The Citizen, 1986-03-26, Page 20PAGE 20. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 1986.
Spring cleaning part of battle against old man winter
While the harsh cold days of
winter may be behind us, an
exhaustive list of springtime
chores is looking us straight in the
face.
"Somewhere on that endless 'to
do' list should be an under -the -car
inspection, advises Walt Alley,
Director of Training at the Midas
Institute of Technology (M.I.T.) in
Palatine, Illinois.
"Ali automobile's underside is
subjected to a year-round barrage
of flying debris, caused by poor
road conditions which can result in
damage, but winter puts a car to its
severest test. •
"Winter, and its elements -
snow, sleet. road salt and potholes
- take their greatest toll on the
unseen parts of the car," says
Alley. "Unfortunately, it's these
areas that often get neglected
during 'spring cleaning.' "
EXHAUST SYSTEM
While icicles and snow cover the
outside of your car, interior gases
in the exhaust system are produc-
ing a fiery heat.
The difference between outside
and inside temperatures can cause
water formation due to condensa-
tion which can afflict the interior
parts of the system with corrosion
and rust. Corrosion can eat away at
the exhaust pipes, leaving pin -
Some eye-opening facts
about windshield wipers
With the average vehicle on the
highway over seven years old, car
owners have become more aware
of the importance of preventive
maintenance.
Yet while these motorists have
become more safety conscious, one
potential problem right before
their eyes often goes unseen -
faulty windshield wipers.
According to the American
Optometric Association, 90 per
cent of all driving decisions are
based on vision. Yet recent
industry surveys show that 52
per cent of windshield wipers on
domestic cars tend to be in poor to
fair condition. Another survey
finds that 30 per cent of the
windshield wiper systems on
domestic cars do not work proper-
ly.
Natural rubber is used in the
manufacture of windshield wiper
blades and refills. Although this
material is resilient and provides
superior wiping capabilities, it is
vulnerable to chemicals, air pollu-
tion and road debris.
These elements deteriorate the
wiper blade and thus reduce its
ability to clean. This deterioration
usually occurs between 6 - 12
months. Therefore, it is essential
to replace wipers at least once a
year or more to ensure safe driving
vision.
IDEAL WIPER LINE
Just eight blade and refill part
numbers cover virtually every
domestic and import car, truck and
van on the road today. This
provides complete coverage with
few part numbers.
Don't wait for another rainy day
to decide whether your wiper
blades need replacing. First, make
a visual inspection. Look for any
tears or defects in the blade itself.
Also, think back to the last time you
drove in the rain. Did the blades
leave streaks, making it difficult to
se?
Changing wiper blades is not
only easy to do, but is also
economical. As an added savings
to the customer, Ideal also offers a
line of refills. This eliminates the
need to replace entire wiper blade
assemblies.
If you should have any questions
about your wiper blades, your local
auto parts serviceman will be glad
to help.
MELLTICIVci-
OF BETTER USED CARS!
1984 Ford Crown Victoria, 4 dr.
1984 Pontiac Bonneville, 4 dr.
1983 Oldsmobile 98, 4 dr.,
loaded with extras
1982 Ford F100, 1/2 ton.
1981 American Motors Concord DL,
2 dr.
1981 Oldsmobile Cutlass, 4 dr.
1980 Chev., 1 /2 ton pickup
1980 Buick Regal, 2 dr.
1979 Cutlass Station Wagon
1979 Ford Granada, 4 dr.
1979 Ford LTD II, 4 dr.
1978 Plymouth Salon, 4 dr.
Hamm's Car Sales
Blyth -- 523-4342
Imp
holes for carbon monoxide gases to
escape and seep back into the car.
According to Alley, the escape of
exhaust gases is not always
signaled by the loud roar of the
engine, typically associated with a
faulty exhaust system.
"Even a quiet system may be in
trouble," he says. "For that
reason, a spring checkup of the
exhaust system is a wise safety
procedure."
BRAKES
Your car's brake system is
another defenseless victim of
winter weather. Moisture from
snow can cause the disc brake
calipers to stick or the rotors to pit
with rust. An unusually hard to soft
brake pedal, a scrunch of squeak-
ing sound or a sudden pulling to
one side are abvious symptoms.
Faults in the braking system are
notonly unsafe, but may also cause
the brakes to drag and heat up,
resulting in waste of gasoline.
"If there is any indication of a
malfunction in your braking sy-
stem, take care of it immediately,"
says Alley. "Delaying to have it
checked will only make the pro-
blem worse. Your car's brake
system should be checked every
10,000 miles."
SUSPENSION
According to Alley, the many
frustrating attempts at rocking
your car out of a snowdrift, or
unavoidably barrelling through a
pothole, may cause damage to your
car's suspension system.
This can result in an extra
bounce in your ride or a sudden
swerve when the car stops.
Braking efficiency may be reduced
noticeably because your wheels
bounce too much.
If your car is equipped with
MacPherson struts instead of a
traditional suspension system, you
may also notice that your tires are
wearing because the suspension
system is damaged.
Alley highly advises drivers to
include their cars on their "spring
cleaning" lists to help overcome
last winter's woes.
•............ee
•.............•
FOR:
• Driving Safety • Repairs
Maintenance
• Parts • Accessories
Radford Auto, Farm &
Industrial Parts ltd.
Blyth, Ont. 523-9681
dr
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