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Show The Thunderbird Monday, November 21, 1 983 Page 9 Be prepared when taking those winter trips Keep a supply handy in your trunk to top off as needed. Before starting out make sure all the lights are clean. Try the defrosters and make sure the ice scraper and brush are in the trunk. Be sure to carry extra fuses because you probably will be using the heater, defroster and lights simultaneously. Check the fuel supply before leaving the driveway; dont risk driving with the pointer on E. Running out of gasoline in a remote location in the bitter cold is not a pleasant experience. Plan to stop frequently to refuel. Install some gasoline antifreeze and stow several cans in the trunk for emergency use while on the road. Be sure you have the proper tire pressure; every time the outside temperature drops 10 degrees F, the air Starting out on a winter trip with uncertain weather conditions looming? Whether it is a trip up to Brianhead for some skiing or going home for the holidays, be prepared. Plan a few days ahead and give yourself ample time to check out the cars vital operating systems. Here are some suggestions: Test the windshield wipers, the washer system and the wiper blades before getting started. Dried and cracked by hot summer days, those wiper blades may need replacing. Smeared, scratched and dirty windshields increase nighttime driving glare by scattering the light from the headlights of oncoming cars. Wash the car windows inside and out and buy some windshield wiper concentrate to fill the washer reservoir, installing the fluid in anticipation of winters worst. Starting, keeping going are winters biggest problems Wtafe? Is unquestlensbly the most difficult time for the average motor vehicle in the United States, and in Iron County, things arent that much better. American Automobile Association chaptersin snowbelt states say that more than half of the calls they receive for emergency road service occur in h the period from December through March. four-mont- Surveys by Champion Spark Plug Co. indicate that in a normal winter, one out of every four motorists will have at least one experience with a car that wont start. Some maintenance deficiencies can go unnoticed during most of the year, but cold weather or higher than average precipitation usually bring out the worst in a car, according to David L. Walker, director of automotive services for Champion. For example, as the temperature drops, so does the cranking power of the cars battery, he explained. At 80 degrees F., the battery has its peak starting power. But at the freezing point, the batterys starting power drops by 15 percent, just when the engine requires lVi times the normal power to get going. When the mercury plunges to zero, the starting power of the battery has been reduced by 35 percent at the same time that the engine needs 2V5 times the -- power that it did at normal temperatures. However, the battery most often is the victim, rather than the culprit, Walker said. It often gets ground down in futile starting attempts. Replacing or recharging it is, very often, a measure. stop-ga- p A weak battery usually is symptomatic of deeper ills with the root cause being in the ignition system. In Champions study of more than 5,000 vehicles nationwide last year, 22 percent of the cars that received new batteries continued to have starting trouble, while 35 percent of those that merely had batteries charged still experienced starting trouble. But only 17 percent of those had cars that had a tune-u- p additional starting trouble. We remain convinced that one of the main underlying causes of starting failure stems from motorists being misinformed and consequently neglecting to have their cars regularly maintained, he said. The only way to reduce the rate of starting failure is to make motorists more aware of the real source of their trouble an engine. In addition to fast or starts, a tune-u- p pays big dividends in reduced emissions and economical motoring, Walker d said, adding that a engine can save a gallon or more of every tankful of fuel. cold-weath- Aitd Affifiid'fitoifii &vllyti5ifii Dodgo Puts tho Exdtomont Dock Into Driving YOU DONT RUN EXPERIMENTSWITH MILLION-DOLLA- R A CHEAPLY MADE OIL FILTER. yr under-maintain- cold-weath- rainy-weath- er well-tune- Watch out for potholes its Highways in poor condition cost consumers untold millions in car damage and repair. If you think it bothers you to hit a pothole, imagine what it does to your car. By the time a jolt from a pothole reaches you, it has already tortured your cars vital components. When you think about the damage potholes can do to your pressure inside the tires diminishes about a pound per square inch. Make sure the tires are in good shape; differing tread designs, poor wheel alignment and badly worn tires will increase your chances of a skid. Be sure to check the headlights when you make lengthy stops, particularly if the trip is through rain, fog, or snow; lights left on without the charging system in operation will cause a battery to run down in a couple of hours. Since batteries have to work much harder in fall and winter months than at other times because of the extra demands of starting, a situation frequently remedied by installing new spark plugs, have the battery checked and replaced if it doesnt test out. Dont give it a chance to let you down when or where you need it the most. dear that regular car, checkups are vital to keeping your car safe and roadworthy. There are numerous things to look for when inspecting a car for pothole damage. Tires are the first member of your car to meet the pothole and they take quite a beating. (continued on page 10) Motorcraft EXCEEDS THE NEED What existing oil tiltar could bo aoloctsd for automobiles of such vaulabls technological stature? Incredibly, many mlllion-doll-ar exoerlmenta ara guarded by a MotorcraK FL--1 A filter right off the ah elf. Engineered to out perform all leading Alters, the 's unique six-sl- ot base accomodates oil How to nine rushes gallons per minute. And an excluse Alter design IncorporaAng a pleated filter element Is blended with tough fiber. A superior material not found In cheaply made oil filters. The result? Motorcraft FL-- 1 A lasts longer and traps mors abrasives than any other leading filter. So which would appear the better choice to protect your car? Tha Motorcraft flltsr proven In milllon-dolla- r experiments? Or one proven to trap less dirt for a shorter period of time? Motorcraft Quality parts for all makss of cars. Get It together buckle up. man-mad- e ABC AUTO PARTS 870 NORTH MAIN ST CEDAR City UTAH 84720 Alan Averett Bus Pm 801 i 586-9-48- |