Sunday, October 11, 2015 www.aberdeennews.com 13E

SAFETY FIRST WITH FALL CAR CARE

Conducting routine maintenance on your vehicle is necessary

to maintain optimal perfor-mance and prevent costly repairs. As colder weather approaches, and with it the potential for treacherous road conditions, giving certain areas of your car special attention can also protect your safety.

“Getting your vehicle ready for winter while temperatures are still mild is a proactive approach to preventive maintenance that helps ensure safety and reliability when severe winter weather strikes,” said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council.

The following tips will help you learn how to care for the systems and features most likely to affect your safety as winter approaches. Learn about the benefits of regular vehicle care, maintenance and repair, and order a free copy of the council’s Car Care Guide, at www.carcare.org.

Brakes

The brake system is a car’s most important safety system. A faulty brake system may impede your ability to safely slow your vehicle in inclement driving conditions or avoid an accident.

Brakes sustain normal wear and eventually need to be replaced for both performance and safety reasons. Ignoring routine maintenance and letting

brake pads wear too thin can lead to costly rotor and drum replacement, in addi-tion to compromising your ability to execute a sudden stop safely.

* Have your complete brake system thoroughly inspected annually and replace equipment as needed.

* If your car is pulling to the left or right, or if you hear odd noises when you apply the brakes, you should have your brakes inspected. Other warning signs include an illumi-nated brake warning light, brake grabbing, low pedal feel, vibration, hard pedal feel and squealing.

* Don’t overlook the parking brake, which also may require adjustment or replacement parts.

Wheels and Tires

When roads become wet or icy, the right wheels and tires can help ensure you have the traction you need to maintain control. Main-taining tire balance and wheel alignment reduces tire wear and improves handling and fuel economy. Tire replacement is neces-sary if the tread depth is below the minimum legal requirement, or if the side-walls are severely cracked or punctured. In addition, normal wear and road con-ditions can take their toll on your car’s steering and suspension system and dis-rupt the alignment, which in turn reduces optimum handling.

* Use the “penny test” to check your tread; if you

see Lincoln’s head above the tread, you are ready for new tires.

* Have your car’s alignment checked at least annually or at the first sign of improper handling or uneven wear.

* Check inflation pres-sure at least once a month (including the spare) and once per week in the winter.

* Rotate and balance tires every 6,000 miles to avoid accelerated wear on shock absorbers and struts. Battery

Your battery should be securely mounted, with connections clean, tight and corrosion-free. If the

battery is three years old or more, it should be tested and replaced if necessary.

Headlights

Headlights play a major role in safe driving; the chances for accidents in-crease if you can’t see or be seen. The lighting system provides nighttime visibili-ty, signals and alerts other drivers, and supplies light for viewing instruments and the vehicle’s interior.

* If there is any doubt about whether or not your headlights should be on, turn them on.

* Keep headlights, tail lights and signal lights clean. External dirt and

debris can dim operational lights, making it difficult to be seen by others.

* Make sure your head-lights are properly aimed. If they aren’t, headlights blind other drivers and reduce your ability to see the road.

* Don’t overdrive your headlights. You should be able to stop inside the illuminated area; otherwise you are creating a blind crash area in front of your vehicle.

* Replace dimming, rap-idly blinking or non-func-tioning lights immediately, but check first to ensure a loose or faulty fuse isn’t the source of the problem.

Windshield Wipers

The wiper system keeps excessive water, snow and dirt from building up on the windshield, maintain-ing clear visibility. Many factors can accelerate the replacement of wipers, including operating con-ditions, frequency of use, material and type of wipers and weather.

* In general, replace blades every six months or when cracked, cut, torn, streaking or chattering.

* Be aware that some vehicles have two washer fluid reservoirs. Check levels monthly and use washer fluid only; do not use water.

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WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW TO GET READY FOR WINTER

Whether you do it yourself or take your car to a professional service technician, the Car Care Council recommends these basic maintenance procedures to keep your vehicle operating at its best:

1. Check all fluids, including engine oil, power steering, brake and transmission, as well as windshield washer solvent and antifreeze/coolant.

2. Check the hoses and belts for signs of damage or wear. 3. Check the battery and replace if necessary. 4. Check the brake system annually and have the brake linings, rotors and drums

inspected at each oil change.5. Inspect the exhaust system for leaks, damage and

broken supports or hangers if there is an unusual noise.

