AUTOMOTIVE TIPS

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LITTLE THINGS TO HELP YOU GET

ALONG WITH YOUR VEHICLE

·         Keep the cowl area (the screen or grate under the hood just below the windshield) clean and free of leaves and debris. This is where the heater/vent/air conditioner gets the air to blow through the heater core and air conditioning evaporator core. When the leaves crumble and the debris makes it's way into the HVAC system it can block the air flow through the system, cause the cores to corrode and leak, and gum up the various air flow directional doors.

·         During freezing weather, make sure that you shut off your windshield wipers and that they are all the way down before you shut off the vehicle. Before you get in and turn the key on the next time, make sure that the wiper blades are not frozen to the windshield. If they are frozen, and the wiper motor tries to move them, some expensive parts can be ruined.

·         Do you drive a pick up truck with a plastic bed liner? If you do, and you go to the filling station to fill up a gas can, be sure to take the can out of the bed and set it on the ground. Static electricity can build up due to the flow of liquid through the hose and nozzle into the can. The plastic bed liner is an insulator. Several instances of explosions and fire have been traced to a spark of static electricity caused by the fuel can sitting on the plastic liner.

·         Have you read your owner's manual? Believe it or not, many people are not using all of the features of their vehicles simply because they have not read the manual and do not know that the features exist. The manual also contains the maintenance schedules. Following these schedules will help insure that your vehicle will provide you with the maximum number of economical, trouble free miles possible. If you cannot find your owner's manual contact the dealer and they can provide you with another one as long as they are still available.

·         Before replacing those streaking windshield wiper blades try cleaning the windshield with a good glass cleaner and cleaning the rubber surfaces of the blades with rubbing alcohol.

·         Quick! When was the last time you checked your tire pressure? Not only will the proper tire pressure improve fuel mileage and handling; it will also greatly reduce tire wear. Check your owner's manual for the proper pressure.

·         Make a habit of checking your oil and coolant levels once a week. Check them on the same day at the same time each week. For example, check them every Saturday morning when you go out to get the paper. You do need to make sure that the engine is cool before you remove the radiator cap.

·         After you wash your vehicle, or have it washed, be sure to use a water displacing type of spray oil with a tube on the nozzle to lubricate the door and trunk locks.

·         Carry last year's registration certificate with the current license number written on it in your wallet. Should your vehicle be stolen the registration has all the pertinent numbers that the police will need.

·         To adjust your outside rear view mirrors for optimum performance put your head against the driver's window and adjust the left mirror so that you can just see the left rear fender, to adjust the right mirror put your head on the center line of the vehicle in the front seat and adjust the mirror so that you can just see the right rear fender. To adjust the inside mirror adjust it so that the centerline of the vehicle is visible in the center of the mirror.

·         Refueling safely.  Everyone knows that you shouldn’t smoke while around gasoline.  But, did you know that cell phones could create enough of a spark to cause a fire?  If the phone rings or lights up when a call is received, or you turn it on, it can create a spark.  It is best to turn it off when around gasoline.  Getting in and out of a vehicle can create static electricity.  You have, no doubt, experienced this on at least one occasion.  If you touch the fuel nozzle while charged with static electricity the ensuing spark can ignite the fuel vapors.  If you absolutely must get back in the vehicle while refueling be sure to touch something metal on the door after you leave the seat.

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