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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 1996 THE GEORGETOWN GEMINI 19 e Your CAR CARE GUIDE © YOUR CAR CARE GUIDE ® Bouncy ride? Check your suspension If you notice your tire tread "cupping" (which can cause athumping noise) and the car is handling poorly, possibly giving you a bouncy ride, you may be ready for MacPherson struts, advises the Car Care Council of the Automotive Industries Asso- ciation of Canada. The MacPherson strut is not the traditional dance of a Scottish clan; it's part of the suspension system found on most of today's smaller cars with front wheel drive. Featuring a more compact design, the strut combines, in a single unit, the shock ab- sorber, the upper control arm of the suspension and, in some cases, the chassis spring. An alternative design to the conventional shock ab- sorber, the strut generally has a somewhat longer life ex- pectancy. Service or replace- ment, however, is a more expensive procedure. This is because the strut itself is a major component of the sus- pension system. According to the Car Care Council, the best way to determing whether or not Do you hear a'chirping or screeching sound when you turn on your car heater? This noise, most prevalent in cold weather, usu- ally comes from a worn bearing in the fan motor. It's an indication of pending failure. This is just one of the many parts we take for granted until, usually too late, we dis- cover they were calling for attention. That's when the cold ride to work becomes misery. Most of this discomfort-and inconven- ience can be avoided by being more aware of pending failure of a heating system com- ponent, says Car Care Canada of the Auto- motive Industries Association of Canada. In addition to the fan or blower motor, other components of the system which may give warning signals of failure are: * The heater control valve, which may become sticky or inoperative You're likely tonotice stiffness in the panel control lever. * The heater core, a miniature radiator which, like its bigger brother at the front of se TRUCK BED COVERS Aluminum Frame Tonneau Covers 'Keeping car cosy in the cold WRAA DT AUTO APPAREL Custom made marine tops & interiors e Vinyl & canvas repairs e Complete auto & aero interiors Graphics Available. for the engine, eventually may seep or leak. Your first tip-off will be an accumulation of moisture inside the car, where even defrost- ers won't help. + Heater and defroster hoses carry fresh air into the system and warmed air to loca- tions beyond the heater core. When they're leaking, you' II lose heating/defrosting effi- ciency. + Heater hoses are the smaller hoses in the cooling system that direct the hot cool- ant from the engine to the heater core. A leaking heater hose goes beyond simple discomfort and can ultimately leave you stranded on the side of the road. Because of the safety aspects of driving comfort and clear vision, the heating/de- frost system is a vitally important part of the vehicle and should be taken seriously when failure is indicated. Be alert to early warn- ing signs such as inefficient heating or defrosting, unusual noises or smells. J FIK Tonneau Covers ZW Fiberglass Hardtop Covers : Rabies Sas MILTON IMPACT AE INTERIORS SUPPLIER OF YOUR AIRCRAFT. UPHOLSTERY NEEDS ALL MATERIALS FAR 25-853(B) APPROVED Paul Phelan (519) 853-3034 fox A Fos your car's struts or shock absorbers still are serviceable is to have the vehicle in- spected on a hoist by a pro- fessional mechanic. A visual examination of the parts, along with a test of their me- chanical integrity, will help determine the need for re- placement. -- Because these parts do wear out gradually, it some- times is difficult to realize they may have deteriorated. However, when driving or stopping on a "washboard" surface or when negotiating a tight tun ona rough road, worn shocks or struts soon will become apparent. The situation becomes dangerous when the wheels begin bouncing off the ground and the driver loses control of the car. The Car Care Council ad- vises that shock absorbers and struts be replaced in pairs. If the car originally was equipped with the new gas- filled shocks, be sure to re- place them with units of the same type. HALTON HILLS gepy Auto REcYcLers Keep Halton Clean of Scrap Autos Free pick-up Fair prices paid on the spot! Call us! (519) 853-3448 (905) 873-5226 Mobile ~ Halton Hills Tire Centre 68 Main St. N. Moore Park Plaza, Georgetown 877-5100-9 All tires SERVICE SPECIALS 35% off "We're not just TIRES" List Price Allignments $39.95 TUNE-UPS (most cars and light trucks) 4 cyl. $64.95 Oil Change $18.95 6 cyl. $74.95 10W30 Oil . = ee We also do Rads, Exhaust & : ee Transmissions ca Sai] The Body Shop Complete Auto Body Repairs Insurance claims ALL MAKES Fiberglass Repairs Painting: Metal Repairs Body Work Floyd Nelson - 20 Years in Georgetown (999) 873-8102 22 Side Rd. Georgetown FAX (905) 873-4838