Friday, October 25, 1991 - North Shore News - 23 ©

Tune-ups have evolved over the century

NEWS photo Cindy Goodman
ROBERT IBBITT checks this car's ignition system at Kal Tire in

North Vancouver. While car systems are more durable than they
used to be, they are also toc sophisticated for most ‘‘do-it-

yourselfers.””

One good tip
can lead
to another.
Give to the

IN YOUR grandparents’ day, the ignition and fuel system
of North America’s motorcars were effective, but not par-

ticularly durable.

Spark plugs needed cleaning
and regapping about every 500
miles and replaccment at 1,500
miles,

The low-tech (and inexpensive)
spark plug wires — the wires that
carry ignition to each cylinder —
lasted about one rough winter be-
fore they started to give trouble.

Points and condenser, the dy-
namic duo that triggered each in-
dividual ignition spark, were good
for 2,000 miles — maybe.

CrimeStoppers | | fa eens

Fund.

By Robert Appel
Contributing Writer

A “point file,”? a 50-cent tool
to clean the points, was a com-
mon component of a mechanic’s
toolbox. Today, they're found on-
ly in museums.

The word tune-up was coined to
mean servicing the ignition — and
very little else.

Such tune-ups,

however fre-

quent, were not that expensive.
The distributor rotor and cap
together cost only a few dollars —
they were usually replaced at the
same time as the points and plugs.

{f the ignition voltage coil
showed any arcing or cracking, it,
too, was inexpensively replaced in
the process.

And let’s not forget that old
mechanical carburetor. This amaz-
ing contraption, which had more
moving parts than today’s
washing machines, inevitably
needed constant loving and

See Car Page 32

CAR WASH

: j T.L.G. Auto Centre
"4534 Clyde Ave., West Van 926-TLOG

(926-8522) §

a

West Vancouver Goodyear » = » At the close of this year’s Western Canada

Honda Racing Championship Series, we were ecstatic that three Honda cars that were prepared
and serviced by us were crowned overall ist, 2nd and 3rd champions! In celebration of this
incredibie feat, we are offering our expertise to all

COE RBAVURE |g!
SSUCIPIERSG

Please song your tay cdeauctt-e con
to CnmeStorre Greater
£0. Sa S666. Sarcose BC. 48

Honda owners so they may experience the same
performance the Pro’s do...

Honda Tune-up Special *29. -

Spe-ial savings for other repairs.
Please phone for details and appointment.