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It's Car Check time again. Not that there should be any one time that is best for checking the mechanical safety and road worthiness of your automobile, but Spring is traditionally a time for catch- ing up on many jobs that are easy to postpone during Winter months. A time for general housecleaning. Most vehicles have just suffered through a period of heavy Winter driving with seldom more than the most urgent maintenance proced- ures to help them along or keep them in reasonable mechanical condition. But Summer driving now lies immediately ahead. It is just good common sense to pause ' -g enough to have your car ,_,roughly checked over by a qualified mechanic so that good preventive maintenance can be applied. It is the best kind. It is the cheapest; it is more convenient because you choose the time and place and it is not coupled with accident cost and regrets that neglect- ed maintenance can cause. There is no satisfactory substitute for following good safety practices and princi- ples in the maintenance or driving of motor vehicles. An accident caused by neglect is a poor and costly frrm of reminder. It is too late then, so resolve to have your vehicle checked now during the 1977 Canada Safety Council's Car Check Campaign. Encourage others to do the same. You will feel better, you will have made a real contribution to safety and you will have saved money. Make an appointment today. Have your car checked and resolve to drive safely so that the pleasures of Summer will not be marred by traffic mishaps. 1977 Car Check Campaign In mounting its annual "Car Check" campaign for 1977, the Canada Safety Council draws attention to a problem all too often overlooked: exhaust fumes. One example, used graph- ically, is the drive-in theatre, where cool weather can tempt occupants to run the vehicle's engine for a while to warm up. Young people, often with limited funds to maintain a vehicle adequately, are also the ones who most often frequent drive-in theatres. Carbon monoxide, entering the vehicle from a leaky exhaust, is neither seen nor smelt, and it is tasteless. Carbon monoxide is particu- larly dangerous because its presence may not be suspect- ed until it is too late. Leaky mufflers and tail pipes might be one common cause-but at least a driver is noisily made aware of a problem in this regard. Fewer drivers suspect that exhaust gas can be drawn into a vehicle through rust holes in he floor and body, or the , or holes in the firewall. ý¶Yrivers of older cars espec- ially should know the symp- toms of carbon monoxide poisoning: slight headache and shortage of breath on moderate exertion if there are low concentrations of the gas. Higher concentrations cause severe headache, mental confusion and dizziness, im- pairment of vision and hear- ing and collapse or fainting on exertion. The Canada Safety Council says prevention is best, keep the exhaust system in good condition, and all holes re- paired. Do not idle for long periods. John Jones and Mary Brown are the fictitious names assigned to two people who died in a car accident. They were bit by a drunk driver. They did not hit a tree-or anything else. They were not exceeding the speed limit-in fact, they were not even moving. It happened at the other end of the country, but it might have happened here. They were sitting in the car, admiring the view...and each other...with the engine run- ing. Both succumbed to a leaky exhaust spewing déadly carbon monoxide fumes into their auto. "What you can't see can hurt you" reminds the Canada Safety Council as part of its annual Car Check campaign. An exhaust system is some- thing few can see, and becomes a good example. The Couneil makes some constructive suggestions about what to watch for in respect of exhausts. A loud exhaust indicates a hole in the muffier. If it hisses, the tail pipe may be bent or clogged, while a rattle would indicate either a loose pipe or muffler, or leaking tail pipe. If part of the system is bent or clogged the result can be an overheating engine, or one lacking power. Fumes under the vehicle indicate a leak, and vibration is likely due to a pipe touching the frame or body. Any of these should be fixed, quick. Motorists with vehicles that need repairs and honest ser- vice station operators have something in common. They need to find each other. One of the reasons why an annual "Car Check" cam- paign is necessary is the fact that every driver has heard of someone being "taken" by a fast-buck operator with a repair shop. So, needed re- pairs become neglected. So, how does one find an honest repair shop? Lt is not an exhaustive list, but the Canada Safety Council does offer some advice: Ask friends and work col- leagues for satisfactory exper- iences. For major repairs espec- ially, remember that~a dealers service garage is under con- tract to "go by the book", has parts available, and knows the vehicle well. If that is not possible, or not desired, get to know one mechanic who has done satis- factory work, and try to stay with him. He gets to know your vehicle, and what bas been done to it. There could be several causes for some faults. Don't expect even a good mechanic to be perfect in finding them ail first try. Never rush any mechanic to finish the job in a panic for some important event. This only increases the risk that it bas not been properly com- pleted or tested. What you can't see can hurt you" says the Canada Safety Council, and points to one example: exhaust systems. Mufflers and pipes are ail tucked away under the vehicle, and are difficult to inspect properly without a hoist. Yet, although you can't see it, it can leak deadly carbon monoxide fumes that can kili. It's Car Check TIme Again Traditional Spring Tune-up and A Time for Car Cleaning There are other parts of a vehicle that can 'hurt' in other ways. The average driver doesn't know much about a steering system, or where to seek potential faults, neither do many know much about braking systems. Either of these can have hidden faults that can lead to an accident. In Canada, about 50,000 accidents a year, several hundred deaths and thousands of injuries result from mech- anical failures. Drivers can easily inspect things like wiper blades, lights, horn, and oil levels. Steering, brakes and similar more complex and more hidden features require an expert. Most drivers cover more miles, and drive at higher speeds in Summer than in Winter. Consequently, it is especially important to ensure a vehicle is properly main- tained before it gets this increased usage. DRINKING & DRIVING DON'T MIX Safe driving is a family affair. COUNTY CH RYSLER DODGE BOW M A N V I L L E Hwy. No. 2 at Maple Grove 623-258 8 cyl. Only 25 Car Care Supplement of The Canadian Statesman, April 12, 1978 *New and Used Parts for all makes of cars and trucks. ÷r g e Complete radiator 'S sales and service. Dom's Auto Parts Limited Highway 401 - Between Bowmanville and Oshawa Telephone: Oshawa 723-1121-2 Toronto 962-2451 Front End Alignment OAI% Mnor Tune-upPecia 6 cyI Only -Plus Parts- I -Plus Parts - $9.00 extra for Air Conditioning Four licensed mechanics to serve you better. Gary Stevens, Service Manager We're open Monday to Friday 8: a.n. until 5:00 p.m. - SPECIAL PRICES IN EFFECT UNTIL JUNE 1, 1978 - 6 $19695