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Times Advocate, 1991-04-24, Page 31Walk s PRIN(T Times -Advocate, April 24, 1991 Paste 17 Simple steps to making your car's finish last longer In today's world with today's economy, people are beginning to consult automotive shop managers as they would a doctor or dentist. "People seem to want to take bet- ter care of their vehicles today," says Brad England, owner of Eng- land's Auto Body in Lucan. "They're trying to make them last longer and get more out of them." England's has been a family run operation for over 30 years, offer- ing complete car from painting to. hand glazing. Recently, they moved to a larger, technically ad- vanced shop on William Street, where they have become a member of the BASF refinishing program. To ensure the long life of your car's finish, England's and BASF advise the following precautions, especially over the first 30 days: ® Wash the vehicle by hand 'only, not at a commercial car wash. ® Wash with cold water only in summer, in the shade, and with warm water in winter. Avoid deter- gents or cleaners. ® Wipe off all waterspots with soft cloth or chamois after a wash. ® Do not wax or polish the vehi- cle. Keep the vehicle from unnec- essary extremes of high and low temperatures. • Do not park under trees or near industrial facilities with heavy fallout/smoke. Avoid driving over gravel roads. ' During winter months, have underfenders and hidden areas force -cleaned with water to remove road salts. ®Avoid scraping ice or snow from the painted surface; brush it off. ® Wipe up any antifreeze or windshield washer solution spills immediately. Ironically, many of the precau- tions we take with our vehicles can actually do more harm to its finish than good to its finish, if not done correctly. For example, many car owners have a tendency to over -wax their vehicles which will eventually dull the finish due to the heavy wax build-up. The person who pours on more wax waiting for that illustri- ous finish is actually defeating the purpose. More and more owners store their cars in insulated garages not think- ing of the effects condensation may have. Besides having an adverse affect on one's paint, it can also get underneath to cause rust. "Most precautions we take with our automobiles are fine," says England, "so long as we abide by the guidelines set down by the man- ufacturers of the products we use." Car bras, for instance, are very helpful in preventing damages such as stone chips. However, by failing to follow the makers instructions, you can seriously harm the area of your car you seem to be protecting. Both the car and bra should be clean. If it rains or snows on the car, remove the bra immediately so water is not trapped between the bra and car body. Trapped water or moisture can discolour the paint of the car, and together with a hot sun can cause the paint to bubble if left unattended. Make sure both car and bra are completely clean and dry before reinstalling the bra. The rules are fairly simple, but seldom heeded. These few sugges- tions, however, may help to add a longer life to your automobile's fin- ish. Take care - Condensation can build inside car doors causing rust. Finishing touch - Today's car owners are more cautious with their vehicles' finishes, trying to make them last longer. Summer can be tough on vinyl and .leather automotive surfaces According to specialists, the first step in preparing vinyl, rubber and finished leather surfaces is to com- pletely remove all the accumulated dust, dirt and mud. A good all-purpose automotive cleaner can be used to clean dash- boards, seats, floor mats, tires, and even glass. It contains fast -acting wetting agents and solvents to penetrate, loosen and lift dirt, oily film and dust quickly and safely. Once your car is clean, apply a protectant to these surfaces to pro- tect and beautify them, and to help bring out their natural luster. Pro- tectants are ideal. They help bring back vinyl, rubber and finished leather surfaces' original color, and restore lost luster. After it's applied, a protectant also helps reduce static electricity, which can attract dirt and dust to the surface. Many exposed automo- tive surfaces can benefit from the beautifying abilities of a protectant - vinyl and finished leather seats, head liners, dashboards, door pan- els, even automotive trim. When used regularly, a protectant can maintain a "just -cleaned" shine all year long. The best way to keep a new' car's interior surfaces looking new dur- ing summer is to conduct a regular automotive cleaning regimen that includes using a protectant and an all-purpose car cleaner. It can be an inexpensive and easy way to en- hance a car's appearance and pro- tect your investment. And, by do- ing the same for an older car, an `oyiner can help increase its resale Value. = 7MICN®LIN , I C -I : 1 111: MICNILIN ; ,1(-i : 1:11: MICHELIN 1 :14 111: T t PR THIS 18 CELESS 1 S*T[IDG I / r LDtEIWICE 011 and Filter Change Pius I free Solid Gold vehicle check. $21 95 • Inst.. up to 4 litres of Autopar L igine Oil and an Autopar Oil Filter MOST CARS • Inspect C -V ;oint boots (where applicable). Timely Changes: Maintain a clean system $ 21 95 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. MOST LIGHT DUTY TRUCKS T IT •• T 1 -Tr 0 T u THESE MICHELIN BABIES ARE MXL PRICED LESSI XH.., Cooling System Tune -Up • Flush and drain the cooling system • Install up to 4 litres of Autopar 4 Season antifreezelcoolant • Check radiator cap, thermostat, belts and hoses. Removes scale deposits that can disrupt the flow of the coolant and helps to prevent winter freeze-up. "Gas Plus" Service • Install 2 Autopar Gas Plus Shock Absorbers • Inspect C -V joint boots (where applicable). New Gas Plus shocks will: • Help reduce body roll through turns • Help prevent wheel hop on sudden stops. A wide tire for the sports car market. P185/70-14 ww $85.00 The long -wearing all -season radial. $3995 4 CYL. $4495 6 CYL. $4995 8 CYL. Front Disc Brake Service • Install new semi-metallic pads • Resurface front rotors • Inspect front calipers, master cylinder, brake hardware and brake hoses • Repack and adjust bearings (if applicable) • Top -up master cylinder. Our brake service special will: • Return peak performance to your front brakes again • Point out any problem area in the front brake system • Give you peace of mind as to the safety of you and your passengers. ,69s, :8995 Engine Tune -Up • Install new Autopar spark plugs • Check plug wires, distributor cap: rotor: coil: PCV valve, belts, hoses, compression, air filter and battery • Check timing and idle and adjust if required' 'where applicable. $4895 4 CYL. $5895 6 CYL. '5995 V6 CYL. Tune -Ups at prescribed intervals combat: $69" 699 5 • Poor fuel economy • Difficult starting • Poor or uneven acceleration • Stalling 8 CYL. • Rough idling and misfiring. OUR SERVICE IS AS GOOD AS GOLD t,S CUSTOMER CARE P185-75-14 $94.00 P195-75-14 $98.00 P225/75-15 $120.00 M1I( 1 I I.11.1N. 011 \I PRI( :1 ! G1 EA 1• (ZUA1.I I Y! Come see your Michelin Tire Expert today 11 IN . T IBusiness Hours: 8:00 - 5:00 Mon. - Frt. Atter Hour service 1-800-265.9285 (-I : i i 11 I : MICNNLIir ; , I C -(:1: N 1: MICN/LIN ; ,1(-1: 1414 I : MicuaU* We have a line of value priced tires Prices starting at $39.95 for P185/50 13 BW radial HAUGH TIRE EXETER 265 Thames Rd. East Exeter Hwy. 83 East 235-3752 INC. When you bring your vehicle into Exeter Chrysler for service, you can expect the job to be done, right the first time... that we will do what we say well do... and that well do it at a fair and reasonable price. Exeter Chrysler MICIFHEL/N [Pfymouffi Ltd. ta.tevst so Math is riding en your tires. 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon sat. tlutige Titin". [citttvsiiitj 136 Maln St., N, Exeter 2351.525 Rentals 1=1 A