Clinton News-Record, 1978-11-02, Page 33t
•
Page 11
Economy cars: It's what's upfront that counts
The energy crisis has
created a demand for cars
that are roomy, yet gas-ef-
ficient.
as-efficient. As a result, several
types of subcompacts now
on the market are achiev-
ing gasoline mileage of 28
miles per gallon or better.
One of the secrets of im-
proved mileage is front -
wheel drive. Europeans
long have been aware of
the need to- build smaller
cars that consume less gas
and still provide transpor-
tation with some degree of
comfort. The two factors
they balanced in designing
a car large enough for a
family and yet economical
were weight and interior
space.
Most significant element
in the weight factor is the
bulky drive shaft down the
middle of the standard-
-built car. A major break-
through was the 1961
unveiling in France of Re-
nault's R4 with front -wheel
drive, eliminating the drive
shaft through the passen-
ger compartment.
These rules may .
help you get out
of sinking
automobile
If you are ever unlucky
enough to be in a car that
enters deep water, the
Canada Safety Council of-
fers some advice.
A car floats for a short
time after hitting the wa-
ter in a near horizontal
position -irrespective, of
how it hit the water. The
time varies with make
from a few seconds to
three or four minutes, af-
ter which it sinks verti-
cally, engine end first.
Rules for escape are:
1. Immediately after
hitting the water, release
your safety belt.
2. Open door windows,
movable roof (if any),
and/or back window.
Leave the car via the best
route as quickly as pos-
sible. During the floating
period, it will be difficult
to open the doors because
of water pressure from the
outside.
3. If it is impossible to
leave the car while float-
ing, the car doors can
usually be opened un-
derwater because outside
pressure oft water has been
equalized.
4. If the car is dam-
aged to the extent that
none of these ways of es-
cape can be taken, use the
feet or shoulders to -re-
move the front or back
window by pushing it
out. This can hest be
'done by pushing in the
corners.
When a car sinks in
water, outside and inside
lights should be switched
on if possible. This lessens
confusion in the vehicle,
and makes location from
above easier.
Front -wheel drive itself
was not new.
It had been developed by
another French builder, Ci-
troen, and was used as
early as 1931, then adapted
for the Austin "mini," in-
troduced in 1959.
Renault used the same
two -box concept, a large
box or compartment for
passengers and luggage
and a small one up front
for the engine and trans-
mission. It designed a kind
of '60s Model T — a do -
everything, inexpensive to
buy and economical to op-
erate family car.
In 1972 Renault brought
out its 115, Le Car, which
set the style for a whole
new generation of front -
wheel -drive subcompact
hatchbacks now including
•
Rabbits, Civics, Omnis, Ho-
rizons among others.
Some 40 per cent of cars
sold overseas are front -
wheel drive, and more are
now being sold in Canada
and the U.S.
Though front -wheel drive
engines have no built-in
mechanical advantages in
themselves, the weight and
space.....ayed...by..haviag . the
transmission in the front
transaxle makes all the dif-
ference.
There have been larger.
cars, like the Toronado and
the classic Cord, with
front -wheel drive, but they
were not designed with fuel
and space enonomy in
mind as are today's sub-
compacts.
Where the ,amount of
space saved in much larger
cars by elimination of the
drive shaft wouldn't make
much difference, in
smaller cars the space
saved is proportionately
immense.
Most drivers will find
that front -wheel -drive cars
have better traction with
the weight of the engine up
front, and with the wheels
pulling through snow or
over wet pavement, they
are less likely to slip and
slide.
There are some special
considerations in maintain-
ing front -wheel -drive cars,
according to technicians at
Renault.
Front tires get more
wear and should be
checked often for pressure
and the wheels checked for
balance. Another precau-
tion is to keep the transaxle
heavily lubricated and
check the transmission
fluid regularly.
Front disc brakes also
get more wear and have to
be checked at least once a
year or every 12,000 miles.
The "constant velocity
joints" on the drive shafts,
the' parts that allow the
shafts to operate at. various
angles and wear more
quickly than the simpler
parts of rear -drive ' shafts,
should be checked during
regular servicing. If the
joints' rubber coverings
are torn, get them repaired
to avoid dirt getting into
the joint.
And, Renault says, follow
the owners manual and
don't let anybody jack your
front -wheel drive or tow it
using the front transaxle.
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rotor
• Check distributor advance
• Adjust ignition timing
•
•
• Check choke operation
• Service air cleaner
• Check fuel filter
• Test fuel pump
• Check manifold heat riser
• Check PCV valve
• Inspect and tighten all hoses
• Inspect all belts
• Adjust carburetor
• Complete road test
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