The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Wednesday, June 7, 2000 THE OAKVILLE BEAVER D7 Little problems only get bigger (Continued from page D8) Before you leave on your trip, have the fol lowing systems checked and serviced as need ed: Cooling system Engine system, including an oil and filter change Engine and Electrical system Undercar, including brake and exhaust systems, tires, suspension and wheel alignment Transmission, verify fluid levels, etc. Lights Windshield wipers And don't forget the interior and exterior appearance of your vehicle - family travel can be hard on a vehicle. For example, a minor upholstery tear can turn into a gaping hole dur ing a family vacation. A hole in the carpet at the accelerator pedal can become a safety hazard if it catches your heal in an emergency. A drag ging mud guard can turn into a dangerous pro jectile for the car behind you. Consider repair ing these minor problems before you leave so that they don't become major problems on the trip. But when it comes to going below the surface and keeping the actual engine from harm, the key, says one mechanic, is to accept the reality that cars need regular maintenance, and that they will die sooner without it. Sid M inuk, who owns a repair shop, says a lot of people turn a blind eye to warning signs because they believe that since cars are more effi cient than they used to be they don't need regular maintenance. But they're wrong - little things only get bigger. "A lot of it is wear and tear," Minuk says. "I see cars in here that need so much work they're not even worth fix ing, because the owner ju st drove it and drove it and drove it until it quit." Minuk says climate is one of a car's m ost hostile enem ies. "W eather wreaks a lot of havoc," he says. People in warmer climates tend to need air conditioning or cooling system repairs more often, for example, whereas in colder regions, extreme weather can knock out the heating system, leaving parts o f the engine susceptible to the cold. In fact, many people don't realize that poor interior heat is often an early warning sign of trouble; it doesn't just ' mean your fingers and toes are cold. Interior heat is drawn off the engine. If there's no heat, som ething in the engine isn't working - like the cooling system, for example - which can lead to very expensive repairs as the break down starts a chain reaction that dam ages other parts o f the engine. "A lot o f people hear noises and think, 'Ah, it'll go away,"' M inuk says. But it won't, he stresses. If you do pull your head out o f the sand long enough to actually take the car in for maintenance, don't underes timate the importance of using a good shop. "It's the bargain hunters who get taken to the cleaner's," M inuk says. "You get what you pay for." He warns against getting repairs done outside an established shop or by someone who's not licensed. "Everybody's got a friend o f a friend who works on cars," he says. "Would you go to a dentist that's not licensed?" He points out that it's not necessar ily mandatory to have a licence to open a repair shop; but if you needed to bring a lawsuit against the shop, they may have no liability insurance. So if they make a mistake on your car that causes an accident and injures you, he says, the owner could simply declare bankruptcy and close the shop instead of facing the courts. Or if it's a friend who has done the repairs, law suit or not, you can guarantee the friendship will be over, he says. W hat's more, even your own insurance may not cover you if the repairs were done by an unlicensed person. "A little knowledge is a dangerous thing," M inuk says. "You have no business doing brakes in your back yard. "If something happens and there's an investigation, you're liable." -- WBC News Services No other passenger car in the world has power adjustable pedals. Performance Features: · 16" Alu m in um 5-Spoke Wheels · Im proved Steering and Handling · Increased Torque and Horsepower Com fort Features: · Power Driver's Seat · Heated Mirrors · Light Group · 5-Passenger Seating w ith Floor Shift Peace-of-Mind Features: · Power Adjustable Pedals · Advanced Restraint System · Child Friendly Trunk Release System · Dual-Stage 'Smart' Air Bags · SecuriLockTM Anti-Theft · Anti-Lock Brakes WE HAVE THE RIGHT LEASE PAYMENT FOR YOU Based on 1.9% annual interest rate over 36 m onths I I AM IA U K U S S O K I IN A N t t W l III IAIJKUS SF MONTH VI.MS to w n Peywvnt Wu» H W Height end U M lecuhty aeeetn Monthly Down Payment or Security Due on Payment Equivalent Trade Deposit Freight Signing *3,895 *289 *350 *890 *5,424 *343 *1.995 *890 *3.628 *400 *400 *0 *475 *890 *1,765 36 MONTH LEASE First Month's Payment Required. $0.08/km charge over 60,000 km for 36 months. $11,283.30 Optional Buyback. Applicable Taxes, Licence, Insurance and Administration Fees Extra. 48 MONTH PURCHASE FINANCING 2.9 /\ A EXTENDED UNTIL H u y o r I Bdtt* .toy 7000 Ta urus a n d la k e d e l i v e r y b e t w e e n n o w a n d Jun e totli. 2000 a n d i f t r i v c a n H p ie c e set o f M i/ u n o I / O ld S u r e " " Iron s a n d cjolf batj at N O I X l l t A ( I I A I U .I tt M i/ u n o . Ihc* H1 iro n s o n the l*C«A lour. \ / % / \ / \ /-V / /S A A Taurus has earned five stars - the highest possible U.S. government crash test rating for front impact - for both driver and front passenger - two years in a row.** ~ 'I ' ii : www. verysm artca r.co m YOHU TO R O N TO K l l t l ) I I I A1 l i l t S . WISE BUYERS READ THE LEGAL COPY: *Lease an in-stock new 2000 Taurus SE Sedan from Ford Credit to qualified retail lessees, on approved credit. Total lease obligation is $14,299/$14,343/$14,440. **2.9% purchase financing available on new 2000 Taurus for a maximum o f 48 months on approved credit. E.G. $25,000 financed at 2.9% annual percentage rate for 48 months, monthly payment is $552.20, cost o f borrowing is $1,505.60, and total to be repaid is $26,505.60. Offers do not apply to licence and insurance fees. Dealer may sell or lease for less. Some conditions apply. Offers may change without notice. Limited time offers. Offers are mutually exclusive. Offers cannot be combined w ith any other offers. See dealers for details. n Golf dub and bag offer only available on in-stock new 2000 Taurus that are retail delivered to and received by the purchaser/lessor on or before June 30, 2000. Fleet deliveries are not eligible. No rainchecks. Offer available at participating dealers only. We reserve the right to substitute golf irons and bag for merchandise of equivalent value. **The highest frontal impact rating for both the driver and fro n t passenger in U.S. government National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (www.nhtsa.com) testing. *Based on Compusearch CYTD December 1999 new passenger registrations - upper middle segment. Toronto FDA, P.O. Box 2000, Oakville, Ontario L6J 5E4 Enter out Draw lot 2 possible aribbean Cruise lot 2" trips. Proceeds to the Blacklock High School Japenese exchange program inrysier unveils tne all new zuu l r l U xUIj l I n Bring your family and friends to see this extremely cool vehicle! C h a r ily u t J * * lis B ftr , . il n 9U n Im l r .A N e x c h o "9 e ,rF program Q ,u Cruiser .o D o o t, www .lockw podchrysler.com