April 10, 1975 Shelton Mason County Journal | ![]() |
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April 10, 1975 |
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Best way owners
to save is spend
on good maintenance
The term "'getaway car" brings to mind Grade B
gangster movies. The jittery driver, invariably portrayed
by actors like Ed Brophy or Elisha Cook, Jr., fidgeted
waiting for Jack LaRue to finish the heist.
While this kind of movie may have gone the way of
free dish night and dime popcorn, the getaway car is
still with us.
Now it is the family automobile that serves as a Cin-
derella's coach. It gets us away from the worry and
humdrum of workaday life and takes us to adventurous
places away from home.
85 per cent vacation by car
Some 85 per cent of us do our vacation and leisure-
time travel "strictly by car. Whether the trip is a coast-
to-coast wander or a picnic at a nearby campground,
the automobile provides the way to get there.
Certainly today there are problems we want to get
away from. Thanks to our national treasure of getaway
cars. most of us can escape from cares for a few days
or a few hours.
Especially in times when every dollar should be
spent wisely, it is true that the automobile is still
our most economical way to travel. Higher gasoline
prices notwithstanding, there is no cheaper way
(save walking) than the car to take the family on
a holiday trip.
For many car owners the aim this year will be making
the trip as economical as possible.
As inconsistent as it may sound, the best way to save
money on your forthcoming trip is to spend it now.
Invest in some basic car maintenance and the savings
may be substantial.
With gasoline prices at heights unimaginable
only two years ago, an engine that wastes fuel due
to lack of tune-up is a luxury no one can afford.
Due to high gasoline prices it is accurate to say
that the tune-up could pay for itself several times
over.
Or consider items like shock absorbers, wheel align-
ment and other components that affect tire life.
An expensive set of tires can wear out an estimated
25 per cent before its time due to misalignment, worn
shocks or just plain inattention to recommended tire
pressure.
Simple things save money
Something as simple as adhering to scheduled oil and
filter changes, lubrication can save money in costly en-
gine or chassis wear.
Even if one disregards the safety and riding pleasure
a cared for car provides, the economies of the proverbial
ounce of prevention-pound of cure formula still exist.
So make that "getaway from cares" car trip truly
carefree. Don't add expensive bills or potential car
troubles to your list of woes.
Visit a competent service outlet before you leave and
be sure your vehicle is cared for and not another un-
welcome care.
BREAK IN TIRES
Tires need a break-in
period when new. Keep
well within the speed limit
to help tires "adjust" to
other tires on the car so
they can function as an
integral unit.
(:LEANER AIR
New Jersey's mandatory
emissions inspection pro-
gram is expected to reduce
carbon monoxide emis-
sions by more than 20 per
cent in its first year of
operation.
i]iiiiiiiii~iiiii~!!ili!~ii!~!iiiiiiiiiiii!iiiiiiiilili!ii!i!~iii~!
ii•:iii:ii!i:iiiii:!iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiili!i~:ii
:!:!:::iii~ii;i?ii:iiii!iiii:ii:iiii!iiiiii!]i:
Unless you are one of the lucky ones who live within walking distance of a wooded
rampground, there is no other way to reach a site like this than by car. The special tang
of a meal cooked outdoors is only one of the pleasures made possible by car ownership.
And a well-maintained car can make any summer vacation trip truly carefree and can
actually save money through improved gas mileage.
This 'cat' has only one life. It's the...
O
converter m
There's one "cat" that
doesn't have nine lives.
That's a catalytic con-
verter on 1975 model cars.
Prolonged use of leaded
fuel will kill the effective-
hess of the pollution-fight-
ing unit.
The converter's job is to
change carbon monoxide
!CO) and hydrocarbon
(HC) emissions into harm-
less carbon dioxide and
water. Catalysts of ceramic
beads and inert metallic
pellets are used in the
process.
Leaded fuel coats the
pellet with lead deposits
and renders them ineffec-
tive. As a result harmful
emissions escape the muf-
fler-like unit and enter
the atmosphere. While the
car would perform nor-
mally, pollution levels
would exceed legislated
levels.
