The Citizen, 2005-10-27, Page 15THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2005. PAGE 15.
on the road
//ou to shop for your car’s start-me-up
We’ve all heard it: that telltale
reh-reh-reh-reh-reh sound of a cold
engine struggling to start on an
equally cold winter's morning. That
ominous sound may mean that your
battery hasn’t enough power.
As the temperature drops so too
does your battery’s output.
Consequently, a battery that merrily
got you on your way in the summer
could well leave you stranded when
the mercury slips below freezing.
If a weak battery is making your
car hard to start, replace the battery
before it lets you down says Car
Take quiz to see
how well you
know drivers
In July 2005, Leger Marketing
polled 1500 Canadians about their
driving habits and preferences. The
survey was conducted on behalf of
Car Care Canada to promote car
safety.
The survey reveals some marked
differences in driving habits (and
pet peeves) across Canada.
Take this quiz to find out how
well you know your fellow
Canadian drivers. (Answers
below.)
1. Residents of which province
rank tailgating as their biggest
grievance with other drivers?
2. In which province are you most
likely to find people either putting
on make-up or shaving while
driving?
3. In which region are you most
likely to find drivers conducting
more than one careless driving habit
at the same time (i.e., talking on a
mobile phone, eating, putting on
make-up, or shaving)?
4. Sixteen per cent of drivers in
this region cite speeding as a pet
peeve compared to only nine
percent nationally.
5. In which province is a motorist
least likely to stop and help if you
Care Canada. You can pick up a
new battery from a variety of
retailers or from your local
automotive parts wholesaler
You'll have several batteries to
choose from, so which one is best
for you and your car? In addition to
price, you should consider three
factors: cold-cranking amps,
reserve capacity, and warranty.
Cold-cranking amps (CCA) refer
to the engine starting (or cranking)
output at -I7°C for 30 seconds. A
starter may draw 400 amps, so at -
17°C. you could quickly drain a
are stranded?
6. What driving behaviour do
people in the Prairies dislike most in
others?
7. Twenty-six per cent of
residents in this region feel that it’s
necessary to warm up their cars for
15 minutes compared to 12 per cent
nationally (in fact, 30 seconds of
idle time is sufficient).
8. Drivers in which province use
their horns least frequently?
9. What is the number one
careless driving habit among
Canadian drivers?
10. What is the number one
grievance with other drivers in
Canada?
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battery rated at 300 cold-cranking
amps. The higher the CCA rating,
the easier your car will start when
winter comes around—assuming all
else in your engine works well.
Consult your owner's manual for
the minimum CCA required for
your car and select an appropriate
battery for you needs. Buying one
with an excessive CCA rating is a
waste of money.
Reserve capacity (RC) indicates
how long your car's accessories can
run without robbing your battery of
sufficient power to start the engine.
The more reserve capacity, the
better, and this capacity is usually
expressed in amperes of output per
so many minutes. When evaluating
different batteries, you should
compare output and reserve on the
same amperage-per-time basis.
Typically, reserve capacity ratings
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JPC Wingham, Ontario& 357-3712
Large selection of sizes and tread patterns on snow tires.
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Get a grip with snow tires from Brophy Tire.
Hours: Mon. - Thurs. 1 pm - 9 pm;
Fri. 1 pm - 6 pm; Sat. 8 am -12 noon
Weather permitting
CHRIS LEE
Inner Fenders
Inner Fenders
We use Hot, Acid Free, New Oil
CARS & LIGHT TRUCKS
Underside Doors & Doot Panels Dog Legs
Our prices include:
Computer balancing, new valves,
rims buffed, bead,sealant,
torqued to specs.
Receive a when jpu, buy a tef erf
will refer to the length ol lime a
battery can produce 26 amps at
27°C. (Headlights may draw about
15 amps and a tail light 1.5 amps.)
Warranties vary by length and
type, so look for one that suits your
situation and budget. What
distinguishes, say, a threc-ycar
warranty from a five-year
warranty'? The size and number of
plates in a battery determine how
many amps it can deliver. Batteries
with larger plates or more plates last
longer than those less well
endowed. These characteristics
determine the difference in battery
life and hence warranty period as
well.
Car Care Canada encourages you
to dispose of your battery properly.
The average car battery contains 7.7
to 10.4 kilograms of lead. A half a
kilogram of lead from a battery or
other source can contaminate more
than 31 million litres of water,
making it unfit for drinking
Canadian automotive battery
manufacturers take part in
environmentally safe batters
recycling programs across the
country. z
And finally, you might want to
buy an AC-powcred battery charger
and keep it al home. You can use
this device to jumpstart your car il
you leave a car door open or your
trunk lid up all night, both of which
can cause lights to whittle down
your battery’s reserve. Powered by
a household electrical outlet, these
battery chargers usually provide
enough juice to start most batteries
that have been drained overnight
For more car maintenance lips
visit the Car Care Canada website at
www.carcarecanada.ca
AUBURN AUTO TRIM
New & Used
Truck Accessories
• Toppers • Box Liners
• Tonneau Covers
• Running Boards
• Trim & Striping • Detailing
131 York St., P.O. Box 134
Auburn, ON
N0M 1E0
Phone: (519) 526-1078