Preventative Car Maintenance

"I don't worry about a dead battery or flat tire anymore," high school senior Candy Cool told her dad. "I have a car phone now."

More and more drivers, of all ages and both genders, rely on their car phones for an added measure of security when traveling. Does that marvelous companion provide a false sense of security? Maybe so, suggests the Car Care Council. It can't take the place of maintenance. Several measures that can reduce the risk of a breakdown are offered by the Council. It begins with a complete checkup and servicing of the cooling system.

Cooling system service for cold weather? Neglecting that important service can result in overheating, says the Council, often leading to major damage. After a summer of extreme heat, rubber components, including cooling system hoses, should be inspected for deterioration. Radiator and heater hoses, which circulate hot, pressurized antifreeze/coolant throughout the engine, also are subjected to extreme under-hood temperatures.

Where the rubber meets the road …

This familiar tire ad line takes on a different meaning when the rubber is a broken drive belt, often seen lying on the road. Belts are driven by an engine pulley to power accessories such as the alternator, power steering pump, cooling system water pump, air conditioner compressor and more. When a belt fails one or all of the above are disabled. So maybe the driver, could face a long wait for help.

Cooling system service, including inspection, flushing and replacement of antifreeze/coolant, is a basic part of engine protection. The procedure should include a pressure test, which could disclose a leaking radiator, heater core or pressure cap.

Don't take your battery for granted, adds Car Care Council. If it's 3 or more years old, have it and the charging system tested. A battery that seemed strong last month may put out only about half of its power when the temperature drops into the low teens.

Time to retire?

How are your tires? Deep tread can make a big difference in safety and traction on wet roads. Tire inflation, which should be checked about once a month, decreases about one pound for every 10 degrees of temperature drop. This means tires that were inflated to 34 pounds when the temperature was 85 ^o F. will be underinflated by 6 pounds at 25 degrees. That's enough to shorten tire life, affect vehicle control and waste gas.

Properly functioning windshield defrosters, lights and windshield wipers can be life savers when driving at night in bad weather.

Brought to you as a public service by the Car Care Council.