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Show Page 10 The Thunderbird Monday, November 21, 1983 Cooling system is important in cold weather broken, dried out or missing. Is the spring working properly? Now, take a close look at the filler neck. Look for nicks, dents or burrs that might keep the cap from sealing properly. Cold weather neednt heat up your car costs. Following this easy plan can save you time, money and e experts. driving troubles, according to Your cars vital fluids are especially important. Your radiator should be full of a mix of water and at least 50 percent antifreeze, and you should change the mix at least every other year to keep anti-ruingredients strong. Check hose clamps for tightness. Give the hoses the squeeze test: They should be firm but not brittle (from aging) or spongy (from softening by oil or grease). It may be time to change oil. Youll want an oil that can give you easy flowability for fast starts with good lubrication at the same time. Other vital fluids that could need checking including the windshield washer (use an antifreeze mix), fluid, automatic transmission fluid, brake fluid and battery water if yours is an unsealed fill your battery only before going unit. In for a drive to prevent possible freezing. Now is the best time to thoroughly check out your car's cooling system, before the cold wintery days hit hard. The cooling system is the third most frequent cause of highway breakdowns. Most of these problems could checks and a little preventive be maintenance. Gates Rubber Co. suggests the following cooling and checking procedures: system tune-uOverheating is not limited to summer. Start by taking a stiff fiber brush or a garden hose and clean off the radiator. Brush gently as the fins are delicate. The radiator can do a better job when it is clean of dirt, leaves and bugs. While the engine is cold, remove the radiator cap and check the rubber gasket. Make sure it is not car-car- power-steerin- The cooling system is the third most frequent cause of highway breakdowns. g r, coolant recovery system, the coolant should be up to the neck. Check the level in the reservoir tank, usually a plastic bottle to the side of the radiator labeled coolant. Most have two lines one indicates Cold level and the other Hot. Fill with coolant to the proper level. The coolant should be a 5050 mixture of water and antifreeze. This will protect your engine to 35 degrees F. below zero. The best check is with a hydrometer. They are inexpensive and can be found at any auto parts store. Follow the instructions on the package. Now that youve cleaned it off, inspect the radiator for leaks or seepage. Closely examine all the cooling system hoses and clamps. If the clamps are corroded, replace the hose and the clamps. Replace any hoses that are leaking, have cracks or are soft and mushy when you squeeze them. Check the engine for excessive grease or dirt. This can insulate the engine, causing it to run hot. Worse, dirt can hide leaks. Steam clean the engine if necessary. When the engine is running, listen closely for unusual noises from the water pump. You can check the pump bearings by removing the and turning the pump pulley by hand. Roughness, looseness or noise in the bearings warrants replacement. Check all the engines for wear or cracks. Statistics show that after four years use, a belt can fail at any time. If any of your are over four years old, replace them now. If the belt squeals, Adjust the tension on all it should be closely checked for wear and properly adjusted. Check over your cooling system as carefully as possible. Fix any problems now. lt under-the-hoo- d lt Check the coolant. If it appears rusty or in color, it should be drained, the cooling system flushed, and new coolant added. You should also replace the coolant every two years with fresh antifreeze and water. If the coolant looks all right, check the level. It should be within an inch of the filler neck on cars without a coolant recovery system on those with a n p A check of your tires could prevent major troubles (continued from page There are, however, some components you cant that also could be damaged by potholes. Wheel bearings are subject to extremely high impact loads that can cause indentations in the bearing raceway leading to early failure. If you should hear strange noises coming from any of the wheels, especially after an unusually severe jolt, have the bearing checked. While your mechanic is checking the bearings, have him inspect the rest of the suspension components. He 9) easily see Sometimes if the hole is big enough and the car hits it at a good clip, the tire will blow out on the spot. Sometimes this is accompanied by a bent or broken wheel. So, look at your tires and be sure to check the inside. Be on the lookout for large cuts or bulges that could signal ply separation inside the tire. Also check for leaking shock absorbers and broken springs. should check for tierod and damage, as well as looking at the rest of the steering linkage. And, while he has the wheel off, have him look closely at the spindle for any signs of damage. Some impacts might not do any damage to your car, but the alignment can still be knocked out of adjustment. That can cause difficulty in steering and overall bad handling. It also increases tire wear and reduces fuel ball-joi- mileage. Southiirest Auto Parts 'Everything Automotive" TINEAS Superior Auto Parts Auto Supplies A complete line of all Auto Parts & Accessories for Foreign & Domestic Cars & Trucks AC DELCO EVEREADY McCULLOCH MOTOROLA PIONEER SORENSON VICTORBIACKHAVK-V.ALK- K Special Prices For College Students With ID 95 WEST HARDING AVENUE 586-657- 2 Card Up to 40 Discount for College Students with ID 200 West 200 North, Cedar City CALL: 586-389- 6 after hours 586-891- 5 |