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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1991-10-30, Page 12Pepe 12 Times -Advocate, October 30. 1991 FMW!FKCA R CAR F Refresh your car for the winter Autumn is a time to store away your air condition- er, replace your day -glow wardrobe for soft woolly sweaters, and to clean out your garage to make room for your car as the temperature begins to drop. After months of keeping your car parked outside in the rain and dust, it is time to bring it inside and prepare for the long winter months ahead. Preventive mainte- nance begins with a proper cleaning. That familiar box of baking soda that is so useful in your house also works wonders in the car. Here are a few tips: • Battery - To clean corrosion from the terminals without using a wire brush, use a baking soda paste (three parts baking soda to one part water). After rinsing and wiping dry, reconnect the terminals and apply petroleum jelly to prevent future corrosion. Be careful when working around a battery - it contains a strong acid. • Chrome bumpers and trim - Remove road grime with a baking soda solution. Sprinkle baking soda on a damp sponge for extra tough spots. Rinse with water, polish with a soft cloth and admire the shine. • Upholstery - Perk up vinyl seats by wiping with a baking soda solution (four tablespoons bak- ing soda to one quart of water). Be sure to rinse thoroughly and wipe dry. For stubborn spots, sprinkle baking soda right from the box on a damp • Fe loor mats - Make floor mats sparkle with a baking soda solution. For extra tough spots, sprin- kle baking soda on a soft bristled brush. Scrub, rinse thoroughly and wipe dry. • Ashtray - Eliminate stale tobacco odors by adding a layer of baking soda to the bottom of the ashtray. This will help extinguish cigarettes and eliminate flying sparks too. Empty the ashtray reg- ularly and replace the baking soda. Tips on maintaining car's finish One of the easiest and often the most gratifying jobs a do-it- yourselfer can perform is to main- tain a car's finish. By preserving a showroom shine, you not only can prolong the life of the finish, you also can help maintain your car's resale value. This is especially important dur- ing the summer months when the elements can take their toll on a car's finish. To help you maintain the finish during summer, the ex- perts have provided the following tips: Washing Before you apply wax, you should thoroughly wash the car's finish to remove all mud, road salt and insects. This should be done in a shady area to avoid spotting and streaking. The first step in washing the fin- ish is to completely hose down the car. Then fill a bucket with water and add a small amount of a spe- cially formulated car washing product which helps to loosen dirt and other debris from all car fin- ishes. Then, using a soft sponge, wash the car one section at a time. For best results, make sure you rinse the sponge frequently to avoid scratching the finish with dirt or grit. After washing, rinse all soap and grit away and dry the finish with a chamois or dry terry cloth towel. Waxing a clear coat finish Over the past ten years, an in- creasing number of automobile manufacturers have been applying "clear coat" finishes on new cars. More than 90 percent of the cars currently being built will have clear coat finishes. The best way to determine if your car has a clear coat finish is to check with the new -car dealer. A clear coat finish, which con- sists of a transparent paint layer that seals in the finish's thin color coat underneath can provide en- hanced luster to the finish's appear- ance. However, you can easily scratch a clear coat surface by us- ing a wax that contains harsh abra- sives. That's why you should use a non abrasive wax which is de- signed specifically for waxing clear coat finishes. It also lays down a camauba wax coating to help pro- tect the finish from dirt and stains. As in washing, you should al- ways wax the car in a shady area. And the wax should be applied in a circular motion to one section at at time. After the wax has dried, use a soft cotton towel or cloth to buff the finish. Waxing a conventional finish Although clear coat car finishes represent the current trend in the automotive industry, more than 60 percent of the cars on the road to- day still have conventional finishes that also need a special kind of care. In a conventional finish applica- tion method, a coat of colored paint is applied over a primer. The pro- cess leaves the layer of colored paint exposed to pollutants and oth- er elements that can cause the sur- face to oxidize which results in a dull, chalky appearance. You can remove oxidation by us- ing a wax designed specially for conventional car finishes. It can re- move the cloudy film from an oxi- dized finish and help restore the original showroom shine with littler effort. Many of these products also lay down a carnauba wax coating to provide the finish with protection against din and stains. Whether your car has clear coat or conventional finish, it pays to protect your automotive investment by maintaining the finish with the right wax. If you do, you car will always look like new and be pro- tected from the elements. England's ULTRA -MODERN BODY SHOP NEWEST TECHNOLOGY The BLACK HAWK BENCH SYSTEM Duplicates factory manufacturing methods Once the car is mounted, the Blackhawk Bench provides a solid, precision -machined foun- dation for holding, anchoring, measuring and pulling. Self - centering underbody clamps lock down the car while four da- tum