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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1994-10-26, Page 12Page 12 October 26, 1994 r Tam• ri &ATillman; • a • ► • Cellular phones can be a great safety tooi if you still think cellular phones are just for sales- men in BMWs, you might want to think again. Have you ever found your- self in one of these situations: you're on the way to the cottage, the traffic is going to be tied up for hours and you'd like to call to let your family know everything's okay? you're chauffeuring the kids to hockey practice and the car breaks down'? your teenager is go- ing to a party and you'd like her to call home for a ride "just in case". A cellular phone would come in handy in any of these situations. Most people think cellular phones are too expensive but they're actu- ally much more affordable these days. Cellular service suppliers have begun to recognize that consumers want the safety and convenience. benefits of cellular without the huge upfront costs. Cantel, the company licensed to provide cel- lular services nationally, recently introduced new services just for consumers. The services, called AMIGO, can be purchased just about anywhere you already shop and you conveniently pay the monthly service fees on your credit card. The phones come "off-the-shelf' with everything you need including easy -to - follow instructions. There are two different services: a safety ser- vice at $19.95 per month, with a transferable cellular phone (that plugs into a cigarette lighter) and a "personal" package with a port- able phone and unlimited week- end calling for just $29.95 a month. One call and the phone is ready to use. Calls to most emer- gency numbers, such as 9-1-1 and CAA, are free of charge. "We are definitely finding that more and more people want to have a cellular phone for safety and convenience", says Kent Thexton, Vice President of Mar- keting for Cantel, "People are also buying cellular phones as gifts for someone else such as a student who is commuting hack and forth to university or an eld- erly parent who still drives". We all carry (or should carry) spare tires and first aid kits for those "just in case" situations. A cellular phone is an added safety tool that is great to have for those unexpected situations. If you want to know more about Canters Amigo services, just call 1-800-263-8867. Bargain brake service is not total brake service Car own- ers are of- ten tempted to take ad- vantage of "$49.95 specials" or other low-priced offers when their auto's brakes need repair. Such spe- cials may look good, but they won't sound good when the brakes are hack to squealing or pulling a few months down the road. Auto technicians say that's be- cause the specials generally don't include a complete examination of what can go wrong with the brakes. Most times, says Ned Lineback, senior training specialist for Wag- ner Brake, car owners will get what is called a "hang and turn" - putting on new hrakc pads and turning the rotors to give thein a flat, clean braking surface. "Some shops will call the adver- tised special an 'eight -point' brake job," he says. "Usually the clue in the ads is that there is much use of the word 'inspect,' rather than 're- place'.or 'rebuild.; When you get a complete hrakc job, you'll find that the calipers may have been rebuilt, wheel cylinders replaced, new hardware installed and bearings packed or replaced, in addition to the service that is usually included in the 'hang and turn' jobs." Anothcr thing to kccp in mind, says Lineback: The advertised price is often for one axlc and not all four wheels. Settling for the inspection of just the front or rear axle may not cover problems occurring else- where in the hrakc system. Car owners should insist on com- plete brake service for their vehi- cles, says Lineback. "Getting the • brake fluid flushed and replaced is cheap insurance compared to get- ting a $1,000 -plus modulator put on an anti-lock brake system," he says. "Someiirnes the service Fieople arc afraid w offer complete brake service because they've had to compete with 'hang and turn' pric- es, but a good mechanic will tell you what needs to he replaced and why." Fred Radac, Wagner Brake train- ing specialist, says there is no regu- lar time frame or mileage interval at which thorough brake service should be performed. "If you go to a reputable shop, they'll usually in- spect your brakes free of charge," he says. "Most people don't come in until there is an unusual noise or braking action, which can turn out to he more expensive than catching problems before they happen." Radac lists the following top sev- en hrakc-problem symptoms: 1. Grinding noises can be signs of worn pads or shoe linings. Delay in replacing pads or shoes can dam- age expensive drums and rotors, re- quiring their replacement. 2. Brake squeal may also be a sign of dragging shoes or pads, which can result in poor gas mile- age, premature wear of linings and damage to drums or rotors. • 3. Brake chatter and pedal pul- sation can indicate a warped rotor or drum surface. 4. "Bottoming out' of your ped- Cyeei * t d t Brake MON Brake Parking Shoes Brake Cable al can indicate a fluid leak or mas- ter cylinder. problem. 5. Unreliable and inconsistent stopping or grabbing brakes are often signs of a leaking caliper, master cylinder or wheel cylinder. if this goes on unrepaired, it could cause at least a partial failure of the braking system. 