B19 - Wednesday, April 13, 1983 - North Shore News NOT EVERYONE DRIVES a car, even though in rash hour at maintain your FIATS Lions Gate Bridge that might be difficult to believe. Here, Hugh Therrien hitchhikes home recently from Cap PEUGEOTS con ee ee SAABS || « the areas for both the by hiker and the motorist. qualified technicians at competitive rates 1345 Richards Vancouver 669-7559 Prepare for summer driving Preventive auto main- tenance this spring can make summer driving a picnic, says the B.C. Automobile Association. “Taking the time to prepare the car for the warm days ahead will result in better gas mileage and possibly prevent expensive repairs later on,” says Bob Blair, Fleet Manager of BCAA's Emergency Road Service. A car that has just sur vived a cold, damp winter needs a mechanical check- up, he says. The car's body, too, requires a thorough wash and polish to remove corrosive chemicals collected during winter months. This wards off rust and corrosion damage to the chassis and underbody of the car. “While ai car owner's manual is a good guide for recommended maintenance, owners of older cars with considerable mileage should keep in mind that their vehicle needs more frequent attention,” cautions Blair. BCAA offers the following guidelines for seasonal Maintenance that apply to Most passenger cars Points, plugs, au filter. condenser, igmiGon wires and engine ming should be checked and cleaned. ee alrmeeincbeamenatater von be i Car Stereos le replaced or adjusted as part of a routine tune-up. - The oil and the oil filter should be replaced with proper grade summer weight or a multi-grade oil. Con- trary to what many car owners believe, the filter should be changed each time the oil is, not every other time. The filter holds a quart of oil. If it is not changed, the clean oil will mix with dirty oil as soon as the engine is started. - The battery needs to be checked for proper fluid levels and charge. Any accumulated corrosion should be removed from the terminals. - Snow ures should be replaced with regular tres, but not before they have been checked for damage and tread wear If last season's tires are in good condition, they should be maunited, rotated and balanced At the same time, have the front end examined for correct alignment, particularly if the car ts pulling to one side The shock absorbers also should be checked Having the car com pletely lubricated — helps guard against corrosion of vital parts) from = motsture collected during the winter The tension and con dition of all belts and hoses vs Ly faa echotven oa Auto need to be checked. - Wiper blades should be inspected and replaced if necessary. - The air conditioning unit also needs to be inspected for proper operation. - It may be necessary to fiave the brakes adjusted, and a thorough going-over of the brake system is im- — 4~, SPRIN Aj Upp RUSTPROOFING: