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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1985-10-30, Page 39Pons* RELAX.. YOUR NEXT PURCHASE F' � THRUWAY MUFFLERCENTRE COULD BE FREE! For a limited time only, participating Thruway Mufflercentre dealers are offering you'a chance to SAVE UP TO 100% OFF our everyday low prices. To qualify, simply bring your car into a participating Thruway dealer for a no - charge, no -obligation inspection. We'll tell you what's needed - and only what's needed. And we'll put it in writing. Plus, we'll give you a chance to receive up to 100% off the quote. If you haven't already received one of our special • direct mail offers, drop into your nearest participating Thruway dealer today. He'll give you an honest assessment of what your car needs. And a chance to save up to 100% oft the quote. Frus- trated with expensive car repairs? At Thruway, We Hear You. nitiffleice3ntre The areas only exclusive shop for MUFFLERS, BRAKES & SHOCKS! It's all we do so we have to do It well? * WE HONOUR COMPETITIVE MUFFLER GUARANTEES * FREE INSPECTIONS ON BRAKES & MUFFLERS * FAST, FAST...NO WAIT SERVICE * NO APPOINTMENT NECESSARY * FREE COFFEE thruway Located behind the New HI -WAY FORD dealership at; 191 WALNUT ST®9 GODERICH 524-4200 OPEN MONDAY to FRIDAY: 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. SATURDAY: 8 a.m. - 4 p.m., Engine needs proper fuel -air mixture to Operate properly "They can repair our satellites in outer space but they still can't give us trouble- free carsl" mumbled a frustrated motorist to the Auto Club's emergency road serv- iceman who had come to his rescue. "I thought .this thing wasn't supposed to need service for years" The ensuing conversation disclosed that the '82 model car had never had any atten- tion beyond an oil change. The engine would not start because it needed atten- tion. It was overdue for a basic tune-up. Worn spark plugs combined with a sticking choke, plus corrosion both in the distribu- tor cap and on the battery terminals, had silenced the car on this bitter cold morn- ing. This is by no means an isolated case, says the Car Care Council. The main rea- son people need emergency road service is because their cars won't start. Lack of proper maintenance is generally responsi- ble for the inconvenience and expense ex- perienced by tens of thousands of motorists every winter. Even high-tech fuel and ignition systems need periodic care, ranging from replace- ment of filters to installation of new igni- tion wiring. Now, more than ever, says.the Car Care Council, the use of state-of-the- art testing equipment by trained and ac- credited technicians is essential to locate potential trouble, Whether your car is fairly new, with electronic components, or an older one with conventional ignition and carburetion systems, the engine still needs two basic in- gredients to run: The proper fuel -air mix- ture delivered to the combustion chambers where it must be ignited at the correct in- stant by a spark of adequate intensity. All this adds up to keeping the engine tuned, says the Car Care Council. For an informative pamphlet on tune-up, send 25C and a stamped, self-addressed busi- ness size envelope to: TUNE-UP, Car Care Council, 600 Renaissance Center, Detroit, MI 48243. Catalytic converter is often the neglected part One of the "hottest" automobile re- verter to heat up to a point where the inside placement items for the balance of the '80s can actually melt. may be the catalytic converter. This is the The third reason for replacing a con - part of the exhaust system which turns poi- verter is normal "wear -and -tear," includ- sonous exhaust gases into harmless carbon ing rust or damage to the unit itself. dioxide and water. Sometimes a converter will fall off because of broken brackets supporting the exhaust system. Replacement of the catalytic converter on an average mid-size six cylinder car could be $250-$300, including installa- tion. New product developments, how- ever, will help bring the price down. These are good reasons for practicing preventive maintenance, says the Car Care Council. The car owner who fails to keep his engine in tune, thereby destroying the inside of the converter, now has a car that runs poorly and pollutes the air. If he The second catalyst killer is engine trou- doesn't have the catalytic converter re- ble, usually malfunctions due to improper placed, the result could be burned valves maintenance. Incomplete burning of fuel, due to back pressure in the exhaust sys- often a result of misfiring spark plugs or tem. improper carburetion, will cause the con- Preventive car care pays off. Looking much like a muffler, its stain- less steel casing contains chemical and/or metalurgical devices to react on the lethal elements of exhaust gas. Originally de- signed to have a 50,000 mile life span, they're doing much better than that when the vehicle is properly maintained. Essentially there are three things that can destroy the converter. First and fore- most is the use of leaded gas. The lead "poisons" the catalyst, making it ineffec- tive. The best paint job is the original finish of your car The best paint job your car will ever ha a is the original, factory -applied finish. A car retains its value best and sells 'faster when it still has its original finish in good condition, according to the Car Care Council. Auto auctioneers concur. According to Warren Young of Mainheim (PA) Auto Auctions, the nation's largest, an experi- enced appraiser can quickly spot a car that has been repainted. "Buyers are less inter- ested in these," he says; "because all but the best quality .paint jobs leave question marks about accident damage and/or rust." "Buyers go for the original looking cars," Young emphasized. "In fact, the outward appearance usually is a bigger fac- tor than the mileage shown on the odome- ter," and for good reason: The only protection a car has against corrosive envi- ronmental elements is its primer and paint job. Just two gallons (roughly one percent of the total cost of the car) serve as the barrier against rust and corrosion. According to the National Paint and Coatings Associa- tion, car owners can keep their cars look- ing like new and well -protected for many years by a simple maintenance routine. The first step is a weekly washing with clear water and a soft rag. If the car is very dirty, use a washing solution available at auto supply stores or add a mild dishwash- ing liquid to the water. Never use abrasive cleaners which can put fine scratches in the finish. When washing, pay special atten- tion to the bottom eight inches of the car body, which is the most susceptible to dirt and salt buildup. , Protect your car's finish. Sun, salt, in- dustrial smoke fallout and acid from bird droppings can fade and damage paint. Reg- ular waxing provides a thin, barrier be- tween the paint and harsh environmental elements. Long-lasting hard paste wax should be applied in a circular motion with a soft cloth. Or, if waxing takes too much elbow grease for you, try a polymer sealant which polishes and protects the car. Pay attention to touch-ups. If not cared for, nicks and scratches will rust and grow. Periodically check your car for minor damage, particularly on the lower part of the body where the car is vulnerable to damage from flying gravel. Auto stores sell touch-up paint to match most makes and models of cars.