Designed to function for
a minimum of 50,000 miles,
the converters also are
expected to help improve
gasoline mileage.
Should you be out of gas
in an area where lead-free
fuel is not available, then
buy enough gas to get you
to a station where the
proper fuel is sold. A con-
verter can tolerate an oc-
casional usage of leaded
( ASK YOUR DEALER)
air pollution
fuel, since the heat of the
oxidation will burn off
lead deposits once un-
leaded fuel is reinstalled.
The catalyst will then re-
turn to full efficiency.
l
Tips For The "
Novice Automechanic
-- from ou r Service Department
Battery Need Replacing? Maybe Not
Do the lights on your car
grow dim when the engine
idles? Does the starter turn
rapidly for just a short time.
then slow down? These are
indications of a weak battery.
But don't think right
away that you need a new
battery• Perhaps you have not
been driving your car often
enough to replace the energy
in the battery taken out each
time you start the engine• A
small battery charger (3 amp)
hooked up overnight will
usually correct this condition.
Or, check to see if the
a It e r n ator belt is loose.
Tighten it if it is.
Also, for about $2, you
can get a miniature ball-type
battery hydrometer to check
the condition of the battery
cells. A reading of !.275 to
1.300 indicates a fully
charged cell in good condi-
tion. While 1.240 is sufficient
to start the engine, the
battery still needs charging.
The main point to observe is
whether the readings are even
between cells. A difference of
.060 or more can mean your
battery has had it and should
be replaced.
To replace the old bat-
tery, you will need an adjust-
able wrench or a pair of
battery pliers, a wide blade
screwdriver, a wire brush and
baking soda, according to the
Automotive Parts & Acces-
sories Association.
You can install a new bat-
tery yourself by following
these simple step~:
1. Loosen the battery
terminals on the old battery
starting with ground (marked
"-" or "NEG"). Work the
battery terminal slowly back
and forth. If it sticks, insert a
screwdriver into slot of
terminal and twist until it
spreads open.
2. Remove the bracket(s)
holding the battery in place.
Remove the battery.
3. Clean the inside of the
battery cable terminals. Re-
place worn or badly corroded
cables.
4. Clean the whole area
around the battery including
the motmting plate and
clamps by brushing on a sohz-
tion of baking soda and
water. Allow this to set
before rinsing. If area is tmdly
corroded, a second ap-
plication may be necessary.
5. If your new battery is
a dry-charge type, add acti-
vator fluid in each cell to the
split ring before installing the
new battery.
NOTE: Observe
handling precautions on acti-
vator solution carton.
b. After cells are idled,
tilt the battery from side to
side to remove air bubbles.
Recheck levels and add acti-
vator fluid if necessary.
7. Place new battery in
the same position as the old
battery you removed. Grease
and snug down all clamps
holding battery securely in
place.
8. To discourage corro-
sion, coat terminal clamps
and battery posts with a thin
layer of grease.
9. Replace terminals and
tighten firmly, starting with
hot cable (marked "+" or
"POS").
i O. Drive tl~e car for ! 5-30-
minutes at 30-40 miles per
hour, or run the motor for
1 5-30 minutes at a
moderately fast idle to bring
the battery up to a full
charge.
There are many things you can "do yourself." But, if you
don't have time or need professional service help, see us at
FRONT & RAILROAD SHELTON 426-8183
Page S-2 - Shelton-Mason County Journal - Thursday, April 10, 1975
Standard operating pro-
cedure in many homes at
this time of the year is
installation of screens in
windows and doors. It is
the time to check hard-
ware, tighten a few screws
here and there and add
a drop of oil where neces-
sary.
You may find an adjust-
ment needed in the door
closer, too. A combination
of wear on the plunger
and the lighter screen in-
sert makes the door close
differently.
This plunger is not un-
like the shock absorbers
on your car, which may
be showing signs of wear
after the rigors of winter.
Shock absorbers are, es-
sentially, plungers.
Resists the hop
As the plunger on your
screen door is designed to
resist the forces of the
closer spring, allowing the
door to close gently, so the
shock absorber resists the
tendency of the wheel on
your car to hop as it
bounces off an obstruction
in the road.
