Car Care Fall/Winter 09

A special section of the

Fall-Winter Car Care 2009

Wednesday, October 21, 2009 • 1

Necessary Equipment

An emergency situation on the road can arise at any time and you must be prepared. In addition to making sure you have the tune-up, a full tank of gas, and fresh anti-freeze, you should carry the following items in your trunk: • Properly inflated spare tire, wheel wrench and tripod-type jack • Shovel • Jumper cables • Tow and tire chains • Bag of salt or cat litter • Tool kit

Your Car

Prepare your car for winter. Start with a checkup that includes: • Checking the ignition, brakes, wiring, hoses and fan belts.

• Changing and adjusting the spark plugs.

• Checking the air, fuel and emission filters, and the PCV valve.

• Inspecting the distributor.

• Checking the battery.

• Checking the tires for air, sidewall wear and tread depth.

• Checking antifreeze levels and the freeze line.

Car Engines

A 1 offers the best auto parts at the lowest prices.

Cats and other small animals often curl up in car engines for warmth. If the engine is started, the animal can be severely injured or killed. Drivers should bang on the hood or honk the horn before starting their vehicles in the winter to make sure that there are no animals inside.

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Fall-Winter Car Care 2009

The best advice for driving drivin in bad winter weather h iis not to ddrive i at all, if you can avoid it.

Don’t go out until the snow plows and sanding trucks have had a chance to do their work, and allow yourself extra time to reach your destination.

If you must drive in snowy conditions, make sure your car is prepared and that you know how to handle road conditions.

It’s helpful to practice winter driving techniques in a snowy, open parking lot, so you’re familiar with how your car handles. Consult your owner’s manual for tips specific to your vehicle.

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Fall-Winter Car Care 2009

Wednesday, October 21, 2009 • 3

The most critical and often overlooked part of your vehicle is the cooling system. Without the proper protection, your coolant can freeze in the winter temperatures and destroy your en engine.

The coolant in your engine is a mixture of water and anti-freeze, which is supposed to low lower the freezing point of the coolant.

If the ratio of water to anti-freeze is wrong, the coolant mixture will freeze.

Since water is one of those goofy liquids that actually expands as is freezes, it can exert extreme forces on your engine and actually crack the engine block.

You can check your coolant’s freeze point with a simple tool called a BallType Tester. You suck up a little bit of coolant into the instrument and count the number of balls that float. Then using the legend on the tool, you can determine the freezing point.

There are also testing strips available, which you dip into the coolant similar to a pregnancy test to check the freezing point. If your coolant is more than 2 years old or you have over 30,000 miles it should be changed regardless of the freezing point.

The last thing to check on your engine is the fuel system.

A bottle of gas line anti-freeze should be run through the system before the first flake of snow falls. The gas line anti-freeze will absorb any residual moisture in the system and keep it from freezing your fuel lines.

Water can get into your fuel tank from a bad batch of gasoline at your favorite gas station or a faulty gas cap.

Your paint will also need some protection from all the salt and chemicals on the road. Make sure you wash your car well, and then apply a liberal coat of wax over the entire car. You can also wax your wheels if you have aluminum wheels, which will help to stop pitting and keep the wheels clean. The biggest mistake I see people make when washing a car is to not rinse their wash mitt or sponge, or rinsing it in the wash bucket. Make sure you rinse off the sponge or mitt outside the bucket with your hose. This will keep the dirt that you just wiped off the car from becoming sandpaper when you clean the rest of your car.

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Fall-Winter Car Care 2009

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Switch to a brand of antifreeze that contains propylene glycol instead of ethylene glycol.

Keep antifreeze sealed and away from animals; clean up spills completely, and fix any leaks immediately.

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Don’t allow your pets to wander unattended ded near driveways, roads, garages, or other places es where they could come into contact with antifreeze.

Keep other products that contain ethylenee glycol-like paint, cosmetics and novelty snow globess out of the reach of animals, as well as any product of which you are not certain of the ingredients.

Monitor your pet for strange behavior.

If you think they may have ingested antifreeze, take them to a veterinarian immediately.

Fall-Winter Car Care 2009

Mufflers T Tune-Up & Brakes Welding Auto Repair 9931 West Lube, Oil 88th Street & Filter ((On the corner of 8th & C St.)

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39 95

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Wednesday, October 21, 2009 • 5

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• Drain & fill anti-freeze • Rotate tires • Inspect belts & hoses • Brake inspection • Wiper blade inspection • Full safety inspection

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6 • Wednesday, October 21, 2009

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FRONT END FOUR WHEEL ALIGNMENT ALIGNMENT Includes full suspension inspection!