6. A soft pedal or excessive ped- al effort can tneavny one of sev- eral problems, indicting a Irak in the hydraulic system, low fluid lev- el or a failed brake booster. Your car should he taken to a profession- al mechanic for a Total Brake Ser- vice inspection and an explanation of necessary services and repairs. 7. Excessive pad wear could he the result of the wrong friction ma- terial grade for your vehicle or type of driving. Towing or heavy haul- ing wears pads out faster than nor- mal driving. This also applies to driving in hilly or mountainous are- as and making quick or sudden stops. A premium -quality pad or shoe should be installed for these conditions. Power Booster Master Cylinder Exciter Ring Mletor Drum Brake Assembly Electronic Control Bre Line Caliper Disc Pads Disc/Rotor !peed Soma' A thorough brake job Includes more than replacing pads and shoes. Total Brake ServlcerM include an inspection of your car's entire braking system, from master cylinder, through th alines, and down to the pads (Graphic courtesy of Wagner Brake Products) Avoid roadside breakdowns but just in case... When was the last time you inspect- ed your car's trunk? Go ahead, give it a try. If you're like most people,you'll probably find a trunk filled with tennis balls, baseball bats and other assorted odds -and -ends from years past. Ever stop and wonder what would happen if you or a family member was involved in a roadside emergency? Vulnerable and strand- ed in the middle of nowhere - how safe would you feel with a trunk full of discarded sporting goods? With cold weather on the way, the need to prepare your car against sudden, unforeseen roadside emer- gencies intensifies. Most experts agree - a well-maintained vehicle is always less likely to break down on the road. But in the case of a cold weather-related roadside emergen- cy, what you keep in the trunk and glove compartment of your car can make all the difference in the world. To help you and 'your family be safer in the event of a roadside breakdown, the following items should be kept in your car's trunk: I. Flashlight, flares and/or reflec- tive danger signs. A flashlight will come in handy at night and can be used to flag down a passing motor- ist or to signal your location to tow trucks or service vehicles. Reflec- tive signs or flares will make other motorists aware that a problem ex- ists so -they can drive accordingly. 2. A pressure gauge for tires. Also, he certain you have a spare tire with air and the necessary tools to change a flat tire. You should read your car's manual for the proper method of changing a flat. 3. Supplies such as jumper cables, a metal gas can and road salt. Also, store an old winter coat and gloves to help you warm up should you find yourself on a cold roadside. 4. A jug of antifreeze. A 50 per- cent solution of. Presume Anti- freeze/Coolant and water protects your car's cooling system by pro- viding unsurpassed freeze-up, boil - over and corrosion protection. 5. In addition, a bottle of Pre - stone Stops Leaks in your trunk can provide protection against roadside break -downs caused by radiator Cellular safety tips If you use a cellular phone in your vehi- cle, here are some iltT- portant tips to rem▪ ember: • Safe driving is your first priori- ty - always buckle up, keep your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road. • Use a hands-free microphone when using your phone while driv- ing and don't hold the handset to your car while in motion. if you will be using a portable phone in your vehicle, have a hands-free unit installed. • Make sure your phone is posi- tioned where it is easy -to -see and easy -to -reach. Become knowledge- able about the operation of your phone. • Usc the speed -dialing feature on your phone to program frequently called numbers. You may also want to program the numbers for your lo- cal police and fire departments. • Dial only when stopped. Wait for a traffic light, or a stop sign, or safely pull off the road. Better yet, have a passenger dial or look into Cantel's new voice activated dial- ing service. and small cooling system leaks. Stops Leaks can be used as a reme- dy for existing leakage problems by pouring the contents of the bottle directly into your car's radiator. It's that simple. Also, keep in mind that what you keep in your glove compartment is just as important as what you keep in your car's trunk. Keep the phone number of your service station and local towing agent in an envelope in your glove compartment along with plenty of change for emergen- cy phone calls. To help avoid breakdowns, the experts also encourage car owners to ha, a their cars serviced annually. Checking and replenishing vital en- gine fluids, maintaining proper tire air pressure and cleaning deposits from the engine can help keep a car operating more efficiently and help avoid roadside breakdowns. Following these guidelines will keep you and your family safer and better prepared in case of a break- down this winter. Today at GM Goodwrench the price on the ground is the price on the hoist. Period. LUBE, OiL & FiLTER 95. DONE IN LESS THAN 29 MINUTES OR THE NEXT ONE'S FREEI INt.1..1 tie' • Itt'rldx' Wier, Ririe eha• wit manure oil Milt up to i ;':tit's of 01 t;, mxMmtch pmuitun oil • Check and till the folkming du& hrakc. p"`� clime strung. N o6hieki Niger. differential. Mier hog anti tranti hell. humin..1 . is ntyretion lim.:ur bleu. coolant. 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