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Clinton News-Record, 1984-10-31, Page 42Troubleshooting advice includes what to do when heater quits There is perhaps no greater inconve- nience of winterdriving than a heater that won't work. Most passjnger compartment heaters use the coolant to warm the incoming fresh air. In addition to •providing driver and passenger comfort, the warm air directed to the inside of the windshield generally prevents fogging or icing which obscures vi- sion. The personal distress of cold fingers and toes can be avoided, by inspecting the heat producing cooling syrstem components in your car. The heater and its system of hoses are very much an integral part of your car's cooling system. The heater, in fact, is like a small radiator and functions in much the same way. Here's how. Hot coolant is piped from the engine through the heater control valve and into the heater core, located under the dash in most cars. The coolant passes through the core's finned tubes and releases its heat. A small electric fan forces air past the fin- ned tubes and directs the warmed air into the passenger compartment. The coolant is then piped back into the cooling system at the water pump. Begin with coolant Troubleshooting should begin with the coolant level (it should be visible just below the filler neck) and mixture (50 percent each of water and anti -freeze is recom- mended). A low level will reduce or cancel the flow of coolant to the heater, thereby reducing or preventing any heat output. The radiator pressure cap helps to raise and control the temperature of the coolant in the system, and provides a limited reserve against coolant loss due to boiling. The cap shquld be replaced if the seal or gasket is damaged, or if the spring is broken. The radiator filler neck also should be inspected for nicks or cuts which could allow pressure to escape. How thermostat works The thermostat acts as a heat sensitive valve which regulates the flow of coolant to the radiator. When the engine is cold, the thermostat is closed and the coolant recir- c;ilates back into the engine to pick up more heat until it reaches a predetermined temperature. When the thermostat fails or malfunc- tions, the engine will either overheat or it will take longer to get any heat because the engine will take longer to reach proper operating temperature. ' If the thermostat is functioning properly, you should be able to feel the surge of warm collant passing through the upper radiator hose. It is a good practice to replace a ther- mostat that is in doubt. Flexible hoses convey the coolant between the radiator and the engine. They should be Starting advice helps motorists Keeping your automobile in good shape makes good motoring sense. It can also help ensure that you won't have to pull out your battery booster cables this winter. For prompt starting ez Here are some basic maintenance tips ,,nat will help yuu make sure your car starts promptly: 1) Keep the gas tank full. This prevents condensation of moisture in the tank which leads to fuel line freeze-up. 2) Use the correct grade of winter motor oil for your area of the country. This often makes the difference between starting and not starting. 3) Regular tune-ups, including points, plugs and ignition wire checks, are of special importance in the winter. Wet or cold winter weather increases deficiencies in ignition components, and worn spark plugs easily require twice the electricity as new ones. 4) Check battery for electrolyte level and the condition, tightness and cleanliness of the cables. A battery at zero degrees fahrenheit produces less than 50 percent of the power it has at 80 degrees fahrenheit, and requires 2' times as much power to crank the engine. 5) Rust, seeping anti -freeze and just plain old crud in the cooling system can cause your engine to crank sluggishly or not at all. Flush out the system and, at the same time, check all hoses and the thermostat. 6) Auxiliary heaters such as oil heaters, coolant heaters and battery heaters have become a necessity in many northern states, and can often be useful elsewhere. The most effective is the battery heater. V -belt check 7) Check all V -belts, lespecially the alter- nator drive. The alternator should carry most of the electrical load, thereby reserv- ing battery power for starting the engine and operating emergency accessories. If the car is four years old, the belts should be replaced. Take care jump starting battery The automobile battery need not be a source of anxiety. Knowledge of simple and safe steps for jump-starting the battery is. essential for motorists concerned about winter car care. Several precautionary measures should be followed when jump-starting'a battery. Position vehicles so that they do not touch each other. Check to see that both batteries are on the same voltage. Turn off both vehicles' engines. Set the parking brakes on each vehicle. Place automatic transmissions in park, standard transmissions in neutral. Be sure vent caps are tight and level. Place a damp cloth over the vents of both batteries. With safety precautions taken care of, the stalled battery is ready for jump-starting (see • corresponding diagram) . 