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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2004-10-28, Page 19jra Check out The Citizen's WEBSITE at www.northhuron.on.ca THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2004. PAGE 19. The secret to keeping your car looking like new CCNS - "It looks like new! I would have never guessed that car was eight years old." That is what we owners want to hear. but keeping our cars looking like the late models is tough, even with today's long-lasting finishes. Dents, dings and cracked glass are several items that age the appearance of a vehicle. Fortunately, technology has helped advance the solutions to these problems, making the fixes quicker and less expensive. With mobile repair units, these items often can be repaired on site at your home or work, adding to the convenience. Many types of door dents or small CCNS - Remember when cars used to have at least several rubber belts under the hood? Called "fan" belts or drive belts, they've been replaced on most late model vehicles with a single, "serpentine" drive belt. Another belt under the hood of most cars is hidden under a cover at the front of the engine. It's the timing belt, often overlooked during routine maintenance. On the majority of vehicles if the timing belt fails the engine will quit, unharmed. The lucky motorist will have only the inconvenience of being stranded on the side of the road. The car can then be towed to a repair facility to have the timing belt replaced. On some engines, however, a broken timing belt can cause major damage to internal components. This potential disaster dings are fixed without sanding. filler or painting, preserving the integrity of the vehicle's original 'factory finish. Technicians use specially designed tools that allow them to access the problem and actually massage it out. If paint touch-ups are required. the technology is available to match your vehicle and repair scratches, minor chips and blemishes on most surfaces. There are a couple of factors that have an effect on the success of this process: • The location of the dent on the car is important.. For example. a dent on the edge of a door, trunk or hood probably can't be fixed using this can be avoided easily and relatively inexpensively by replacing the timing belt as recommended in the owner's manual. Timing belts resemble an engine accessory serpentine belt in appearance. only they typically have square teeth on the inside surface. They're usually constructed of rubber reinforced with nylon. Simply put. the timing belt transfers the rotation of the crankshaft to the camshaft. The rotating camshaft activates the valves, which provide air and fuel to the cylinders and expel combustion gases to the exhaust system. The valves and pistons are constantly moving up and down at very high speeds. When the pistons are down, the valves are open; when the 'piston is at the top of its travel. process. • If there is paint damage or scrapes across multiple panels, this may indicate that the damage is too severe, as the paint may crack as the dent is removed. Like dents and dings, chipped cracked glass can also diminish the value of a car. However, the fix is not necessarily a new windshield. Seventy per cent of all glass damage is repairable. Using resins that are constantly being improved, technicians not only can fix your glass, but also make it stronger. In addition, the resin can create a repair that is difficult to detect. This technology can be used to repair the the valves are closed. Some engines don't allow clearance between a valve at its lowest point and a piston at its highest. The timing belt, therefore, is the critical link to ensure that these components don't collide. If collision occurs, damage to the valves, pistons, cylinder head, and cylinder walls can result. This can be an expensive repair. Many domestic vehicles built within the last several years and the majority of imports are equipped with a timing belt. Other engines rely on a timing chain rather than a belt. Refer to your owner's manual following types of glass damage in automobiles: star breaks, combination breaks, bull's-eyes and cracks of any. length. Before having any repairs performed, the Car Care Council reminds you to choose the facility as carefully as you would choose your automotive repair shop. Be sure to get all estimates and warranties in writing. Ask for two or three references and call them. Finally, find out what happens if you're dissatisfied with the job. The Car Care Council is the source of information for the "Be Car Care Aware" campaign, educating consumers about the mind or take your car to a repair facility if you are unsure. The owner's manual maintenance schedule shows timing belt replacement intervals, typically every 60,000 to 90,000 miles. Timing belts usually are protected from foreign objects by a cover, making visual inspection impossible. Replacement usually requires removal of the engine drive belt that operates the alternator, water pump, power steering pump, and air conditioner. Consider replacing this belt, or multiple belts, when having a new timing belt installed. benefits of regular vehicle maintenance and repair. For more information visit www.carcare.org Carter's West Erid Garage & Body pa P 215 Huron St., Clinton Shop 482-9363 or if busy 482-3534 gat all your utintet ca* needs! Timing belt out o sight, out o 3 BRUSSELS AUTO COLLISION & 887-8000 RESTORATION Sport utility trailer: a towable toy box NOW OPEN! Complete Autobody Repairs and Refinishing All Insurance Claims Welcome ,For off-road enthusiasts, the SUT provides the perfect combination of . storage and comfort. But the biggest difference from a mainstream travel- trailer is that ramp trailers are designed for dry camping (camping 'where there is no water, sewer hookups or electrical outlets.) RECENT POPULARITY The SUT phenomenon began with off-road enthusiasts a few years ago in California. When the four-wheeler was introduced in the early '90s, a surge in demand for toy haulers ensued. The SUT crowd is almost entirely different from traditional RVers because SUTs appeal to people with an active lifestyle who want to maximize their weekends. It's unlikely to see toy haulers at a campground where you plug in to a source of power. SUT folks are more likely to be in the woods or the desert where ATVing and dirt biking are permitted. ADVANTAGES OF POWER Because people are likely to use an SUT where there isn't a ready power source, nearly all SUTs come with an installed generator, or at minimum are "generator-ready." The benefits of having an installed power-generation source are endless. Fully-functional kitchens, microwaves, televisions, air conditioning, etc. can be taken on the road thanks to a -compact yet powerful generator. (MS) -- Do you find yourself wishing you could pack up your toys and take them on a trip? Traveling with ATVs. dirt bikes and dune buggies, off-road enthusiasts are now able to turn a day or weekend away from work into a mini-vacation thanks to the newest member of the RV family, the SUT. WHAT'S AN SUT? SUT, which stands for sport-utility trailer. is the new craze in RVing. Also termed sport-utility I RV (SURV); toy hauler or toy box, an SUT allows you and your "toys" •to travel to your favourite off-road destinations without leaving behind the comforts of home. . Most toy haulers consist of a bath, sleePing area and kitchen with storage in the rear. Beds, dinettes and couches are typically designed to fold up against interior walls to maximize rear cargo space. But what distinguishes an SUT from other trailers or towable RVs is a swing-down ramp that gives you enough cargo space for a variety of off-road vehicles such as ATVs, dirt bikes, jet skis, canoes, snowmobiles and motorcycles. The SUT can essentially become your home away from home. Once you get an SUT to your destination, you can quickly unhook and establish a base camp, freeing more time for yourself. A group travelling in an SUT can avoid the stress and the many things that can make travelling a chore: crowds jammed airports. hotel checking in and out and packing and unpacking luggage. 590 Turnberry St., Brussels (519) 887-8000 • Fax 887-8001 . a E',,' .._-, DAN'S eitaptete 4 47r* Book oyt Tune-Up 0a Complete j Computerized AUTO RR #3 Blyth (on the 523-4356 Tires Vehicle - Mufflers Mechanical Inspection secaafra your - Tune Fall Now -Ups Brakes Station REPAIR Rd.) Service Westfield