshields clean, and wiper- reservoirs full of washer fluid -- not straight water, which can freeze in colder weather and damage the washer system. trouble spots that need prompt attention. Be alert for ruptures, cracks and a spongy feel in hoses. Also check for broken or loose clamps. When you find a worn-out hose, your best protection is to replace all the cooling system hoses at the same time. • Check the condition of belts. Fan belts can break, fray, stretch or loosen, preventing the radiator fan from doing its cooling job. As a result, the car can overheat, some- times resulting in serious and expensive engine damage. • Test your radiator cap periodical- ly. Your car's cooling system is pressurized, which means its liq- uids would have to reach a higher temperature before they would boil. Just like hoses, a piece as small as the gasket in the radiator cap could fail under the high pres- sure and cause your entire cooling system to malfunction. Pressure-testing the radiator cap will alert you to a potential prob- lem. There are other not-so-easily-visi- ble parts of your cooling system that can fail, such as the water pump or the thermostat. Their inspection and repair is best left to a trained auto- motive technician. You can't drive i Silver most popular car colour in 2003 you can't see Ar 11- e il a nietor. 4/416. 1.1D; SHOP 3 © (.1.D oo 3 s o