Gel car in condition before cold sets in SUPPLEMENT TO McHENRY PLAINDEALER - PAGE 7 -FRIDAY. OCTOBER 6,1978 Before the thermome ter dips below freezing levels, take advantage of the remaining warm weather to condition your car for the cold months ahead. The Au tomotive Information Coun cil offers the following tips: Starting with the exterior of the car, put the high- pressure nozzle on your garden hose and clean the* under parts of the car thoroughly. Pay special attention to the fender wells, the door sills and door bottoms where rust can get a head start. Make sure the under-door drain openings haven't be come clogged by the sum mer's mud or road tar. If clogged, moisture will build up inside the door panels and provide an environment for rust. Then give the car a good wax coating to protect the finish. If you spot any paint bub bles or brown blotches, sand the surface gently and repaint the affected areas. Rfid ownrr't manual Then read your owner's manual, especially the sec tions on seasonal mainte-. nance. Tire pressure, cooling system care and ignition sys- wvwwwwv/vwww* Watch out if working on battery In a world of precautionary labels, put this one on your "must read" list: stating, simply, DANGER . . . EXPLOSIVE GASES, the warning on your car's battery also says POISON . . C A U S E S S E V E R E BURNS Sound scary" Consider that the battery is a device which uses chemicals to pro duce electncal energy. In so doing, it creates an explosive mixture of hydrogen and oxygen The ill-fated dirigible Hin- denburg was filled with hy drogen A battery explosion can cause blindness, among other injuries, so the Car Care Council lists six don'ts to re member when you are work ing around the battery 1) Don't use a match or cigarette lighter to illuminate what you are doing 2) Don't lean over the bat tery when working on it 3) Don't connect the ground jumper cable to the run-down battery. Instead, hook it to the frame of the car, as far as possible from the battery. 4) Don't be careless when using tools around the bat tery You might accidentally make a direct connection from the hot terminal to a grounded part of the car, creating a very hot spark 5) Don't hook up your bat tery charger incorrectly. In stead. follow the directions on the charger and be sure to plug in the charger to 110 v. current after you've made ^your battery connections. The Council suggests the use of a couple of devices to minimize chance of injury. One is a good battery earner, properly attached, when it is necessary to move a battery. Spilled acid can cause severe burns to clothing and skin. The other is safety goggles, so that your eyes are pro tected from any possible fly ing acid or, worse, from fragments of an exploding batterv case. tem maintenance are most important for the upcoming months. Find an open road or a vacant parking lot and run the car at various speeds to evaluate performance of the steering, brakes, shock ab sorbers and front-end align ment. Listen for unusual noises such as pings, screeches, groans or rattles and look at the color of the exhaust smoke--it it burns blue or black you could have a prob lem. If in doubt, consult a mechanic. If serrice needed If service is needed, you should consider a service facility which bears the Na tional Institute for Automo tive Service Excellence (NIASE) or Certified Au tomotive Repairmen's Soci ety (CARS) sign because the mechanics participating have passed comprehensive tests. You might consider invest ing in road-service insurance and acquiring a gasoline company credit card to ease financial worries if you should happen to Save a mechanical failure on a trip. If you plan to drive Jong distances through the snow belt region, you might want to stock your trunk with safety supplies. These would include a flashlight, blankets, road flares, tire chains and long-handled shovel. A CB radio may be handy for monitoring road condi tions and calling for assis tance if needed, says the AIC. THINKING ABOUT TRADING IN THAT WELL WORN BUGGY? SEE McHenry Savings FOR W ANO LOAN ASSOCIATION^^ YOUR NEW CAR LOAN McHenry Savings is THE PLACE TO FINANCING. Go ahead and find then see us for your loan. You'll like our low rates and our budget payment plans Stop in today! GO FOR YOUR NEW CAR the new car you want... SPECIAL FOR McHenry Savings CAR LOANS. For a limited time, you'll fet a handy High way Emergency Kit with your loan. Carrying case includes booster cables, ti re inftator, flashlight, etc. North $17.50. While they last!! McHenry Savings V A N D l O A N A S S O C I A T I O N 1209 North Groon Street, McHenry 815/385-3000 10520 Main Street. Richmond 815/678-2061 10402 North Vine Street (Huntley Center on Route 47). Huntley 312/669-3333 SAVERS HOURS 9 00am to 4 30pm Monday Tuesday and Thursday 9 00am to 8 00pm Friday 9 00am to 3 00 p m Saturday McHenry Office Drtve in Window open Wednesday 9 00am to 2 00 p m Closed Wednesday in Richmond and Huntley fcUeMjJiopk tfopie f Deposits insured to S40 000 by the Federal Savings t loan Insurance Corp McHENEY S A V I N G S renc