The Monroe County Reporter April 18, 2018
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LOCAL BUSINESSES THAT CAN HELP SPRING YOU FROM POINT POINT
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fter what seemed like an
endless winter, you may be
planning to hit the road for
;pring or summer road
trip. Just take this factoid as a warning:
AAA roadside service estimates that
it helps more than 9 million stranded
motorists during a summer.
If, like most Americans, you're not
driving a fresh-from-the-showroom
ride - the average age of passenger
vehicles in the U.S. is just over 10 years
old - it's time to give your car a little
springtime TLC.
"Drivers often overlook their cars
when it is spring cleaning time" says
Shawn Hoelzer, master technician for
CarMax, the largest U.S. chain of used
car dealerships. "Following a few easy
steps to spruce up your vehicle helps
avoid costly repairs"
,e
2018 Maintenance Tips for Spring
So take your car to a dealership to auto parts chain Auto Zone. Signs of
get checked out - or, better yet, to an a weak battery: dimming headlights
independent mechanic you trust. (See or interior lights; power windows that
Save $300 on Auto Repair.) Use this take longer than usual to go up and
spring maintenance checklist to make down.
sure your car is reliable and running Check the brakes:
efficiently. Winter conditions and salt on the
roads can lead to corrosion of brake
parts; Auto Zone's Swims also points
out that anti-lock braking systems get
an especially hard workout in winter's
slick conditions. Nothing is more
crucial to your safety than your brakes,
so get them checked. Trouble signs:
Check the battery:
You can't get where you are going if
the car won't start. "Winter is tough
on all the starting components like
the starter and alternator. The battery
works harder and can get drained"
says ]immie Swims, a specialist at the
pulling to one side when you flit the
brakes, squeaking or grinding noises
and a brake pedal that feels too soft.
Inspect the tire
Worn-down tires make it hard to
stop, even if your brakes are in good
order. Try the coin test on your tires:
Insert a quarter into several grooves
across each tire. If part of Washington's
head is always covered, you still have
4/32 inch of tread left and can prob-
ably dxive safely. If you have less tread,
it's time to think about replacements.
(A definite danger signal comes when
you slip a penny into a groove and the
tread does not reach Lincoln's head,)
Even if your tire tread are OK,
make sure you keep them inflated to
See TIPS Page 3C
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