Shocks also keep the
car's body from bobbing
up and down like a row-
boat at sea. The shock
absorber's philosophy is to
maintain the status quo;
the wheels shouldn't hop
and the body shouldn't
bop.
Eventually, with age, a
worn shock absorber loses
its control of the situation.
Instead of easing your
wheels over bumps In the
road, it lets them bounce,
sometimes setting up an
oscillation like a ball on
a long rubber band.
Other problems
If this only caused an
uncomfortable ride, it
would be bad enough. But
there are other problems
created by worn shocks.
Most important is the
safety factor.
:::k::::: ::: ',
Critical steering components often are overlooked by car owners. Once trouble is sensed
in this system, then it may be too late to avoid expensive repairs. Regular lubrication
and inspection of the steering by your favorite service man can prevent problems before
they start. (Photo courtesy of TRW)
how to tell when car's steering
A "I"R~t~D, EXP~T
MECHANIC C~N OFTEN
When the red light or
gauge on your dashboard
warns of low oil pressure,
there's generally time to
do something about it. But
when you get warnings of
something amiss in your
steering system, it could
be a sign that potentially
dangerous and expensive
repair damage has already
been done.
That's one reason it pays
to have your favorite car
service man check the
front end at every oppor-
tunity. And that's why one
should keep components
in proper alignment, state
of lubrication and adjust-
ment.
To help you recognize
the. signs your car will
give you when steering
components are out of
whack, below is a list of
symptoms that can result
from malfunctioning front
end parts.
SYMPTOMS -- hard
steering, ear pulling to
one side, car wandering,
uneven tire wear, front
wheel shimmy, loose steer-
ing, heavy thumping on
rough roads.
POSSIBLE CAUSES --
worn or binding ball joints,
front end out of alignment,
loose front wheel bearings,
loose or dry steering link-
age.
When the wheel is
bouncing a few inches in
the air, it cannot contrib-
ute much to the steering
and/or braking of your
car. During this short but
critical period you are
virtually out of control.
Tires and suspension
parts also take additional
punishment when shocks
lose their control. If a
worn shock absorber per-
mits these parts to suffer
two or three rebounds af-
ter a bump, they will have
taken double or triple
punishment. You'll feel
this in your repair bills
sooner or later.
Rule of thumb
As a rule of thumb, any
time after your shocks are
two years old, they may
be due for replacement.
New ones will give your
car a whole new lease on
life.
Think about it the next
time you are driving over
a bumpy road. Or better
yet, before you do.
GASOLINE SAVED
An estimated 15 .million
gallons of gasoline were
saved in the State of New
Jex'sey due to mandatory
emissions inspection. An
engine that is maintained
for low emissions will also
burn less fuel, explained
Richard J. Sullivan of
New Jersey's Department
of Environmental Protec-
tion. As more cars are in-
spected in 1975, gas savings
in the state could climb
as high as 50 million
gallons annually, Sullivan
said.
PLUG THAT 'LEAK'
In economy tests, a
spark plug misfiring half
the time at 60 miles per
hour dropped fuel econ-
omy by 7.3 per cent, ac-
cording to the Motor Ve-
hicle Manufacturers Asso-
ciation.
Who's Braggin'?
We happen to
KNOW
where you can have
a brand new,
NO LEAK
AT
3rd & Grove
"Where your windshield is
guaranteed not to leak."
We have
you could posdbly want
We offer you a complete line of warrantied, national brand
name automotive replacement parts. Fast service.
Hard-to-get parts. Big inventory. Technical information and
a big new store for you to shop in.
222 North First SHELTON
4264481
Mutual of Enumclaw's Family Auto Plan puts you under a
Rainbow of Protection. It includes money-saving extras, such
as Disappearing Deductible Collision coverage, along with
prompt and etficient rvice. See your ncarby M of E a ent
today.
Insurance by
MUTUAL OF ENUMCLAW
Enumclaw, Washington
Arnold & Smith Agency
117 E. Cota
Phone 426-3317
Thursday, April 10. 1975 - Shelton-Mason County Journal - Page S-I 1