6. Check the heating, ventilating and air conditioning system, as proper heating and cooling performance is critical for interior comfort and for safety reasons such as defrosting.

7. Inspect the steering and suspension system annually, including shock absorbers, struts and chassis parts such as ball joints, tie rod ends and other related components.

8. Check the tires, including tire pressure and tread. Uneven wear indicates a need for wheel alignment. Tires should also be checked for bulges and bald spots.

9. Check the wipers and lighting, including both interior and exterior lighting, and replace worn wiper blades so you can see clearly when driving during precipitation.

Source: Car Care Council

MAINTENANCE CHECKLIST

14E www.aberdeennews.com Sunday, October 11, 2015

A snowstorm can sneak up on us at any time. In fact,

it is not unusual to have several inches dumped on us as early as this month – or even sooner. Now is the perfect time to pack a winter survival kit in your car. Grab a duf-fel bag and have your kids – or friends – help accumu-late the ‘ingredients.’ As an activity, it can be made like a fun scavenger hunt: 1. Blankets. Pack several if you usually do not travel alone. 2. Flashlight. The crank kind is nice if you do not want to rely on batteries. 3. Candles. They can pro-duce an amazing amount of heat. And, of course, matches, packed in a zip-lock bag. Some people put the candle in the bottom of a metal coffee can. The can might get pretty hot so factor this in. The best choice is a multiple-wick candle – they usually come in a large glass jar. 4. Bottles of water. They should be unopened to ensure that they are not contaminated, but this can be tricky. In South Dakota they can easily turn to a solid block of ice. 5. Food. High sugar and high protein is best but it should be items that are

easy to keep such as pea-nuts, dried fruit, chocolate bars, jerky, hard candy, rai-sins, nuts, or protein bars. 6. Glow sticks – either to keep you company or to help rescuers locate you. 7. Flares – for the obvi-ous reason. 8. A first aid kit - better safe than sorry. 9. Car cellphone charger. 10. Ice scraper, snow shovel. 11. A good book. You might be there awhile. And games for the kids. 12. Pocket knife. You nev-er know what you might need and many elements found on a pocket knife can come in handy. 13. Large black plastic trash bags to use as a poncho or to tuck around your legs. 14. Extra clothing such as a parka, boots, long underwear, stocking cap, heavy socks, mittens, and scarves. 15. Toilet tissue. 16. Red or orange fabric to tie onto the antennae to help alert searchers – or the Saint Bernard carrying the barrel of brandy around his neck. 17. Nylon rope. If you must leave the vehicle, (to light a flare, clear snow from the tailpipe, or use the toilet paper) tie it around your waist so that you can find your way back.

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BRANDPOINT

Do you take your car’s “health” for granted? Only

when the check engine light comes on do you realize how important a fully functional vehicle is to your daily life. Feelings of fear, regret and anxiety often rush in: “Will my car break down?” “Should I have gotten my oil changed sooner?” Can I trust that I’m receiving a fair price for repairs?”

These are all reasonable concerns, according to Joe Wiesenfelder, Cars.com executive editor.

“According to Mintel, on average, drivers spend nearly $1,000 per year maintaining their cars, and that number will likely only increase as the average age of vehicles con-tinues to get older,” says Wiesenfelder. “Even more important, a recent survey by Cars.com and Toluna found that one in three

drivers don’t trust that the prices mechanics quote to them are fair. ‘Expensive’ and ‘stressful’ are the top words that come to mind for many consumers when they’re thinking about car maintenance and repairs.”Knowledge is power, but for many consumers, car maintenance can be shrouded in mystery.

Many don’t know which mechanic to go to, how much to pay or if the price they’re being quoted is accurate. Thankfully, tools and resources are available to help drivers confidently navigate the automotive service and repair process. Here are a few expert tips, resources and busted myths to arm you with the information you need to make informed, confident decisions about car service:

1. You probably don’t

need to change your oil

every 3,000 miles. Due to technology advancements, many auto manufacturers

recommend changing oil at intervals of 7,500 miles or more for new cars.

2. Does a dirty air filter

really hurt performance?

