20 - Friday, January 25, 1991 - North Shore News ores AUTOMOTIVES Check windshield wipers AS WINTER deepens, car owners are spending more time to prepare their cars to help them drive safe- ly. Snow tires, antifreeze, scrapers, and tune-ups are just part of the tools we use to battle winter driv- ing. But few of us consider winter's impact on the humble windshield wiper. Wipers are perhaps the most neglected safety feature of a car and should be checked regu- larly. In fact, most experts suggest that wipers be replaced on a year- ly basis, and with good reason. Factors affecting your wipers in- clude ozone, heat, dust, sand, snow and ice. “Good drivers know they must be able to see clearly in all condi- tions,"’ says Pat Curran, public relations officer for the Canadian Automobile Association. ‘Wipers should be monitored because even a minor wear that barely causes smearing in even a light rain can prove to be a major problem in more severe conditions.” Wiper maintenance takes little effort and has many ‘‘visible’’ returns. The best time to do a safey check on your wipers is dur- ing regular spring and winter tune-ups. ‘Drivers will go to great lengths to tune up and prepare their cars for a new season of driving condi- tions but usually don’t include something as important as their wipers,”” says Curran. Fall and winter are the hardest on your wipers. Leaves, snow and ice have a profound effect on your wipers’ ability to provide adequate visibility. “When leaves fall on a wind- shield, they create a gummy resi- due on the squeegee of your wiper. The amount of detergent in windshield fluid alone can’t remove the sticky substance. The result can be a poor wipe and poor visibility,’’ says Franz Buechele, design and product engineer at Canada's largest man- ufacturer of wiper blades. ‘‘The simple remedy is to take any kind of window cleaner or soap solu- tion, apply it to a cloth and wipe the squeegee thoroughly.”’ In most regions of Canada, drivers experience difficulty with. snow and ice on their windshields in the winter. Many drivers dam- age their wipers by not clearing ice and snow properly. “Problems occur when people scrape the ice but don’t clear enough of the windshield. The partially scraped ice is likely to have jagged edges that may shred or damage the wiper squeegee,”’ says Buechele. if you live in an area with high snowfall, consider winter blades. These blades feature a heavy duty squeegee for harsh conditions and are encased in a rubber “‘booi’’ to prevent snow build-up that affects the flexibility of your blade. To maintain maximum safety standards for your wipers, follow these simple steps when you notice streaking, smearing or uneven wiping: © Check the squeegee for cracks and wear and tear; factors such as ozone, ultraviolet light, salt and pollutants deteriorate the rubber and reduce effectiveness. (If your wiper is defective, you may not need to replace the whole biade but only the squeegee.) ©The blade itself can also be the cause of visibility problems. Metal blades can rust or become clogged with dust which causes the blade to lose its effectiveness. Plastic blades won't rust, but can also get clogged with dirt. You can prevent this by checking and cleaning the blade regularly. If cleaning doesn’t work, replace the whole blade. © The wiper arm is another area of concern. Over time, the spring in the arm = will relax, which doesn't allow enough pressure for proper cleaning. This can be an even greater problem when driving at high speeds, causing the wiper 1987 560 SL Smoke silver with burgundy leather, one owner, local 25,000 km., Stk. #6063A $9,883 down, $17,080 residual value Lease for £799 / mo, 1987 420 SEL Diamond blue metallic with blue leather. All books & records, 59,000 km., Stk. #5300A, $9,000 down, $17,150 residual value. Lease for 5827 / mo. to lift and not adhere to the win- dow as it should. Occasionally lubricating the arm pivot point is recommended for proper wiper care. og 190 HP 4 litre inline 6 cyl. HO! m ey 5 speed trans. with overdrive! A ag Power brakes & steering! Sw Intermittent wipers! & Electric rear window defroster! 1986 560 SEL Black pearl with burgundy leather, one owner, Local 79,000 km., Stk. #5555A, $9,000 down, $17,150 residual value, Lease for 5827 / mo. 1988 300E - Seafoam green with cream int. One-owner, local 37,000 km., Stk. #6001, $8,900 down, $15,050 residual vaiue Lease for 5698 / mo. Leases based on 48 months, O.A.C. Taxes extra. Mercedes-Benz SUNDAY + WEDNESDAY + FRIDAY 4600 MARL next time you think of parking SPRINGTIME TUNE-UP Replace engine oil & filter.Top up all fluid levels. Wash & clean _ 95 Plus parts MOST MAZDA CARS & LIGHT TRUCKS 3 Mazda Parts & Accessories Shecialized WE SURROUND Y Service _WITH SATISFACTION , 00 MARINE DRIVE: N,VAN.. YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER SINCE 1969 als 2 Se fa Full Rat!lye guages! ie Sport mag wheels! fm P225/75R15 Wrangler tires! i Tilt steering column! . i Chrysler 7 year/115 km warranty! * FREE 20 POINT SAFETY INSPECTION 1 Battery cables = 12. Exhaust system & connections 13. Steering linkage 2 Coolant strengih 14. Oriveshaft & 3 Radiator hoses universal joi 4 Heater hoses 15. Front & rear 5 Alt oil levels suspension 6 All fluid levels 16. Shock absorbers 7 All lights 17. Tiresftread wear 8 Fuel fitter \. 9 Air cleaner filter 10 P.GN, valve 14 Windshield wiper blades COMPLETE OVERHAULS e ENGINES e TRANSMISSIONS ¢ CLUTCHES ° SHOCKS ATURDAYS 9:5:00 PM 987-4458