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w w w . o a kv ill eb ea ve r.c o m O A KV IL LE B EA V ER W e dn es da y, O ct ob er 2 0, 2 01 0 2 6 Car care checklist to prepare for upcoming winter driving Metroland Media Carguide Magazine Motorists can use a simple checklist to determine their car's fall and winter maintenance needs. Most of the items on the check- list can be inspected by car owners in less than an hour, but several others should be performed by a certified technician. Winter Car Care Checklist Battery and Charging System Have the battery and charging system tested by a trained techni- cian. A fully charged battery in good condition is required to start an engine in cold weather. Battery Cables and Terminals Check the condition of the bat- tery cables and terminals. Make sure all connections are secure and remove any corrosion from the ter- minals and posts. Drive Belts Inspect belts for cracks or fraying. Don't just look at the smooth top surface of the belt, but turn it over and check the grooved underside where most belt wear occurs. Engine Hoses Visually inspect the cooling system hoses for leaks, cracks or loose clamps. Also, squeeze the hoses to check for any that may be brittle or exces- sively spongy feeling and in need of replacement. Tire Type and Tread In areas with heavy winter weather, chang- ing to snow tires on all four wheels will provide the best winter trac- tion. All-season tires will work well in light to moderate snow condi- tions, providing they have adequate tread depth. If any tire has less than 3/32-inches of tread, it should be replaced. Uneven wear on the tires can indicate alignment, suspension or wheel balance problems that should be addressed to prevent fur- ther damage to the tires. Tire Pressure Check tire pressure more frequently during winter months. As the temperature drops, so will the pressures in the tires typically 1 PSI for every 10 degrees Fahrenheit. The proper tire pressure levels can be found on a sticker located on the driver's side doorjamb. And, don't forget to check the spare. Air Filter Check the engine's air filter by holding it up to a 60- watt light bulb. If light can be seen through much of the filter, it is still clean enough to work effectively. However, if the light is blocked by most of the filter, replace it. Coolant Levels Check the coolant level when the engine is cold. If the coolant level is low, add a 50/50 solution of coolant and water to maintain the necessary antifreeze capability. The level of antifreeze protection can be checked with an inexpensive tester available at any auto parts store. Lights Check the operation of all headlights, taillights, emer- gency flashers, turn signals, brake lights and back-up lights. Replace any burnt out bulbs. Wiper Blades Blades should completely clear the glass with each swipe. Replace blades that leave streaks or miss spots. In areas with snowy conditions, consider installing winter wiper blades that wrap the blade in a rubber boot to prevent ice and snow buildup that can prevent good contact between the rubber blade and the glass. Washer Fluid Fill the wind- shield washer fluid reservoir with a cleaning solution that has antifreeze components for cold weather use. Brakes Have brakes inspect- ed by a certified technician to ensure all components are in good working order. Transmission, Brake and Power Steering Fluids Check all fluids to ensure they are at or above the minimum safe levels. National smarter-car research network established at McMaster University Metroland Media Carguide Magazine Tony Clement, Minister of Industry, at McMaster Innovation Park, has announced the Network on Engineering Complex Software Intensive Systems for Automotive Systems. NECSIS is a $16.6-million national research network created to tackle the techno- logical challenges related to the growing com- plexity of automotive software systems. Under this new university-industry R&D collaboration, General Motors of Canada Ltd and IBM Canada are mobilizing leading soft- ware engineers at seven Canadian universities. As a leading supporter of collaborative research in Canada, we have helped build a strong automotive innovation network, said Kevin Williams, president and managing director of GM of Canada. NECSIS is a key ini- tiative as we re-think the automobile and deploy innovative approaches to develop tomorrows technologies. Backed by a five-year $10.5 million grant from Automotive Partnership Canada, of which the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada is the lead agency, research by NECSIS will focus on the advance- ment of an emerging methodology called model driven engineering (MDE). MDE reduces the complexity of developing software by focusing on models and their rela- tionships, reflected in the designs, code and documents that developers work with, enabling them to test and verify models even before the code exists. D n n r ay www.oak-land.com 570 TRAFALGAR RD., OAKVILLE AT THE QEW 905.844.3273 Oak-land Ford LincolnF ly wne & p r te r 40 e rs! Used automatic, air conditioning, power windows & locks, remote keyless entry, cd player, alloy wheels, sunroof, 48,025 kms, Stk # A1801 2007 MAZDA 5 GT Used, Microsoft SYNC, Auto, a/c, leather, sunroof, running boards, power windows & locks, remote keyless entry, cruise, CD. Former rental, 25,831 kms, Stk # A1785 2010 FORD F-150 LARIAT SUPERCREW 4 X 4 Used, Convertible V8, 5 spd, leather, cruise, MIcrosoft SYNC, power windows & locks, remote keyless entry. 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