A U Tf 0 M @ T

~ Januass 12,

VY E S

1a

Winter breakdown could be deadly

- IT'S winter it must be
lime for car muintenanee.

While some people jump
in, make countless trips to
auto parts stores and do
their own work, other
motorists concentrate on
football games, wishing the
whole issue would just go
uway.

Whatever your feelings
about car maintenance, one
thing is certain: vehicles that
are not serviced and
prepared for winter condi-
tions stand a good chance of
breaking down some time
during the cold months.
While only an inconvenience
during the summer, a
breakdown in the winter
could be deadly.

To heip vehicle owners get
their cars and light trucks
ready for winter driving, the
non-profit National Institute
for Automotive Service Ex-
cellence (ASE) offers the fol-
lowing car care tips and ad-
vice about finding competent
auto repair. Some of the
maintenance tips are easy to
do; others may require a
skilled auto technician.

1. Whether or not you
plan to do the work
yourself, read your owner's
manual. In addition to con-
taining information about
the vehicle’s components,
the manual lists the manu-
facturer’s recommended ser-
vice intervals. Follow these
schedules.

2. If you simply aren't the
do-it-yourself type, find a
good repair shop and
become a regular customer.
Among the ways to identify
a reputable establishment:
Word-of-mouth recommen-
dations, a good record with

local consumer groups, the
availabilit, of modern
equipment, a courteous
staff, basic orderliness, the
presence of customer service
awards, professtonal
diplomas and certificates
and signs of advanced train-
ing.

Shop policies should be
posted or someone should be
willing to explain them to
you.

3. An increasingly popular
way to judge the competence
of individual mechanics is to
look for standardized
credentials. Certification is
especially useful to con-
sumers who do not already
know a competent mechanic.

4. Windshield wipers
should be inspected and new
blades installed if the old
ones show signs of wear.
The washer fluid reservoir
should be filled with a good
grade of washer solvent
capable of resisting freezing.
(Never add engine an-
ti-freeze to the washer reser-
voir — it can splash and ruin
your vehicle’s finish.)

5. Give your car a good
washing and thorough wax-
ing to help protect its finish
from the road salts and
chemicals you will undoubt-
edly encounter.

6. Headlights, turn
signals, flashers, back-up
and brake lights should be
checked and replaced if
burned out.

7. A weak battery and
loose or corroded cables are
certain to cause trouble in
colder weather when you will
need maximum cranking
power.

Clean cables and battery
posts; tighten all connec-

Keep your
eyes on road

IF YOUR winter vacation
plans include driving, you
should know the following
facts about vision and driv-
ing.

Increased speed causes
your vision to become more
concentrated on a single
point ahead. When travelling
at 100 km/h your peripheral
field of vision (side vision) is
reduced by more than 25 per
cent. A reduction in your
field of vision decreases your
ability to see hazards ap-
proaching from the side.

Studies indicate that peo-
ple who have color vision
deficiencies required twice as
long to recognize and act on
signal lights as those who
have normal color vision
abilities. Fog or night driv-
ing conditions may present
special concern for those
with extremely low sensitivi-
ty to red light.

if you have 20/20 vision,
your night vision — the abil-
ity to see in low illumination
beyond the range of your
car’s headlights; and, to re-
cover quickly from glare —
is reduced to 20/55.

Older adults experience
natural visual changes which
may effect their driving.
With aging:

* The eyes' focusing ability
decreases and it becomes
more difficult to change
focus from distant to near
objects. :

© The pupils become smatiler
and more light is needed to
sce well.

¢ The eye's lens causes light

scatter, making night

driving more difficult.
© Reaction time tends to be
slower.
« Poor color contrast may
cause your car to appear in-
visible during the day as well
as at night. Car color, glare,
rain, fog or snow, may serve
to reduce the visibility of
your vehicle to drivers and
pedestrians alike. Research
shows that vehicles with
their lights on can be seen
sooner and more clearly dur-
ing all weather conditions.

Rear brake lights, posi-
tioned at, or near, the
driver’s eye height, also have
been shown to. enhance
driver reaction response
time.
® Always wear your glasses
if they have been prescribed
for driving.
e Wear sunglasses when
necessary during the day —
never at dusk or at night.
Avoid driving if your eyes
are tired, ache or burn,
e Ensure that your windows,
mirrors and lights are clean
and, where necessary, pro-
perly adjusted.
*Drugs, tobacco and
alcohol may induce
drowsiness and/or impair
your visual skills.
¢ Light colored cars have
been shown to be more visi-
ble than dark colored cars.
¢ Lights on, day and night,
increases the visibility of
your car.
© Poor vision increases the
risk of accident and judg-
ment errors.

tions. The alternater drive
belts shauid be inspected for
tightness and condition.
Replace if glazed or frayed.

8. Tires should be in-
«pected for nicks, cuts, tread
wear and proper pressure.
(Let the tires cool down be-
fore measuring the air
pressure.) Cupping or
uneven wear indicates worn
parts or an align-
ment/balancing problem
which should be corrected at
a good shop.

Those slick tires that just
barely got you through the
summer will be virtually
useless in freezing rain and
snow. Replace them with
snow tires or all-season ra-

YOU PAY ONLY
OVER INVOICE

48 MONTH TERM
FIXED RATE FINANCING
ON SELECTED MODELS

"You pick out the Camaro
We show you the invoice

ditls as appropriate. De-
it-vourselfers, take note:
Titre rotation patierns vars
today — check your man:
ual.)

Don't forget ta) examine
your spare tire and make
certain the jack is free of
rust and that it is in working
condition.

9. The engine cooling
system needs an inspection,
also. Check your radiator
hoses for cracking and swell-
ing. Look for leaks at hose
connections.

If it’s been more than two
years, drain, Mush and refill
your radiator with the ap-
propriate mix of coolant’
anti-freeze. (Caution: Allow

$388

removing ihe

radiator erill,

is wise tO examine
overall condition
. Inspect your trunk
and floor boards for small wise investment.

system could spell

tightly closed vehicles.
1. If you have noticed a 4nd tune-up.

INTRODUCING TWO
Ggreat,great

_ INCENTIVES

belore change in) your

tadiator cap.) (pulsations, longer stopping
bugs, distances, ete.), have them
from othe | examined.
if vou must drive in

Inspect the condition and extreme weather,
ughtness of drive belts. Hf survival kit. include such
your heater and defroster are items as blankets,
not working properly, now is smal! shovel
i them — a container of gravel or kitty
liter for traction, emergency
flares, a good flashlight, and
system sor perhaps even some freeze-
and rust- dried food and bottled
water. A small CB radio is a

12

leaking

INTEREST
PAYMENTS @:

O.AC. til April 90

G.M.A.C.

90 DAY DEFERRAL
MAXIMUM 60 MONTH TERM
ON SELECTED MODELS

North Share News

. tire chains and

13. Finally, do not forget
occupants of the two items that everyone
seems to put off: Oil change