A clogged air filter won’t significantly affect fuel economy, but it can reduce acceleration from 6 to 11 percent, according to a U.S. Department of Energy Study. For that reason, it’s a good idea to periodically visually check the engine air filter.

3. Cars.com has

launched a new “Ser-

vice & Repair” feature that provides a fair price estimate for different types of service, helping ensure drivers never overpay. The online tool also helps driv-ers find local service pro-viders and offers reviews from actual customers to help them find a quality mechanic.

4. Drivers expect the

tires that come with

their new vehicle to last

a long time, but tire life depends on many factors, including: the quality of the tire, its treadwear rat-ing, whether it is an all-sea-son, summer performance or winter tire, the type of vehicle and where and how it is driven.

5. Service engine? If the check engine light comes on and has a steady illumination, that indicates a possibly serious issue, and it should be dealt with quickly by a mechanic. If the check engine light is flashing, find a place to park the vehicle and turn

the engine off as quickly as you safely can. Ignoring your check engine light increases the likelihood of additional problems.

For more information, tips and to learn more about Cars.com’s Service & Repair tool, visit www.cars.com/auto-repair.

What’s the real cost of that auto repair?How to know if you’re paying the best price

GRETCHEN MAYERSpecial to the American News

Most of us know that regular maintenance is key to a well-running vehicle. That’s why we get our oil changed, have our tires rotated and

so forth. Another important part of the regular main-tenance schedule is the tune-up. Because the internal workings of vehicles have changed so much over the years, the definition of a tune-up may vary from the sim-ple replacement of spark plugs to the complete overhaul of several areas within the vehicle.

Most experts agree that the best tune-ups involve an inspection of several areas, including the battery, engine mechanical, powertrain control, fuel, ignition and emissions. Not every shop defines a tune-up in this way, however. Generally, the more involved the tune-up, the more it costs.

When scheduling a tune-up, it is important that you find out what it will entail and how much it will cost. Be wary of really low estimates; chances are the shop is

pushing for your business and the final bill for the tune-up will be much higher.

The best shops understand that not all drivers know what a tune-up is and request one on the assumption that it will fix whatever is wrong with their vehicle. They will ask why you think your vehicle needs a tune-up and go from there. You may discover that what you really need are new battery cables rather than new spark plugs.

Once you have several estimates, sit down and com-pare them. Select the shop whose estimate includes a fairly thorough inspection at a fair price. You want to make sure that when you drive away from the shop your vehicle is running smoothly and efficiently.

The term “tune-up” means different things to differ-ent people. Keep that in mind as you shop around for estimates. Know what you are getting before you take your vehicle in, and if you are getting a tune-up for any reason other than maintenance issues, relay that information to the shop. If you don’t, you could end up paying for a tune-up plus a repair.

All tuned-up: the key to a well-running vehicleTRESSA ERICKSONCreative Outlet

A winter tire is a winter tire, right? Absolutely not! There are dozens of models on the market, so if you are looking for new winter tires, consult a

tire specialist about the most suitable type and tread for your vehicle and your driving style.

Factors to consider when buying winter tires include the make and model of your vehicle, the kind of mileage you put on your car in the winter, the surface types of the roads you use most frequently, and whether you are doing rural, highway, or city driving.

Be sure to choose tires whose dimensions corre-spond exactly to your vehicle. A tire vendor might suggest a slightly different but still appropriate size. If you own a vehicle that came with high performance all-season tires, it is a good idea to invest in the same level of performance quality for your winter tires.

What about studded snow tires? In many jurisdic-tions they are forbidden entirely or limited to certain roads and regions during a specific period of time. A

tire specialist ought to be able to tell you where and when these tires are allowed in your area and if they really meet your needs.

Ideally, all four of your vehicle’s tires should be of identical make and tread so that they wear equally. At the very least, the tires in the best condition should be installed at the rear to ensure the stability of the vehi-cle, even if it is a front-wheel drive.

The perfect winter tire for your carNEWSPAPER TOOLBOX

A simple way to measure the minimum safe depth of a

tread is to insert a penny into the groove at several different places. If Lincoln’s head is no longer hidden inside the tread, it’s time to

change your tires—and hur-ry! If you’re using a tire tread

gauge, a tread measuring less than 2/32” is considered too worn

to drive on safely.

Sunday, October 11, 2015 www.aberdeennews.com 15E

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