1. Connect positive (plus) booster cable to positive post of dead battery. (The positive post is wired to the starter orsolenoid.) • 2. Connect other end of same cable to same marked post (positive) of booster bat- tery. 3. Connect second : booster • 'cable (negative) to other post of booster battery. 4. Make final booster cable connection on engine block of stalled vehicle away from battery. 5. Start the booster vehicle and let itrim for a few minutes. 6. Start the disabled, vehicle, then remove cables in reverse order of connection. Further safety precautions should be followed when working on or in the vicinity of the automotive. • Whenever you work near a battery, pro- tect your eyes with safety goggles. • Never light a match or smoke when working under the hood of a car. • Be careful that metallic objects such as tools do not fall on battery terminals. This could cause sparks, leading to a battery ex- plosion. • Never lean over the battery during the charging, testing or jump-starting. Steps for jump-starting the automobile battery and tips for ensuring optimum ser- vice, safety concerns and precautions, understanding how the battery operates, battery service and useful terminology are included in "Take Charge — Know Your Battery,?' a safety guide produced by the Battery Council International (BCI). inspected for softness, cracks, and cuts. In normal service, they are affected by air, heat, chemical, oil and constant vibration. These conditions could either harden or crack hoses, which destroys flexibility and causes leakage; or soften and swell the hoses, which produces lining failure and hose rupture. A small leak not only wastes valuable coolant, but it also reduces pressure in the entire system. Two other important hoses are connected to the inlet and outlet tubes of the heater. These, too, should be checked for swelling and cracks, and abrasion to the hose cover where the hoses come in contact with the engine block. Kinked hoses will obviously restrict the flow of coolant. Check the heater hoses to make sure the hot coolant is flowing through the heater core. The supply line to the heater should be hot; the return hose should be warm. If the hoses are cool, circulation is not adequate due to clogged heater core of possible ice blockage in the core unit. The water pump/fan drive might be call- ed the heart of the cooling system. Coolant circulates throughout the engine by means of the water pump. The fan cools the. radiator containing the hot coolant. The combination of the two sends warmth to the heater, but not too much heat, which could cause the engine to boil over. Check the condition of the drive belts by BLUE WATER BODY & FENDER (GODERICH) LTD. SPECIALIZING IN • Spray Painting • Front End Alignment • Wheel Balancing SEE US FOR ALL YOUR BODY NEEDS '232 Picton St. Goderich, Ont. 524.7161 turning them over. Replace any that are cracked, frayed, brittle, wet with oil, or highly polished on the sides that contact the pulleys. Regardless of the visual condition, • belts and hoses which are more than four years old should be replaced. Possible solution These troubleshooting procedures could solve the problem of a malfunctioning heating system. Other trouble areas such as a clogged or leaking heater core, faulty elec- trical connections and fuses, a broken blower motor or a non-operating heater con- trol valve, should be checked by an ex- perienced mechanic. At the very least, this exercise will prepare your cooling system for the hard winter months ahead. Check tire pressure once a month Your tires are designed to ride safer and wear longer when properly inflated with the correct amount of air. Properly inflated tires also help your car deliver better gas mileage because when your tires are pro- perly inflated, they create less "drag.' Do yourself and your tires a favor. Check your air pressure today — and then get in the habit at least once a month. AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION IS WORTH A POUND OF CURE See us today for Preventative maintenance for your car. *BODY WORK *UNDERCOATING *RUSTPROOFING FULL SERVE GAS BAR RON'S SHELL & AUTO 524-6070 394 HURON RD. GODERICH GAS BARS Whether we're checking oil or filling it up, YOU CAN COUNT ON... FAST FRIENDLY SERVICE So... When you fill the cart...Fill the car Huron Rd. SUNNY'S GAS BAR in the Zehrs Plaza Goderich 524-4550