Times Advocate, 1993-10-27, Page 13APPOINTMENT
Some easy tips on car upkeep I
• Recycle lint -free t -shirt rags and dish towels
(Y00 percent cotton, no graphics on the t -shirt)
to clean your car windows
• Remove your belt buckle and watch strap be-
fore you wash and polish your car to avoid
scratching the finish.
• Always vacuum the interior first Ware you
get the area all wet. You don't want power cords
in water and it saves your vacuum from getting
muddy.
• To easily remove stickers from car windows,
-rub on a little nail polish remover.
• When outside temperatures permit, rinse the
underside of the car thoroughly with the garden
hose to prevent corrosion buildup
• Keep a chalkboard eraser in your glove com-
partment to wipe moisture off misty windows.
• Repair paint chips and minor scratches with
several coats of touch-up paint applied one drop
at a time from the end of a toothpick.
• Never disconnect a spark plug wire while the
engine is running. The high voltage could cause
serious injury
• To clean automotive grease or engine oil
from your hands keep a bottle of baby oil in the
garage. It will remove any oil-based substance
without the burning, drying feeling caused by
heavy-duty cleaners or solvents.
yep your car in shape for
the pressures of the season
1 ars make a personal
Cstatement about an.
owner's taste and indi-
viduality. Since their introduc-
tion into society, they've long
symbolized the nation's own be-
lief in independence and the
pursuit of happiness.
What was once considered a
luxury during the tum of the
century, automobiles have be-
come an integral part of every-
day life. Their value and use is
indispensible. And for million
of Americans, motor vehicles
provide the only source of trans-
portation.
' Yet with the benefits of own -
lug a car, a small price is paid
on one of the nation's most seri-
ous environmental problems -
air pollution. According to auto-
mobile experts, nearly two-
thirds of the total carbon mon-
oxide, more than a quarter of the
hydrocarbons and a third of the
nitrogen oxides, which pollute
What to do
when you're
stu a °ow
1 oon all Canadians will
Sbe faced -with winter
driving conditions. In
some parts of the country, those
conditions are bearable, in oth-
ers, it becomes a matter of survi-
val.
Car experts have set out a few
basic procedures to help you get
out of that six-foot snowbank.
It is always best to be well
prepared before you get stuck. If
you carry a few items in the
trunk of your car,it will help you
greatly in your task to free you
car. This kit could include a
flashlight, flares, matches, a
candle, a shovel, booster cables,
traction pads, a chocolate bar or
two, and a scraper. These items
will help ensure your safety and
will also enable you to tackle
whatever winter throws your
way.
If you do happen to get stuck,
start by digging the snow away
from all wheels. Then, position
the traction pads (or an old
piece of carpet) under the drive
` wheels.e sure that the front
wheels aIle straight and try to
move the car in low gear.
.Start to rock the car back and
forth to give you momentum to
get out. If you car is automatic,
break when shifting from one
gear to the other. Throwing the
car quickly from reverse to
drive and back again can seri-
ously damage your transmis-
sion.
If you still cannot get out, try
to be as visible as possible. Put
on the car's emergency flashers,
laet up a flare, or place a warning
light on the top of the car. If the
baffle is heavy, stay in your car.
More often than not, someone
will stop and help you out.
.If you are trapped inside the
car, run the engine for 10 min-
utes every hour. You will be
warm enough,while keeping
your battery charged and con-
serving gasoline at the same
time.
Always keep a window partly
open for air and make sure that
the exhaust pipe is clear of snow
at all times. Otherwise, deadly
exhaust fumes can back up into
the inside of your car.
our atmosphere, come from au-
tomobiles. Even worse, cars
manufactured between 1972
and 1975 produce the same
amount of contaminants as four
new cars.
But the public has temporarily
put domestic ecological con-
cerns on hold during these trou-
bled economic times, especially
since the passage of a renewed
Clean Air Act in 1990 and an
.unwavering commitment con-
cerning serious environmental
issues. Yet the problem of grid -
Jock traffic in the nation's major
'cities, airpolludon and the fear
Of global warning will not go
'away.
An October 1991 vehicle -
check program, conducted dur-
ing Car Care Month, reported a
thg er•percentage of vehicles -
20.3 percent - failed the exhaust
emissions test than the previous
year's 17 percent. Such results
are forcing many people to con-
sider the effect the environment
has on their own economic
woes.
Regular engine checkups and
an improvement of overall
maintenance on all operating ve-
hicles will not only reduce mis-
sions of harmful exhaust into
the atmosphere, they'll save car
owners gas, time and money.
