HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1987-11-11, Page 27•
Times -Advocate, November
AI
Non.workinq heater a creat
There is perhaps no greater incon-
venience of winter driving than a
heater that won't work.
Most passenger compartment heat-
ers use the coolant to warm the in-
coming fresh air. In addition to pro-
viding driver and passenger comfort,
the warm air directed to the inside of
the windshield generally prevents
fogging or icing which obscures vi-
sion.
The personal distress of cold fin-
gers and toes can be avoided, by in-
specting the heat producing cooling
system components in your car.
The heater and its system of hoses
arc very much an integral part of
your car's cooling system. The heat-
er, in fact, is like a small radiator
and functions in much the same
way.
Here's how. Hot coolant is piped
from the engine through the heater
control valve and into the heater
core, located under the dash in most
cars. The coolant passes through the
core's finned tubes and releases its
heat.
-A small electric fan forces air past
the finned tubes and directs the
warmed air into the passenger com-
partment. The coolant is then piped
ant loss due to boiling.
The cap should be replaced if the
seal of gasket is damaged, or if the
spring is broken. The radiator filler
neck also should be inspected for
nicks or cuts which could allow
pressure 10 escape..
How thermostat works
The thermostat acts as a heat sen-
sitive valve which regulates the
flow of coolant to the radiator.
When the engine is cold, the ther-
mostat is closed and the coolant re -
circulates back into the engine to
pick up more heat until it reaches a
predetermined temperature.
back into the cooling system at the
water pump.
Begin with coolant
Troubleshooting should begin
with the coolant level (it should be
visible just below the filler neck)
and mixture (50 percent each of wa-
ter and anti -freeze is recommended).
A low level will reduce or cancel
the flow of coolant to the heater,
thereby reducing or preventing any
heat output.
The radiator pressure cap helps to
raise and control the temperature of
the coolant in the system; and pro-
vides a limited reserve against cool-
Essential
ool-
Essentisl to knowour batt�ry,y
be careful with Iump-startiflg
The automobile battery need not Several precautionary measures
be a source of anxiety. Knowledge should be followed when jump -
of simple and safe steps for jump- starting a battery. Position vehicles
starting the battery is essential for so that they do not touch each oth-
motorists concerned about winter er. Check to see that both batteries
car ct, arc on the same voltage.
Cheek. belts on
car pooling system
Almost half of all motorists have
never replaced the cooling system
V -belts on their cars.
Of those who have, the majority
did so when the belts were at or near
failure, which is normally in about
five years.
Based on these national survey re-
sults, and the fact that belt failure
goes up sharply as the car approach-
es its fifth year, it is recommended
that belts on four-year-old cars be
replaced.
First, the dramatic decline in the
number of full-service gas stations
has resulted in fewer mechanics to
advise car owners when to change
their belts.
Second, there has been a signifi-
cant change in the construction of
modern automotive V -belts.
Because of fewer full service. gas
stations and the increase of gas -only
Rotate tires
at 6,000 miles
To optimize tire mileage on front -
wheel -drive vehicles, it may be ne-
cessary to rotate tircs before the
generally recommended 6,000 mile
initial rotation time.
In fact, the engineers say that all -
season, mud and snow -type tires
used on front wheel positions of
any automobile or light truck may
develop irregular wear at early mile-
age due to the side slip that occurs
during steering.
This is especially true on front -
wheel -drive vehiclesi,because of the
heavier load and its effect on the
stopping and steering torques.
The best rotation pattern for radial
tires is front to rear and rear to
front, keeping the tires on the same
side of the vehicle. _
outlets, under -the -hood maintenance
is being neglected. The company es-
timates that fewer than one in four
car owners is changing his belts on
a routine preventive maintenance
basis. In the majority of cases, the
major reason for replacement is be-
cause the belt is at or near failure.
To avoid inconvenience on the
highway or costly towing and repair
charges, the company feels car own-
ers must adopt new maintenance
habits and change V -belts before
they fail.
The second reason for recommend-
ing regular replacement - modern
bandless belt construction has re-
moved the traditional wear indica-
tor.
When belts were made with the
"banded" construction, they had a
fabric cover, however, so they don't
readily show the effects of higher
r.p.m. engines, smaller and hotter
engine compartments, and natural
deterioration.
Most car owners, and even profes-
sional mechanics, may not be able
to predict belt failure by appearance
alone. Very often the belt appears to
be in good shape just before it
breaks.
Properly inflated
tires essential
Your tires are designed to ride saf-
er and wear longer when properly
inflated with the correct amount of
air. Properly inflated tires also help
you car deliver better gas mileage
because when your tires are properly
inflated, they create less "drag". Do
yourself and your tires a favor.
Check your air pressure today - and
then get in the habit at least once a
month.
(Effective Until November 30/87)
OIL NID
CHAIIGE
FILTER
tiarff
nEVVAY
•
011 and Filter Change Includes:
• Install up to 5 litres of Autopar
"Warranty Approved" Motor Oil
and an Autopar Oil Filter
• Inspect C -V joint boots
(where applicable)
Includes Lube
tir3
`fi.PP
Show your
car you care
Timely Changes
• Maintain a clean
system for better
engine performance
• Provide effective
lubrication to
maintain the
workings of all
internal engine parts
• Assist in the oil flow
to promote a longer
engine life
$1895
Most Cars
And Light Trucks
4.1. 40OIt.0f4.1 PAP'SOf1 SF.. Y.( fM w1RF:V p(OUO'F 0 F 00•OIM..0,.0M.1.1.0"•(f Of1f
4► Grand Bend
rAT PLYMOUTH CHRYSLER crn.
