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After hour appointments available
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Hwy. 86 West, R.R. 3 Wingham, Ont. NOG 2W0
Highway 8 West,
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THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, APRIL 20, 2006. PAGE 19.
OH THE ROAD!
The secret to car maintenance in Canada
Most owner manuals for today's
vehicles come with two maintenance
schedules, one for normal driving
conditions and another for "severe"
conditions.
Which applies to you?
Well, if you live in Canada, you
should follow the severe conditions
maintenance schedule, regardless of
How did we ever get along
without air conditioning in our cars?
It's a feature we take for granted
until, suddenly, it's blowing hot
air.
In the past few years, many
owners have discovered that fixing
an inoperative air conditioner can
cost a few hundred dollars or more,
depending upon the make and model
of vehicle.
The reason is that the old standby
R-12 refrigerant, trade named
DuPont Freon, has been replaced by
R-134a. Touted as being
environmentally safer than its
predecessor, R-134a has been
standard since 1994.
If your older vehicle needs major
repairs to the air conditioning
system you can expect to replace
refrigerant and the oil in the
compressor in addition to the old
components.
You also may need to install a
retrofit conversion.
Keep
the
leased car
or buy?
Check it
out
An off-lease vehicle can be a good
deal if you know what you're getting
into.
Leasing has become a popular
way of acquiring a vehicle.
For those who face the decision
regarding turning the vehicle in at
the end of a lease versus taking
ownership. Car Care Canada otters a
suggestion: Invest in
comprehensive inspection by an
independent expert before the lease
has expired.
This is especially important in the
case of a high mileage vehicle.
A vehicle with 80,000 km or more
may need maintenance and repair
work that can add hundreds of
dollars to the cost of acquisition.
The checklist should include such
parts as drive belts, brake pads.
filters and fuel ignition system
components.
While few. if any. of these
..-omponents will need attention on
most lease-end vehicles, the
possibility of excessive wear or
damage does warrant a close
inspection. Even in early stages of a
lease, a damaged rubber CV hoot,
for example, can soon lead to
expensive repairs.
how you drive your vehicle. Some
people think that the severe-
condition schedule applies only to
"aggressive" drivers, but that's not
the case.
Car Care Canada reminds people
that the proper maintenance
schedule depends on the
environment in which they drive
Do not allow anyone to mix
refrigerants. They're not inter-
changeable. You cannot add R-134a
to your older air conditioner without
first flushing the system.
Further, according to Car Care
Canada, some substitutes are
volatile mixtures of propane, butane
and flammable hydrocarbons. Keep
in mind the fact that if your vehicle
is leaking refrigerant, you're
their vehicles, not on their habits
behind the wheel.
Severe conditions include the
following:
• Cold weather
• Idling extensively or driving in
stop-and-go traffic
• Driving less than 8 kms per trip;
or in freezing temperatures, driving
damaging the ozone layer.
An annual inspection of the
vehicle, including ' the air
conditioning system, may help
forestall costly repairs. Many
automotive service shops offer AC
inspection specials when warm
weather arrives.
Otherwise, ask your service centre
to evaluate your system before those
hot and humid days of summer.
less than 16 km per tnp
• Driving in temperatures over
32°C
• Towing a trailer, driving with a
roof rack, or driving in mountains
• Driving on muddy, dusty, or de-
iced roads
Most owner manuals recommend
that Canadian drivers follow the
maintenance schedule for severe
conditions (which was developed by
automotive engineers).
By maintaining your
vehicle according to this schedule,
you'll help keep your driving
trouble-free while preserving the
longevity of your vehicle, not to
mention enhancing its resale
value.
For more car maintenance tips
visit Car Care Canada's website at
www.carcarecanada.ca Some cold facts
about A/C refrigerant
INAPAI
Celebrating
our 80th Year
IDEAL SUPPLY
Where Service Is A Habit
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