The Goderich Signal-Star, 1976-10-28, Page 44Page 2
Servieed engine ne starts faster in winter
Short of a heated garage,
theee's no better insurance
that your car will start on a
frigid .morning than `a
properly serviced engine.
Since warm garages are at
a premium, the best way to
avoid a frustrating wait for a
tow truck is, to -get your car in
proper shape before cold
weather sets in. The service
needed is far less expensive
than heating that garage.
Most cars with starting
troubles begin winter with
worn spark plugs and
defective ignition systems.
The incidence of hard -
starting complaints reported
by car owners climbs in
direct `proportion to the
number of miles the. plugs
have been in service.
To make sure , your •;car
doesn't show up on the list of
"won't starts" this winter,
here's a check list of the
items which should be in-
spected on your car before
the weather turns cold:
Have your, serviceman
check ` the battery with a
hydrometer to determine, the
specific gravity, If specific
gravity readings are 'low,
have the battery recharged
•-and make sure he determines
the reason for the. low
readings. If battery condition
appears doubtful have the
mechanic • test it for weak
cells. Also, be sure• he
removes all corrosion from
Like a good man ......
Good mechanic.
hard to find
A' good mechanic is hard.to
find. It's a truism known by
anyone who ever owned a car.
However, car owners. can
increase the odds in favor of
their finding a competent
repair. man.
The Federal .consumer
affairs department in is
monthly bulletin, Consumer
Contact, advises car owners
to ask to see the mechanic's'
certificate of • qualification
before authorizing a garage
to undertake any repairs.
Journeyman mechanics
across Canada can qualify for
the Red Seal interprovincial
certificate if they score at
least 70 per cent on an
examination set by the
Interprovincial Standards Co-
ordinating Committee.
The Red Seal, which is
attached to • the provincial
certificate •of qualification,
'not only shows that . a
mechanic takes his trade.
seriously but also that he
meets national standards,
which in some cases are
higher than provincial ones.
The bulletin also advises
that: once you've found a
garage it's better to trust it
.,with small repairs first.
Then, if these jobs are per-
formedsatisfactorily and
within the agr"eed price, you
can trust it with something
major.
Another wise precaution is
to note your odometer
reading when taking your car
in for repairs. Compare this
figure with the mileage on
_your car when it is returned.
This will show whether the
mechanic .road-tested your
car.
A reliable mechanic will
give you an estimate, of repair
costs before he begins work
on your car. However, an
estimate is just that — an
estimate. Once a mechanic
gets into the body of your car
he may find additional.
problems.
The department also
suggests that youmake clear
to the mechanic that he is to
undertake no major repairs
on your vehicle without
authorization by phone or in
writing.
the battery terminals and '
lubricates them - so ` the
corrosion won't reoccur.
Remember corroded cables
and terminals restrict the
flow of electricity through the
entire system, and can ac-
tually prevent the car from
starting if allowed to _go
unattended. • •
Makesure the regulator is
•properly adjusted. An out -of -
adjustment regulator may
not • allow the battery to
charge enough, or may result
in overcharging which will
eventually ruin the battery.
Starter and generator:
Chances are if your car is
on157 a year or two old; these
components will be okay.
However, make sure your
serviceman removes any
corrosionthat might exist on..
either starter or generator
connections — and that they
are all securely fastened. If
you car is over two years old
better have the generator
brushes and , commutator
looked at. Badly •worn
brushes reduce thegenerator
efficiency and can re'sult in a
constantly weak battery.
If your car has been driven
more than 10,000 miles since
the distributor has been
serviced you'll proba,hly save
yourself a lot of "trouble by
having the mechanic install
new points, condenser. (in
engines that use them) and
making Whatever ad-
justments are necessary.
Improperly operating
distributors are a major
cause of starting difficulty:
Again, if your car is
reasonably new, chances are
you won't have to worry
about coil condition.
However, better keep in mind
that a weak coil can not only
cause starting failure but also
BODY
REPAIRS
See -us...
for the
best in -
*COLLISION WORK
*BODY WORK
*SPRAY PAINTING
"We're your car's best friend"
CLINTON
SHOPI3ODY
CARL COX
73 MARY 5T, CUNTON 482.9531
contribute to poor per-
formance in general and.
reduced gasoline economy. If
your car has over 20,000 miles
on the odometer better have
your serviceman run a check
on coil condition.
If the plugs are nearing the
10,000 -mile mark, they should
be replaced before the
weather turns cold asworn
out plugs are probably the
biggest single factor in hard
starting.
- It is also.agoad idea to have
your mechanic check the
engine with a timing light.
Out of time engines not only
are much harder to start but
lose much of the efficiency
and performance they were
intended to deliver.
You don't have to be an Octopus to do a faster, better
Radiator job...come to
•
THE RAD SHOP
BAYFIELD. RD., CLINTON — 482-9393
(Adiacent to H. Lobb & Equipment)
Featuring:
*RADIATORS for all makes of
CARS, TRUCKS, and TRACTORS
* BOILING • *REPAIRING
* RE -CORING
Jerry. Cox, Proprietor
When it comes to
Autos -come to
M�Kerlie-Millen
WE CARRY
A COMPLETE LINE OF AUTOMOTIVE
SUPPLIES INCLUDING
C.I.L. AUTOMOTIVE
PAINTS
• FRAM FILTERS
• NASCO REBUILT
PARTS
• •W ALKER• EXHAUST
° SYSTEMS
• CHAMPION SPARK
PLUGS
•GUARANTEED
PARTS IGNITION
• VICTOR GASKETS •.
• MANY MANY
NAME BRAND
ITEMS
McKerlie-MiIIen Inc.
86Albert Street, Clinton
Ca11 482-3445
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