3041 CRESCENT GRAND SEND 23$-2372
Turn off both vehicles' engines.
Set the parking brakes on each vehi-
cle. Place automatic transmissions
in park, standard transmissions in
neutral.
Be sure vent caps are tight and lev-
el. Place a damp cloth over the
vents of both batteries. With safety
precautions taken careof, the stalled
battery is ready for jump-starting
(see corresponding diagram).
1. Connect positive (plus) booster
cable to positive post of dead bat-
tery. (The positive post is wired to
the starter or solenoid.)
2. Connect other end of same cable
to same marked post (positive) of
booster battery.
3. Connect second booster cable
(negative) to other post of booster
battery.
4. Make final booster cable con-
nection on engine block of stalled
vehicle away from battery.
5. Start The booster vehicle and let
it run for a few minutes.
6. Start the disabled vehicle, then
remove cables in reverse order of
connection.
Further safety precautions should
be followed when working on or in
the vicinity of the automotive.
*Whenever you work near a bat-
tery, protect your eyes with safety
goggles.
*Never light a match or smoke
when working under the hood of a
car.
*Be careful that metallic objects
such as tools do not fall on battery
terminals. This could cause sparks,
leading to a battery explosion.
*Never lean over the battery during
the charging, testing or jump-
starting.
Steps for jump-starting the auto-
mobile battery and tips for ensuring
optimum service, safety concerns
and precautions, understanding how
the battery operates, battery service
and useful terminology arc included
in "Take charge = Know Your Bat-
tery," a safety guide produced by the
Battery Council International
(BCI),
11, 1987
Page I IA
inc.nvenience
When the thermostat fails or mal- produces lining failure and hose
functions, the engine will either rupture. A small leak not only
overheat or it will take longer to wastes valuable coolant, but it also
get any heat because the engine will reduces pressure in the entire sys-
take longer to rcach proper operat- tem.
ing temperature.
If the thermostat is functioning
properly, you should be able to feel
the surge of warm coolant passing
through the upper radiator hose. It
is a good practice to replace a ther-
mostat that is in doubt.
Flexible hoses convey the coolant
between the radiator and the engine.
They should be inspected for soft-
ness, cracks, and cuts. In normal
service, they are affected by air,
heat, chemical, oil and constant vi-
bration.
These conditions could either hard-
en or crack hoses, which destroys
flexibility and causes leakage; or
soften and swell the hoses, which
Two other important hoses arc
connected to the inlet and outlet
tubes of the heater. These, too,
should be checked for swelling and
cracks, and abrasion to the hose
cover where the hoses come in con-
tact with the engine block. Kinked
hoses will obviously restrict the
flow of coolant.
Check the heater hoses to make
sure the hot coolant is flowing
through the heater core. The supply.
line to the heater should be hot; the
return hose should be warm. If the
hoses are cool, circulation is not ad-
equate
dequate due to clogged heater core of =
possible ice blockage in the core
unit.
BRIAN'S
SERVICE CENTRE
Auto Repairs
PRIMER Computer Wheel Balancing:
2 class A mechanics
Husgvarna Simplicity Lawn & Garden
Pioneer partner SALES AND
Husqvarna Chainsaws . SERVICE
PIDNEER
10% off
All Exhaust
Parts
15% off
All Season
Ties
237-3322
Good till Dec. 31 /87
Box 168, Dashwood
:._ ...LT:14 ;T. ,sf...,',..3.27.._ 4.ii,
,_
_ _ v R _1081 demand for
d1O,o IIK
�o""°" ER 235 -1081 to a
EXEZ ons
SI. S.. hasp
MAW St
" has opened in Exeter in public does
i anY car buying P deci-
Our con P ze that
percentage of the criteria when the
Quality automobiles.priority We recognize that a tic product as a p trend na-
sion
p e• the growing erfor
not consider a is finally made.
are joining
to purchase consumers economical and P
knowledgeable m down -sized,
Local, of purchasing more innovations
inno
tionallY vehicles. the best Of Honda's able of 5ery
driven we're combining
a'nrnogded�' dealership.cap imported mance Honda w eructs are imp
At Exeter H for quality a our P in the industry
d reputationaf Ontario. Whethero our
leader Itis o On-
tario,
Japan
of Western been a world
factory in A ust rs.
has the new
ing where Hondafrom f den'andietime
from Japan delivered to us expectations °
years or d falling the exp rover tame andthe
for definitely products has been p succuessful in
•
tari°' they are o f Honda a e been nearly as Prior vehicle
The superioritybuilding a sup mer-
chandising
could n Honda has been
again without consistently Exeter H even
lace selves. et h receive
marketplace oak for themselves.
and have y built so well only
Let the facts ndas for over six months fact they're. bu service.
acing damages' e °f warranty be
ch e wjth t e have ration for any type hardly seems to
returned warranty
T have beef kilometre h need it.
four Or five happen the community
The five yeabor ibs still there if you mpentatt to satisified
Honda we're making a cont totally
aka purchasers 'parts jn-
.necessary... m a large P
At Exeter Hon guaranteed to bays, Let our
byoffering vehicles g ed with six service ba s, area. have
equipped -and you may Honda is Qvenient sales questions y in and see
Exeter H con answer any Q tb come
ventory and a rofessionals anfeel welcome Honda quality. If
knowledgeable r Please talk about
know roducts. we
about Honda -p mean when will.
hat we a test drive
for yourself wyou...
we can't convince y
r is Tota�ff
a
"Our Committ"'nt to Exeter Ou