Simply replacing a dirty air fil-
ter will alsoreduce emissions
and save fuel.
Proper maintenance of cars is
cruciai:not only forthe environ -
menti. but for_ihe:sheer necessity
and enjoyment of drivingone's
own car.
Wine up your car's body
Times -Advocate, October 27,1993 Page 13
Nothing endures abuse like tires
1 robably no other con -
Psumer product en-
dures as much abuse
as tires - especially in the fall
and winter.
Whether driving on slick
streets, through snow, or over
potholes and ice patches, tires
are expected to master the ele-
ments.
Tires will not last long howev-
er, if they are continually mis-
treated and not properly main-
tained. To get the most from
tires during this season, and
consequently the vehicle they
are attached to, a regular main-
tenance program should be im-
plemented.
The single greatest cause of
lire damage is improper infla-
tion pressure. Driving with over-
inflated or underinflated tires
puts unnecessary stress on tire
sidewalls, which in tum causes
irregular treadwear and poor gas
mileage.
Tire inflation will fluctuate
with the outside'temperature.
A drop of l0.deg. E causes a
drop of about one pound per
square inch (psi). In the fall,
when weather changes rapidly,
it's a good idea to check pres-
sures more often.
The safest'way,to check infla-
tion is with an accurate air pres-
sure gauge. A tire's.properinfla-
tion level is usually between 20
and 35 psi, and can be found on
a placard in the glovebox or on
the car door. A tire is consid-
ered seriously underinflated at
four or more psi below the
recommended pressure.
It is recommended that tire
pressure be checked when tires
are cold, or at least three hours
after the vehicle has been
driven. If air must
be added
when
a
the tread to the casing, making
the vehicle a safety hazard.
To check the treadwear, tire
manufacturers have installed
wear bar indicators, small raised
points of rubber in the tire's
groove. If the tread is the same
height as the wear bar, the tire
should be replaced immediately.
While most people are capable
of checking tire inflation and
treadwear on their own, there
are other tasks, essential to
tire maintenance, that
should be done by a pro-
fessional.
Tire rotation,
for example, is
a job for a
professional
mechanic.
Ideally,
tires
should be
tire is hot, the driver
should add four psi above the
recommended cold tire pres-
sure, and then recheck the pres-
sure when the tire is cold.
Treadwear is another impor-
tant component or tire mainte-
nance. As tread wears, it loses
its ability to grip the road in ad;
verse conditions. If the tire is
not replaced, it can wear past
rotated every 5,000 to 8,000
miles, or more frequently if
most of the driving is done
around town.
In addition, every 10,000
miles, a reputable tire dealer or
alignment shop should cheek
the alignment so tires can per-
form up to standard.
S IA/CMELINELJUCO LSC ICH£L1tral ICMELiNI ;L';IIA[LCIGIE
SPECIAL PURCHASE!'
S
The body of your car takes a lot of abuse all through the year,
with no relief in sight during the fall and winter. You oan make
it look like new again with the help of.a oertlfied/licensed me-
chanic and a little time. Remember, don't give up until you try.
EXETER
650 Main St.,
CAR CARE CENTRE
H
O
DIL .GM
auti-rusi
DIL
GARD
FDRMULII
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aur
II
Formula II is proven to protect your vehicle with No -Drip
convenience. Formula II is a blend of oil, rust inhibitors and
petroleum semi-solids, suitable for domestic or foreign
vehicles. The corrosive effects of moisture and salt is
relentless, so when you buy rust prevention, buy one you can
trust. ti
CALL FOR
Cars
• Trucks
• Vans
235 -081 -ask for Jeff
= XA4
Y
MIICNNLIN°
r
We bought a truckload
of MICHELIN XA4 - in the
three most popular sizes -
and are passing the savings
on to you!
MICHELIN XA4
P205 70R14
Was 121.00 ea.
Installed and
Balanced Si 001 ea
MICHELIN XZ4
P185 75R14
Black sidewall
MICHELIN XA4 Was 103.00 ea.
P225 75R15 Installed and
Was 131.50 ea. $ ��nced
Installed and
Balanced 1 ea.
1_
TIRE ROTATION
& BALANCING
FREE
• with your purchase of any,
2 Michelin tires
r
L
•
,i
$8g, ea.
VREE
TIRE WEAR
CHECK
alkomiaw
TIRE SPECIALS IN EFFECT WHILE PRESENT STOCK
STS ONLY
w
HAUGH TIRE INC.
265 Thames Rd. Hwy. #83 East EXETER
Calf 235-3752. 262-2926
Emergency Calls 1-800-2b5.9255
Pager 1672 or 3640