Dillon Tribune (Dillon, Mont.) 1989-current, November 03, 2004, Image 24

D illon T ribine - Wednesday, November 3, 2004 - Page C-1 S m c M s s c H i i i Brought to you by The Dillon Tribune and these fine businesses! * 1 BUN£ Tips for winterizing your car It’s that time of year again. Temperatures and wind chills that can take your breath away. Snow and ice that make stepping out­ side a dangerous proposition. You know all too well how winter affects you. It is important to take a moment to think about how it affects your car as well. After all, you don't want to be stranded in those sub-zero temperatures. If you live where it snows, you know the damage that snow, ice, loose gravel and salt can do to your car. Minor scratches and nicks turn to rust, your heater gets a workout it may not be pre­ pared for, and your windshield must deal with the temperature stress of a warm interior and a freezing exterior. Here are some maintenance tips for winterizing your car: Windshield Safety Thermal shock is the term en­ gineers use to describe the stress caused by drastic differences in outdoor and indoor temperatures. If you have a small ding in your windshield, thermal shock can cause your minor ding to turn into a major crack. * Repairing a small ding costs as little as $50 to $60. Replacing a cracked windshield can cost hundreds of dollars; on some cars, the cost may be even higher. Once a ding or star (star­ shaped with points spreading out) expands, windshield replacement is often the only option. If the damage is reported quickly, the odds are much im­ proved that a windshield repair company can save the wind­ shield\ “It is important to per­ form the repair before dirt infil­ trates into the break. If you can't get into a repair shop immedi­ ately, call to see if you can get a temporary break patch. These patches cover the break until it can be repaired and do not ob­ scure your vision.” To attain optimum consumer safety, it is recommended repair­ ing a windshield whenever pos­ sible, instead of replacing it. Re­ pair not only saves the windshield it preserves the factory’s seal of windshield to auto body. Since passenger side air bags deploy off the windshield, preserving the factory installation is an impor­ tant safety consideration. Keep­ ing the factory’s original adhe­ sive set also helps avoid air and water leaks.” Fluids As any mechanic will tell you, checking fluids is the least ex­ pensive and easiest preventive maintenance you can do. Change your oil frequently (consult your owner’s manual for recom­ mended frequency), and don't forget to change your engine coolant (diluted with 50 percent water) and transmission fluid, about every two years. Pure en­ gine coolants can freeze at zero degrees, but mixing with water prevents freezing and provides great protection for the cold weather. Though fluids like oil and transmission are commonly checked, other fluids integral to your vehicle's performance, may go unnoticed. Power steering, brake, radiator and battery fluids also should be filled to recom­ mended levels. Don't forget to top off wind­ shield washer fluid. If you've ever driven after salt trucks have come through to melt snow and ice, you know the importance of wind­ shield washer fluid. Do not dilute washer fluid with water since it can freeze during winter's harsh temperatures. While you're at it, you might want to change the wiper blades to prevent poor vi­ sion in already poor driving con­ ditions. Batteries and Corroded Cables Winter mornings can wreak havoc on an older battery. The average life of a battery is 3 1/2 years. If your battery is older than that, it's probably time to replace. Have a mechanic check the bat­ tery and cables to ensure your car starts quickly and reliably. Anything Made of Rubber Worn, bald or badly aligned or balanced tires can mean acci­ dents on ice, rain or snow. Have your tires checked for proper in­ flation and alignment, and rotate them about every 6,000 miles. If you live in unusually snowy ar­ eas, you may want to consider snow tires for added traction, or keep chains in your trunk or ga­ rage to help you through heavy snowfall. Rubber parts under your hood need maintenance, too. Radia­ tor, heater and vacuum hoses, among others, should be checked for cracks and bulges. WINDANCER CA R W A S H Now Locally Owned! • Heated Floors for Winter • New Unlimited Hot Water System • Turbo Nozzle Sprays for Deep Cleaning • Scented Soaps • New Pumps • New American Change Machines • New Bright Halon Lighting for Bay Interiors • New Soaps remove Magnesium & Calcium • 2 Bays have Customer Operated Roll-Up * Discounts Available for Fleet Accounts Doors for Full Enclosure On Montana St., Next to Quality Supply Also, inspect all belts for dam­ ages and splits. Rust, Minor Scratches and Nicks Road salt can turn a slight scratch or nick to an ugly rust spot that's impossible to avoid. And it can spread. Avoid costly body work by restoring spots be­ fore they turn into larger prob­ lems. Boots Front-wheel drive vehicles equipped with CV (constant ve­ locity) joints should have the boots checked for rips and cracks. Boots protect CV joints, but when the joints are exposed to salt, ice and snow, they can damage the joint. Replacing a joint can costs hundreds of dol­ lars, but replacing a boot costs a small fraction of that. Spark Plugs Worn or misfiring spark plugs can affect how efficiently a ve­ hicle burns the fuel/air mixture, ultimately affecting engine per­ formance. Worn -spark plugs waste gas and increase exhaust emissions, so have them checked and replaced often. Brakes Don't postpone needed brake work. It’s dangerous to drive with poorly performing brakes, espe­ cially in snowy weather. Postpon­ ing brake service also can cause the cost of overhauling your brake system to skyrocket. Lights Last, but not least, check your lights. Accidents can occur if you can't see where you're driving, or if other drivers can't see you, es­ pecially as we approach winter's short days and long nights. Maintain your vehicle regularly to provide years of service with better performance and safety. Ty FEAtURING P ENNZOIL AND QUAKERSTATE PRODUCTS Drive Through Convenience! Eliminates Waiting and Appointments! Same Great Service and ___ Friendly People! - / :ulI-Sen ice Includes \ mini in nnd WusliW indon s! Clean and Customer Friendly! E L m m ¡m m MOTORS, INC. 675 N. MONTANA • DILLON, MONTANA 683-2371 • T O L L FREE 1 (800) 423-5428 SAVINGS AND LOAN V isit our W ebsite www.pioneerfed.com \ Montana’s Oldest Mutual Savings and Loan. 401 M ilwaukee A ve . D eer L odge , M ontana 846-2202 1