The Brussels Post, 1980-11-05, Page 13NOW
Did you know that we have
a good selection of used cars
and trucks on our lot?
We'll check these trouble
spots to ensure that you
have problem free winter
driving.
Cooling System • Ignition System
Exhaust System • Charging System
Tires • Mount Snow Tires
Suspension • Steering
• Carburetor • Battery
FREE COMPLETE
BRAKE INSPECTION
g
.,Riafimondgatayes
...ltd.
WE OFFER 24 HOUR ROAD SERVICE
Blyth 523-4501
WE'VE
GOT IT!
at
McKerlie-Millen
we carry
a complete line of ,
winter products for your
auto or tractor needs
• DUAL-DUTY
ANTI-FREEZE
• TEMRO ENGINE
HEATERS
• EXIDE.
BATTERIES
• WHITAKER
BATTERY CABLES
AND JUMPER CABLES
• KLEEN;FLO
CHEMICALS
• GATES RAD
& HEATER HOSES
• BATTERY AND
ANTI-FREEZE
TESTERS
• MANY NAME
BRAND ITEMS
COMPLETE MACHINE SHOP SERVICE
McKer le-Alblien Inc.
86 ALBERT STREET, CLINTON
CALL 482-3445
.car is a big
THE rBRYSSE14POS16. ..OVE08104,. :(000 13
by: YVONNE REYNOLDS
Buyng a.. car is a big,
decision'. And a big invest-
ment. Each potential custom-
er is looking for just the right
vehicle, the one that will be a
satisfactory compromise be-
tween fact and fancy.
After 11 years as a car
dealer, Gerald Groothuis of
Seaforth Motors is qualified
to make some general obser.
vations on the psychology of
shopping for a. new automo-
bile. Men,' he says, are
concerned with the make of
car, number of ,miles to the -
gallon, rate of repair, and the
size of the motor. Price in
also a very important factor.
Women are attracted first
by a car's appearance, and
its exterior and interior
colours, he contines. "But
more ladies are by them-
selves, have to look after
' themselves, are 'more liber-
ated that 20 years ago, and a
Your car's cooling system,
like the proverbial chain, is as
strong as its weakest link. For
real dependability, every part of
the cooling system should be in
good working order.
Automotive Cooling System
Institute lists several areas with
which car owners should be
concerned as part of fall cooling
system service.
Let's look at them:
1. HOSES. Because they
must handle coolant under pres-
sure at temperatures up to 265°,
hoses and clamps must be
secure.
Radiator hoses do not last
forever; the normal life expec-
tancy of cooling system hoses is
about three years. When one
hose appears to need replace-
ment, it is probably not alone.
When replacing hoses, be
prepared to replace at least
some of the clamps at the same
time.
.2, PRESSURE CAP. Anti-
freeze/coolant boils:at a higher
temperature under pressure
than it does at normal atmos-
pheric pressure. Therefore, the
role of the pressure cap, which
controls the operating pressure
of the cooling system, is vital.
When the pressure cap is
leaking or otherwise malfunc-
tioning, the engine is likely to
overheat.
NOTE: Be sure your replace-
ment cap is the correct type for
your car. Also, when selecting
a replacement pressure cap con-
sider one with a pressure re-
lease feature; a great safety
feature that might prevent
scalding:
3, BELTS. A close exami-
nation of drive belts should be
part of a periodic under-the-
hpod check throughout the
year. Certainly it is something
to be done as part of pre-winter
cooling service.
4. ANTI FREEZE/
COOLANT. You can keep
your cooling system trouble-
free for years, if it's Clean.
The biggest enemy of your
cooling system is rust and cor-
rosion. To remove these con-
taminants, use a chemical
flush, carefully noting the
manufacturer's instructions.
lot more ladies. are just as
well informed as men, now,"
he adds.
Mr. Groothuis also, notes .
the different viewpoints of
townspeople and farmers.
Whereas a couple living in
town are shopping together
for a family car, a fariner will
usually defer to his vvife. She
will likely be behind the
wheel most of the time,
shopping for groceries, driv-
ing the children to piano
lessons,, or attending a' 4-H
leadership course, while her
husband will hop into the
truck to get a replacement
part for the combine or pick
up seed grain at the dealer's.
JUST LOOKING
"About.. 80 per cent of the
people who come into the
show room, even if they are
serious, say they are just
looking", Mr. Groothuis
notes, "and 95 per cent of
Some flushes will work in 10
minutes, and the Automotive
Cooling System' Institute rec-
ommends the use of a cheinical
flush before replacing anti-
freeze/coolant.
NOTE: Be sure anti-freeze/
coolant is used in proper pro-
portions.
these are in the market for a
new car." Sometimes when
driving past his business on a
Sunday, he will recognize
someone on the lot, still
"just looking." Usually, he
concludes, they return a few
days later and make a deal.
Doug Rowcliffe has sold
cars at his garage for 14
years, switching recently
from a dealership to used
cars. He finds that men are
primarily concerned with
mileage and- mehanical con-
dition, while women first
judge a used car by is
appearance and cleanliness.
He observes that most
women are not sure of their
ability to assess the mechan-
ical fitness of a car, and will
often bring a friend to get an
informed second opinion of a
car they are seriously consi-
dering.
Young men in their late
teens, shopping for their first
cars, have "eyes bigger than
their wallets," according to
Mr, Rowcliffe. "Their first
choice is a fancy sports car."
After they find out the
difference in insurance rates
for young males under 21
owning an expensive sports
car, as compared to the
family-type sedan, and have
a heart-to•heart talk with
their parents, they return
with lowered expectatioh, he
says.
"Most people don't know
what a vehicle is worth," Mr.
Rowcliffe remarks. "They
see the base price of a new
car in an ad, and don't
realize that many items that
were standard before are
now extras.. YOu don't even
get a spare tire anymore."
He has only one complaint
- he can't buy enough
"Good, used cars."
As new cars increase in
price are people keeping,
and repairing their older
models?
' Car Graber of Carl's Auto
Body in Brussels said he
wouldn't say work had in-
creased for the body shop.
"There's not as many
paint jobs. People don't
seem to be as concerned
about the appearance of their
vehicles. I thought, myself,
that with the increased cost
of buying a' new car
there would be more." •
He" said maybe the fact
that there are more body
shops in the area could have
something to do with it.
"Things are down. Towing
service is away down. We
seem to be doing a fair bit of
framework. Our shop is the
only framework shop in the'
area. Framework is actually
kept busy, always has been,"
he said.
When buying a used car
Carl advises the following:
buy a car where you know the
individual who had it and
know how he drove it. Don't
buy one that's specially
painted up,
"Fresh paint can hide a lot
of sins," he said. Buy as is
and take it to a shop to get
the car checked over or
maybe check it at a shop
before making the purchase.
Regular cooling
system check keeps
that car working