«Don’t ignore

Auto Corner

With the cost of gasoline taking
a bigger bite out of the family
budget than it did last summer,
prior to the Middle East crisis,
many motousts have a ready-made
excuse for ignoring routine vehicle
maintenance and service. But

TheReview

Ask friends and business associ-
ates for their recommendations.
Call your local consumer organi-
zation and inquire as to the reputa-

tion of the place of business in
question.

that’s a bad choice.

According to officials with the
National Institute for Automotive
Service Excellence (ASE), a non-
profit group which tests and certi-
fies the competence of automotive
technicians, failure to perform rou-
tine maintenance and service as
prescribed by the owner’s manual
can greatly reduce the life of your
vehicle.

Avoid breakdowns

Not only may preventive main-
tenance slow or reverse the dam-
age done by winter driving, it can
prevent annoying breakdowns in
the dog days of summer.

The following tips have been
prepared by the National Institute
for Automotive Service Excel-
lence.

e Begin with the basics.
Whether you are an experienced
do-it-yourselfer or rely upon pro-
fessional auto technicians, study
your Owner's manual and follow
all of the recommended service
intervals.

e Don’t ignore early warnings.
You probably drive it every day.
and know how it feels and sounds
when everything is in top working
order. Among the signs to be aware
of: unusual sounds, odors, drips,
warning lights, smoke, etc.; chang-
es in acceleration, engine perform-
ance, gas mileage, fluid levels;
wom tires, belts, hoses; and prob-
lems with handling, braking, or
steering.

e Find a good shop. Unless you
plan to do all of the work yourself
— few people do in this high-tech
age — you will need to find a good
repair shop.

Zz HU =
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Designed for the customer

Professionally run establish-
ments are usually neat and well
organized, with up-to-date equip-
ment and polite service personnel
willing to take the time to discuss
your repairs.

The customer waiting area is
often used to showcase community
and customer service awards as
well as the professional affiliations
of the shop and individual
mechanics. All shop policies

should be posted or someone -

should be willing to explain them.

¢ Find a good technician. Com-
petent technicians are the back-
bone of any repair establishment.
Good technicians often build up a
very loyal following. They have
established reputations, especially
in smaller towns.

Professional training

In addition to word-of-mouth
reputation, technicians can often
be judged by their professional
training and certifications.

Check out the customer service
area for trade school and/or com-
munity college diplomas, certifi-
cates of advanced course work and
professional certification.

Certification has become
increasingly popular among con-
sumers since it offers a standard-
ized benchmark of technical com-
petence.

e Get ready early for summer
driving. Check all major systems
and components before hot
weather sets in. Summer’s heat,
dust, and stop-and-go traffic can
cause marginally operating sys-
tems such as a weak air condition-
er to fail. Among ASE’s summer

Ferry added to Gulf Islands route

A refurbished Norwegian ferry
will be added to the Swartz Bay/
Gulf Islands route in 1991.

As well, former transportation
and highways minister Rita John-
ston announced the summer
schedule for the Tsawwassen/
Swartz Bay route will offer 20
round trips a day.

“B.C. Ferries has increased their
service options this year with ...
the addition of the M.V. ‘Queen of
Chilliwack,’ the ship which the
Corporation purchased from Nor-
way in 1990 and is refurbishing

Car scratched

An estimated $500 damage was

@ ‘one toa 1989 Volvo parked in the

parking lot of the Slegg Lumber
store on Malaview Avenue in Sid-
ney about 1:30 p.m. April 2,
Sidney RCMP said.

Police said a sharp object was
apparently dragged along the
length of the vehicle, causing a
deep scratch.

within the province this spring,”
she said in a news release.

The availability of vessels in
many of the Gulf Islands routes,
including the addition of the
Queen of Chilliwack, should
improve service, Johnston said.

She also announced sailings
from Swartz Bay to Tsawwassen
over the summer period (June 28
to Sept. 3) will be from 5:30 a.m.
to 10 p.m. Going the other way,
sailings are from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

“Tn all, the summer schedule for
the Tsawwassen/Swartz Bay route
will offer 20 round trips a day to
meet the needs of business, resi-
dential and visitor travel during the
busy summer months,”’ Johnston
said.

Wednesday, April 10,1991 — AI7

routine car maintenance

RAYS LOCK... CAR CARE!

pesesesessessssnsessssse=29

SAVE ‘20%

BUFE N SHINE

ups:

The cooling system should be
completely flushed and refilled
about every 24 months to prevent
overheating. The tightness and
condition of belts and hoses
should be inspected.

The engine oil and filter should
be replaced according to the man-
ufacturer’s recommendations,
more often if you do lots of
stop-and-go driving or haul cargo.

Other fluids and filters should
be replaced as recommended.

Hard starts, rough idling, poor
acceleration should be corrected.
You will save gasoline and get
better engine performance with a
well maintained engine.

Summer’s heat is tough on tires,
so replace badly worn treads now.
Rotate tires about every 5,000
miles. Keep them properly inflat- —
ed. Examine the tires for cuts,
nicks, and uneven wear.

Brakes should be inspected as
recommended in the owner’s man-
ual, or sooner if you notice pulsa-
tions, grabbing, or noises.

Batteries and cables should be
cleaned, even in the summertime.

Make sure the windshield wip-
ers are working properly and
washer fluid is topped up just in
case muddy water is sprayed on
your windshield in transit.

With Counon $40.00
Most Vehicles

i

+ GST
‘Offer Expires Apr. 31st/91

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#6-10019 Galaran Rd.

NE _ 655-3535

— Woops
AUTOMATICS

COURTESY CAR AVAILABLE - EMERGENCY TOWING SERVICE

TRANSMISSIONS
ARE OUR BUSINESS
NOT A SIDELINE

TRANSMISSION SPECIALISTS
“IF YOU WANT IT DONE RIGHT”

652-2132

Mon.-Fri. 8 am-5 pm ‘=s'ss@feq 832 VERDIER, BRENTWOOD BAY
Saturdays 8 am - 12 noon

(¥% Block From The Mill Bay Ferry Dock)

WHY GO DOWNTOWN? LET OUR EXPERTS
REPAIR YOUR VEHICLE RIGHT HERE IN SIDNEY

SERVING THE PENINSULA FOR OVER 5 YEARS

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101-2031 MALAVIEW (across from Slegg Lumber)
FREE PARTSFINDER sf
SERVICE TO 75 eafing
st USED AUTO & TRUCK PARTS
Ue w Me] 652-9195 &
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MON-FRI 8:00-5:00 OPEN SATURDAY 3:30-3:00

659-3230
OTHER YARDS.
6791 OLDFIELD RD.
*sEVERYONE’S VEHICLE RUNS ON USED PARTS **

— TIRES — HEAD LIGHTS
— WHEELS — GLASS

— BATTERIES — TAIL LIGHTS

— BUCKET SEATS  =— FUEL TANKS

— ENGINES =

— TRANSMISSIONS —_ See
— BRAKE PARTS — CARBURETORS
— DIFFERENTIALS 9 eanios

— BODY PARTS

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