HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2004-10-28, Page 21MECHANICAL
SERVICE
AUTO - TRUCK - FARM - SPECIALIST
MIKE McNICHOL DOUG RIEHL
482-3752 482-9796
Hwy. 4 South, Clinton, Ont.
519-236-4022 / LOCATED ON HIGHWAY 84 & PARR LINE
GRAND OPENING
OCTOBER 29 fft 12-4 P.M.
Join Glavin Collision Repair
in celebrating their official
GRAND OPENING & OPEN HOUSE
Friday, October 29 from 12-4 p.m.
Door Prizes including
• two pairs of London Knights tickets • $500 GCR voucher
Barbecue with
proceeds gc ,ing to
Big BrothersA;isters
GLAVIN COLLISION REPAIR - MATT GLAVIN
We would like to take this time to thank those who made this new addition a reality.
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THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2004. PAGE 21.
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More women responsible for vehicle upkeep
Think automobiles are the sole
domain of males? Think again.
A 2004 study by the Automotive
Aftermarket Industry Association
showed that nine out of 10 female
motorists are at least somewhat
involved in the decision-making
process for their household's vehicle
maintenance and repair. Of those
women, more than two-thirds (68
per cent) always take their vehicle in
for service themselves.
"Because women are increasingly
more involved in car care, they need
to be aware of something that's often
overlooked — or rather looked right
through — by female and male
motorists alike," said 'Jeff Blum.
director PPG Automotive
Aftermarket Alliance, "and that's
windshield safety."
In addition to shielding occupants
from wind, a vehicle's windshield
allows the passenger-side airbag to
function properly and, in the event of
an accident involving a rollover, it
helps to minimize roof collapse.
This is of particular concern _
considering the increasing amount of
time women—"taxi moms" in
particular—are spending in the car.
This trend can be seen dramatically
when comparing two studies
conducted by the Surface
Transportation Policy Project, a
nonprofit _ advocacy group in
Washington, D.C. The 2001 study
showed the average mother of
school-age children spent an average
of 74 minutes a day driving, up from
67 minutes in 1995.
There are several factors about the
specialty nature of windshield glass
of which women should be aware.
For instance, a windshield actually
consists of two pieces of glass,
bonded together by a vinyl inter-
layer. If a windshield breaks during
impact, the broken pieces will
generally adhere to the plastic lining.
"Women should also be aware that
not all damage requires a windshield
replacement," said Blum.
"Windshield repair is an option for
some types of damage and will
restore the structural integrity of the
windshield's glass." For many car
owners with comprehensive
insurance coverage, the insurance
company will often waive the
deductible for a windshield repair,
he said.
Other factors car owners should be
aware of regarding windshield safety
involve weather and safe drive away
time.
"The windshield is secured to a
vehicle by a strong adhesive
system," said Blum. "If weather
conditions do not cooperate for
installing a replacement windshield
outdoors, or perhaps through a
mobile-only repair service, or if the
time is cut short for an adhesive to
cure properly, it could pit the driver
of the vehicle and any occupants at
risk."
Blum advises all car owners to
make sure they select or request an
auto glass technician who is
experienced and certified; one that
follows the proper installation steps
(see sidebar) both before and after
any windshield work has been
performed.
Some fuel saving tips as gas prices soar
CCNS - With gas prices high. the
Car Care Council is offering gas-
saving maintenance and driving tips
that really work.
"Millions of dollars worth of
gasoline is wasted every day by
motorists, because simple and
inexpensive vehicle maintenance is
neglected." said Rich White.
executive director of the Car Care
Council. "Loose or missing gas
caps. under-inflated tires, worn
spark plugs and dirty air filters
all contribute to poor fuel econ-
omy."
The Car Care Council offers these
fuel-saving tips:
• Check vehicle gas caps - About
17 per cent of the vehicles on the
roads have gas caps that are either
damaged. loose or are missing
You clean your home when you -
are expecting company: You wear a
nice outfit when you want to "sell"
yourself -on a date or an interview.
These are just natural things to do
when you want to -make a good
impreSsion..
The same can be said for selling
your car. You have to get your car up
to par when you want to impress
buyers. Sure, you can't change the
car's age or mileage. but you can
Make other improvements to the
interior and exterior to make it
attractive to buyers. While you may
have to spend a little bit on such
maintenance, as the saying goes,
"You have to spend money to make
money." Here. are some
improvements you can make to your
car to maximize your selling price.
Engine: Get the engine cleaned at
a garage. They will get rid of dirt and
dust to ensure that the engine is
quiet, smooth and powerful.
Oil: Change. the oil so it's not too
low or dirty.
Exterior and interior: Make the
car presentable by cleaning it inside
and out. Get it washed and waxed on
the exterior and vacuumed, cleaned
and deodorized on the inside. A
clean, shiny vehicle will show that
you've taken good care of it.
Repairs: Fix anything that is easy
to replace. such as headlights or car
mats. If you are short on time, get an
estimate oi• the repairs and factor
those costs in when negotiating a
sale price.
Paint: Paintless dent repair or
airbrushing at a body shop can fix
small dents, scratches and chips in a
few hours.
Windshield: No one wants to buy
a car that has a cracked windshield.
See if you can replace it yourself, or
altogether.
• Make sure tires are properly
inflated - When tires aren't inflated
properly, it's like driving with the
parking brake on and can cost a
mile or two per litre.
• Replace spark plugs regularly - A
vehicle can have either four, six or
eight spark plugs, which tire as
many as three million times every
1,000 miles. That results in a lot of
heat, electrical, and chemical
erosion.
A dirty spark plug also causes
misfiring, which wastes fuel.
Spark plugs need to be replaced
regularly.
• Replace dirty air filters - An air
filter that is clogged with dirt. dust
and bugs chokes off the air and
creates a "rich" mixture - too much
get. an estimate from a body shop.
Tires: Make sure tires are the right
size and type for your vehicle. They
should be relatively new with some
tread life, clean, and inflated.
Written records: By supplying a
buyer with organized and neat
vehicle records, you're showing that
the car was in capable hands. If the
car was serviced at a dealer, get a
computer printout of the car's
service history. Also, be sure that
you have the title and any other
helpful written materials.
gas being burned for the amount of
air, which wastes gas and causes the
engine to lose power.
Fuel-saving driving tips include:
• Don't be an aggressive driver -
Aggressive driving can lower gas
mileage by as much as 33 per cent
on the highway and five per cent on
city streets.
• Avoid excessive idling - Sitting
idle gets zero miles per litre.
Letting the vehicle warm up for
one to two minutes is sufficient.
• Observe the speed limit - Gas
mileage decreases rapidly at speeds
above 100 kph.
Each mile driven over 100 kph
will result in an additional savings
per litre. To maintain a constant
speed on the highway, cruise control
is recommended.
Classified
advertisements
published in
The Citizen
are now available on
our website at
www.northhuron.on.ca
Prepare your car for sale