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TIRE SALE GOODYEAR Set Of 4 GOODYEAR Assurance Triple Tred Eagle RS-A Tires

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Fall-Winter Car Care 2009

1527 E. FRONT STREET PORT ANGELES Wednesday, October 21, 2009 • 7

THE BEST PRICE IN TOWN!

HUGE DISCOUNTS!!

CLIP HERE

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LUBE, OIL & FILTER CHANGE!

9.99

$ only

with FREE multi point inspection!

Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles, diesels are extra, includes up to five quarts of semi-synthetic oil, Motorcraft filter & chassis lube. One coupon per household.

Good Through 11/30/09.

Get your vehicle ready for winter...with Price Ford Lincoln Mercury

BRAKE SALE

39

$

95

• Drain & fill anti-freeze • Rotate tires • Inspect belts & hoses • Brake inspection • Wiper blade inspection • Full safety inspection

Factory Trained Technicians

6 • Wednesday, October 21, 2009

$

39

$ 95

FRONT END FOUR WHEEL ALIGNMENT ALIGNMENT Includes full suspension inspection!

READY FOR WINTER?

WINTERIZATION SPECIAL

29

$ 95

79

95

TIRE SALE GOODYEAR Set Of 4 GOODYEAR Assurance Triple Tred Eagle RS-A Tires

/axle

Includes replacing disc brake pads with Motorcraft pads. Rotor resurfacing extra if needed.

195/60R15

19900

$

Mount & Balance Extra.

Price after $20 mail-in rebate.

215/60R17

SAVE

$

29/Tire

Goodyear Assurance Retail: $170.05 discounted to $141.04 = $5 over invoice.

Get Ready for Winter!

89

$

84 month battery

ONLY

95

installed

HAS YOUR FACTORY WARRANTY EXPIRED?

MOTORCRAFT WIPER BLADES

36 month x 36,000 mile coverage starting at

9

$ 99 STARTING AT

Installed

MOTORCRAFT BATTERY REPLACEMENT

695

$

.

Call Joel for details at 360-457-3333 Coverage available for all makes and models

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Fall-Winter Car Care 2009

1527 E. FRONT STREET PORT ANGELES Wednesday, October 21, 2009 • 7

What is a transponder?

In 1995 car manufacturers began to introduce the transponder technology into vehicles. This technology allows a key to ‘speak’ to the computer in the vehicle.

In simple terms, the key is inserted into the ignition switch and the vehicle says ‘hey, are you the right key?’

The key then responds with ‘Yes, I am number xxxxx.’

The vehicle then checks its list of keys and says ‘okay, then you can start the car,’ or ‘sorry, but you aren’t in my database, you don’t

belong to this vehicle, so I am not turning over for you.’

In most vehicles made in the last few years, transponders have become the ‘norm.’ It is becoming less likely that you will purchase a vehicle that doesn’t have this technology.

What does this mean to you, the end user?

There are several implications, and they depend on the car manufacturer. For example, if you purchase a Ford vehicle and are given only one key then you either

360.683.7261 802 E. Washington, Sequim Monday - Friday 8 am - 6 pm Saturday 8 am - 5 pm

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end up going to the dealer nd for a second key or to a locksmith he who has the computer instrumentt m to program it. If you have two keys, then a knowledgeable locksmith can produce a third for you.

If you only have one key and you happen to lose it, then you have to either have your vehicle towed into a dealership to have a key programmed and cut for your vehicle, or you have to have a locksmith who has the technology come out to make you one.

The cost of the blank alone starts at $40 and depending on where it is made, you can run into additional programming costs. Make sure to get a complete quote and breakdown when calling around for pricing.

In certain vehicles, if you lose your key then the computer in the vehicle has to be replaced. This can run you anywhere from $2,000 on up.

There are other vehicles that use a rotating code system, so every time they are put into the vehicle the key number changes.

The computer records this change to allow for the use of the key the next time. Where you go to get additional keys made will depend upon the vehicle and the knowledge of the locksmith.

Remember, as a general rule, locksmiths are usually less expensive than going to the dealer.

Investigate your options to find out.

The current transponder key is the perfect blending of electronics and technology. The mechanical key was limited to the number of keys due to cuts and profiles.

Transponder technology has increased that number by millions of possibilities.

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Fall-Winter Car Care 2009

❤ As the coldest part of winter approaches, parents everywhere bring out their babies’ winter coats or snowsuits to keep baby warm during travel.

However, thick winter coats or snowsuits can compromise your child’s car seat safety.

In order for a baby car seat or toddler booster seat to function properly, the straps need to remain tight against the child’s chest.

Winter coats and snowsuits make car seat safety difficult because they change the way a child fits into the car seat.

When the car seat straps don’t fit the child properly, there is a chance the child could be ejected from the car seat.

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Fall-Winter Car Care 2009

Check All Winter Coats for Car Seat Safety

It’s easy to check and see whether a baby’s winter coat or infant snowsuit is too thick to be safe in a car seat.

