The Citizen, 2008-04-10, Page 16If you’re one of the more than 80
per cent of women who say they’re
responsible for getting the family
vehicle serviced or repaired, you go
girl – right to the repair shop with
your clanking, clunking or hot under
the hood ride.
But if you want to avoid getting
steamed under your own hood at the
reception you get there it will help if
you familiarize yourself with a few
useful trouble-shooting tips first.
Lack of automotive knowledge has
been an issue for many women since
they first took to the roads a century
ago, but in truth, most males don’t
know much about what really makes
vehicles tick either. They are usually
more familiar with the basics though
and so can sound more
knowledgeable and more importantly
often make themselves understood
better at the repair shop.
As with many aspects of modern
life it all comes down to
communication and with a U.S. study
showing that five per cent of all
accidents are related to poor
maintenance, getting the correct
message across to your mechanic can
be a lifesaver for you and your family.
Following the maintenance
schedules in your owner’s manual
will help to keep problems from
developing, but when they do,
providing a service technician as
accurate a description of what your
vehicle is, or isn’t, doing is critical to
a speedy diagnosis. Like CSI’s crime
investigators they need a few forensic
pointers to lead the way to a
mechanical culprit.
Fortunately your vehicle usually
provides them, if you know what to
look for, listen to, feel and even
smell.
Often your first indication of a
problem is a physical sensation:
engine continues to run after ignition
is switched off; a hesitation in
response when you step on the gas, or
stalling; misfiring, a pulsation often
accompanied by matching exhaust
noise; engine cuts out completely for
a moment or two at irregular
intervals; lack of power, sluggish
acceleration; a rough and uneven idle;
surging while driving at a steady
speed.
Also a good indicator of imminent
mechanical issues are unusual
sounds: squeaks, grinding or metal-
to-metal sounds can mean brake
problems; sharp metallic sounds
when you hit a bump can mean worn
shocks or struts or other faulty
suspension components; a heavy
knocking or rattle that increases in
frequency as engine speed rises or
when it’s under load is often bad
news indicating internal problems;
squeaky or chattering wipers mean
they need replacing; a whine from
any of the wheels while cornering can
be from a faulty wheel bearing; a
shrill screech from under the hood
can mean a loose or worn fan belt, or
a power steering pump problem; a
whistle can be a faulty door seal; a
faulty exhaust can produce anything
from a slight hiss to a very noticeable
racket.
Visual clues are often found on the
surface of your usual parking spot: a
large pool of black engine oil is
obviously a bad sign; as is a pool of
yellow, green, orange or pink coolant;
a puddle of oily pink, red or clear
fluid might be from the transmission
or power steering; clear liquid can
also be brake fluid; if it’s summer and
you notice clear liquid dripping from
near the front of the car it could just
be water from the air conditioner’s
condenser.
If you’re not sure the liquids are
yours, slide a piece of cardboard
under where they seem to be coming
from on your vehicle.
The easiest visual tell-tale is, of
course, an instrument panel warning
light. If it’s not obvious what it is
indicating your manual will inform
you.
Your nose is also a sensitive
problem finder: a hot, sweet-ish odor
can be the first hint of a cooling
system problem; a pool of clear liquid
with a sharp smell might be brake
fluid; a heavy, burnt, rather sickening
smell, often accompanied by blue
smoke from under the hood or the
exhaust pipe can be burning engine
oil; a failing transmission can also
produce smoke; acrid, burnt-toast
odors (sometimes with smoke
accompaniment) can be caused by
burning wiring; a sulfurous, rotten-
egg smell often relates to the
emission system and may or may not
be a problem.
Change can be another trouble
indicator: is fuel or oil consumption
higher; does it handle, ride or stop
differently; doesn’t it like cold or wet
weather any more?
The technician not only needs to
know what the vehicle is doing but
where the problem is emanating
from, when it occurs and its
frequency.
Is it from outside or inside; the
front or rear; right or left side; when
the engine is cold, or hot; when
you’re accelerating or braking; during
a turn; when you’re using the heater,
air conditioning, starter, wipers or
other electrical accessories; does the
problem come and go or is it
constant?
Communicating what’s occurring
to the best of your ability to the
technician who will actually be doing
the work is best, but this isn’t always
possible. Often you’ll be describing
the problem to a service writer who
then passes it on to the mechanic, so
good advice is, don’t rely on your
memory or anybody else’s, write a
clear description of the problem and
circumstances down on paper for the
mechanic to read.
PAGE 16. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, APRIL 10, 2008.You go girl.... right to the repair shop
Worn out tires and windshield
wiper blades are symptoms of
neglected vehicle maintenance that
put drivers and passengers at serious
risk during the typically rainy
months of spring.
Thin tire treads create hazardous
driving conditions when water
builds up on the roadway, according
to Car Care Canada.
Deep tread accommodates
accumulated water; thin tread does
not. Thin tread causes the tire to
hydroplane – ride up on a film of
water, losing contact with the
pavement, similar to driving on
ice.
The simplest way to check tire
tread depth is with a penny. Insert
the penny into the grooves of the
tread. If you are able to see all of the
Queen’s head, the tire needs
replacement.
Rainy weather also affects driver
visibility. Because 90 per cent of
driving decisions depend on good
vision, a clean windshield is
imperative. Streaking and smearing
impair vision and are caused by
worn windshield blades.
“Replacing worn wiper blades is
easy and inexpensive,” says Marc
Brazeau of Car Care Canada. “Why
put it off until there’s a downpour
and your blades are chattering and
smearing the windshield?”
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DDoonnnnyy’’ss BBaarrggaaiinn AAuuttooss
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F L E E T C A R S
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DDoonnnnyy’’ss
BBaarrggaaiinn AAuuttooss
264 Huron Rd., Goderich 519-524-5398
CUSTOM EXHAUST SYSTEMS & GENERAL REPAIRS
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Bob Jamieson ~ Class A Mechanic
519-482-pipe (7473)
41477 Winthrop Rd.
Londesboro, ON
519-523-4356
Showers bring hazards