fixtures set precise calibra- tion for all three dimensions - zero line for length, centre line for width, datum plane for height. DEVILBISS Concept/CureTM Refinishing System The premier product in the line of vehicular spray booths, the Con- cept/Cure spray booth provides two highly engineered environ- ments - painting and curing - for the finest finished possible We're fully equipped for repairing and refinishing all makes, all models Call today for your appointment England's William Street, Lucent Ont. 227-4432 Delay auto maintenance at own peril, experts warn With the cost of gasoline taking a bigger bite out of the family bud- get than it did last summer, prior to the Middle Fast crisis, many motorists have a ready-made ex- cuse for ignoring routine vehicle maintenance and service. But that's a bad choice. According to the specialists from a group which tests and certi- fies the competence of automotive technicians, failure to perform rou- tine maintenance and service as prescribed by the owner's manual can greatly reduce the life of your vehicle. Avoid breakdowns Not only many preventive main- tenance slow or reverse the dam- age done by winter driving, it can prevent annoying breakdowns in the dog days of summer. The following tips have been prepared by specialists: • Begin with the basics: Whether you are an experienced do-it- yourselfer or rely upon profession- al auto technicians, study your owner's manual and follow all of the recommended service inter- vals. • Don't ignore early warnings: You probably know your car bet- ter than anyone else; you drive it every day and know how it feels and sounds when everything is in top working order. Among the signs to be aware of: unusual sounds, odors, drips, warning lights, smoke, etc.; changes in ac- celeration, engine performance, gas mileage, fluid levels, worn tires, belts, hoses; and problems with handling, braking, or steer- ing. • Find a good shop. Unless you plan to do all the work yourself - few people do in this high-tech age -youwillneedtofindagoodre- • pair shop. Ask friends and business asso- ciates for their recommendations. Call your local consumer organiza- tion and inquire as to the reputation of the place of business in question. Designed for the customer Professionally run establishments are usually neat and well organized, with up-to-date equipment and po- lite service personnel willing to take the time to discuss your re- pairs. The customer waiting area is often used to showcase community and customer service awards as well as the professional affiliations of the shop and the individual me- chanics. All shop policies should be posted or someone should be will- ing to explain them. • Find a good technician .Competent technicians are the backbone of any repair establish- ment. Good technicians often build up a very loyal following. They have established reputations espe- cially in smaller towns. Professional training In addition to word-of-mouth rep- utation, technicians can often be judged by their professional train- ing and certifications. Check out the customer service area for trade school and/or community college diplomas, certificates of advanced course work, and professional certi- fication. Certification has become increas- ingly popular among consumers since it offers a standardized bench mark of technical competence. • Gel ready early for summer' driving Check all major systems and components before hot weather sets in. Summer's heat, dust, and stop -and -go traffic can cause mar- ginally operatin? systems such as a weak air condition. Here are some summer tips: The cooling system should be completely flushed and refilled about every 24 months to prevent overheating. The tightness and con- dition of belts and hoses should be inspected. The engine oil and filter should be replaced according to the manu- facturer's recommendations, more often if you do lots of stop -and -go driving or haul cargo. Other fluids and filters should be replaced as recommended. starts, rough idling, poor ac - cetera should be corrected. You will sa gasoline and get better en- gine performance with a well main- tained engine. Summer's heat is tough on tires, so replace badly worn treads now. Rotate tires about every 50,000 miles. Keep them properly inflated. Examine the tires for cuts, nicks and uneven wear. Brakes should be inspected as recommended in the owner's manu- al, or sooner if you notice pulsa- tions, grabbing or noises. Batteries and cables should be cleaned, even in the summertime. Make sure the windshield wipers are working properly and carry plenty of washer fluid. PARTS 586 Main St., Exeter SERVICE Winter Service The expert choice. Specials PROTECT YOUR BODY WITH riv „111i t. with TEFLON" TOUGHGUARD T�, The sole purpose of Toughguard Basecoat with teflon is to preserve and protect the painted automotive finish. Toughguard is a high quality, high tech product that has over a decade of good history and happy custom- ers. Toughguard is intended to maintain the lustre and provide long last- ing protection that will resist many of the harmful elements that our vehi- cles are subjected to daily. Call our service department for details Transmission Service Includes new oil and filter, clean screen and oil pan 4995 phis parts Tune Up parts extra 4 cylinder 649s 6 cylinder 7495 8 cylinder 8995 Flush & Fill �_ Cooling System-- With new coolent 3995 l'I"` parts(Front Wheel Alignment 2 wheel alignment 3995 4 wheel alignment 6995 wheel drive) Don't Get Left Out in the Cole Call today for your appointment 235-0660 ii tI