BUYING A BATTERY Stamina coi WHEN THE first severe cold wave arrives, you may discover that your faithful old battery no longer has the power to get your car started. A battery’s output decreases as temperature drops, so a battery that was doing its job during the warm summer months may have only half its output when the If your car is hard to start because of a weak battery, replace the battery before it lets you down, suggests Car Care Council. When buying a battery, you'll be selec- ting from among several within the size range that fits your car. In addition to price, your decision may be based on length and type of warranty, cold cranking amps recharging. This usually is express- ed in amperes of output per so many minutes. The council re- minds car owners that, when com- paring battery specifications, one must compare output and reserve on the same amperage/time basis. Typically, reserve capacity rating will refer to the amount of time a battery can produce 25 amps at thermometer dips below freezing. Meanwhile, your cold engine may need twice the starting power. battery will HALLOWEEN NIGHT and reserve capacity. The latter indicates how long the hold up without 80°F. (Headlights may draw about 15 amps versus a taillight’s 1.5 amps.) Drivers, watch for children ON OCTOBER 31, youngsters will be going door to door gathering as many treats as possible. In all the excitement it’s easy for them to lose sight of the dangers of scurrying around, especially when it’s dark. Motorists are urged to drive with extra caution Hal- loween night, and to remind their youngsters that the happiest Halloween is a safe Halloween. Parents should give children the following advice: Map out the “‘loot route’’ ahead of time; make sure it’s the safest walk to take. Plan to walk on Streets that are well lit, and that have sidewalks. If there are no sidewalks, walk facing traffic. Have a parent or older brother or sister go trick-or-treating with the child and remember to stay together. Cross only at corners. Never cross between parked cars or in the middle of a block. Remember to take a flashlight with you so you’ll be easier to see. Before trick-or-treating make sure the costume is easy to walk in and is bright enough so that people driving cars will see it. Masks can make it difficult for the child to see. DUE TO AN OVERWHELMING DEMAND AND A DESIRE TO ACHIEVE A HIGH LEVEL OF CUSTOMER SATISFACTION, OUR PARTS DEPARTMENT WILL RE-OPEN SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1988. SATURDAYS 9 AM—4:30 PM IN $250 WORTH OF GM PARTS ASK OUR STAFF ABOUT HOW TO ENTER OUR FALL & WINTER PARTS CONTEST Hours: Mon.-f 39 - Friday, October 28, 1988 - North Shore News Cold cranking amps refer to the engine starting (cranking) output at O°F for 30 seconds. A starter may draw 400 amps, so at 0°F it wouldn’t take long on a cold mor- ning to drain a battery rated at 300 cold cranking amps. When idling along in stop-and- go traffic, with heater/defroster, tape deck and lights turned on, the electrical system is carrying a heavy load. It’s comforting to know there’s a strong battery 88 CABRIOLET Best seller series auto, pls, heated seats, cassette 87 Cabrioiets 3 to choose from 5 spd., fully equipped $ 87 AUDI GT COUPE Balance of Audi Card Satin black Fully Loaded i 87 VW GOLF GT COUPE £ M White, 2 door % sunroof, AM/FM cassette, only § 12,000 km ° 87 Toyota ra? 5 spd., very yo kms, hard to tell from new! Asking ° 87 GMC 4x4 ‘Jimmy Sierra 5 speed Classic” Asking , * 86 Rabbit Convertible 5 spd., silver Asking © Audi GT Coupe Immaculate condition 5 spd., low kms. Asking nts as much as price under the hood. That security is well worth the modest cost of upgrading from adequate to ‘‘best.’’ Car Care Council emphasizes that a new battery is no rémedy for malfunction of other components. If an engine is in borderline condi- tion, needing a valve job or tune- up, for example, even a strong, oversized battery may not get the car started. ° 87 BMW 325¢ Sports Package 6 cyl., 5 spd., power sunroof, windows, air-cond., cruise, sports seats, lively’ ted finish Asking e 82 Dodge Colt 2 DR, 5 speed. . $2, 675 ¢ 85 Dodge Colt DL 4dr, auto, blue Asking * 84 Mercury Topaz Green, 4 dr, auto, air-cond.