This test will show you how thick the coat is and how much the coat will compress during a crash. ❤ Take the car seat into the house. ❤ Put the winter coat or snowsuit on the child. ❤ Put the child in the car seat and buckle the harnesses as you normally would before car travel. Adjust the straps to the appropriate fit for your child. ❤ Take the child out of the car seat without loosening the straps at all. ❤ Take the coat off your child. ❤ Put the child back in the car seat and buckle the harnesses again, but do not tighten the straps. ❤ If you can fit more than two fingers under the harness at the child’s shoulder bone, the coat is too thick and is not safe for use with the car seat.

Fall & Winter Car Care

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WINTER CONDITIONS CALL FOR DIFFERENT DRIVING TACTICS . . . . . . SLOWER SPEED, SLOWER ACCELERATION, SLOWER STEERING, AND SLOWER BRAKING 1 2

Give yourself extra time to reach your destination safely. Don’t put yourself and others in a dangerous situation just to save time.

Drive with your headlights on.

3

Drive for conditions. Don’t get overconfident with four-wheel drive. It won’t help you stop any faster.

4

Winter road conditions often result in longer stopping distances.

Drivers should allow additional room between their vehicles and others.

5

Slow down when approaching intersections, off-ramps, bridges or shady spots. These all have potential to develop black ice that makes driving hazardous.

6

Avoid abrupt actions while steering, braking or accelerating to lessen the chances of losing control of the vehicle.

7

Look farther ahead in traffic. Actions by other drivers will alert you to problems and give you extra time to react.

8 8

Trucks take longer to stop. Don’t cut in front of them.

Avoid using cruise control or overdrive. Don’t let your car make a bad decision for you.

10

Stopping on snow and ice without skidding requires extra time and distance. If you have anti-lock brakes, press the pedal down firmly and hold it. If you don’t have anti-lock brakes, gently pump the pedal. Either way, give yourself plenty of room to stop.

Check the tread depth and pr pressures before wintertime hits.

Th The pressure in your tires can drop as the temperatures plummet. If your tires are getting worn, I would suggest replacing them to get the best traction in the winter months. You may even want to consider getting an inexpensive set of steel wheels with dedicated snow tires for the winter months. All-Season tires do every season well, but none of them excellent. By running a set of winter tires, you will get the best winter traction possible and keep your car on the road where it belongs.

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10 • Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Fall-Winter Car Care 2009

Snowplows are usually spreading anti-icing materials from the back of the truck and may need to stop or take evasive action to avoid stranded vehicles. If you find yourself behind a snowplow, stay behind it or use caution when passing. The road behind a snowplow will be safer to drive on.

Don’t crowd the plow. Snowplows plow far and wide-sometimes very wide. The front plow extends several feet in front of the truck and may cross the centerline and shoulders during plowing operations.

Plows turn and exit the road frequently. Give them plenty of room. Stay back at least 15 car lengths (200 feet).

On multiple lane roads, watch for snowplows operating in either lane.

Snowplows can throw up a cloud of snow that can reduce your visibility to zero in less time than you can react. Drive smart. Never drive into a snow cloud - it could conceal a snowplow.

A snowplow operator’s field of vision is restricted. You may see them but they may not see you.

Olympic View Publishing Co. LLC P.O. Box 1750, Sequim, WA 98382 Phone: 360-683-3311 • FAX: 360-683-6670 e-mail: patc@sequimgazette.com “Fall/Winter Car Care 2009” is a special section of the Sequim Gazette.© 2009 by Olympic View Publishing Co. LLC. Publisher: Sue Ellen Riesau Advertising Manager: Steve Perry Circulation Manager: Bob Morris Special Sections Coordinator: Debi Lahmeyer Cover Design: Jay Cline

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Fall-Winter Car Care 2009

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Wednesday, October 21, 2009 • 11

What to Pack...

bars, also canned fruit and a portable can opener are good additions Jumper cables to restart engine Water: bring enough for each person in your car and Cat litter or sand for tire traction on snow and ice any pets Shovel to scrape snow away from tires AM/FM radio to listen to traffic reports and emergency Ice scraper to clear windshield messages Warm clothes, gloves, a hat, sturdy boots, warm jacket and even a change of Also consider...

Bring a cell phone if you have one with a list of clothes emergency numbers Blankets to keep warm inside the Fill your gas tank vehicle Baby formula and diapers Flashlights and extra batteries for increased if you have a small child visibility If you find yourself stranded, First-aid kit; also pack necessary medications be safe and stay in your car, put on in case you are stuck on the road your flashers, call for help and wait Food: pack items containing until it arrives protein such as nuts and energy

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12 • Wednesday, October 21, 2009

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Fall-Winter Car Care 2009