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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 1, 2005)
Page 18 The INDEPENDENT, December 1, 2005 More tips on preparing vehicles for winter weather conditions From page 17 said Donna Wagner, president of the Car Care Council. A quick battery load test by an automotive technician can measure the condition of the battery and alert a vehicle own- er to buying a new battery or having their old battery re- charged, she added. Either op- tion will insure a battery at full power and may avoid car trou- ble this winter. When it comes to malfunc- tioning batteries, there are oth- er reasons it may be failing to charge. The clamps must be in good condition and the termi- nals must be tightly connected and free of corrosion. The Car Care Council en- courages motorists to have their vehicles evaluated every fall. The most recent results show that 26 percent of batter- ies failed inspections. Check your tires, belts, and hoses before winter No motorist relishes the in- convenience and hazard of be- ing stranded on the road. Yet, year after year, the nation’s mo- toring clubs echo the same service call reports. These organizations respond to more than 50 million annual customer calls, and they esti- mate one-fifth could be avoided if car owners inspected their ve- hicle’s tires, belts, and hoses, and had them replaced before they failed unexpectedly. I NVESTING IN U NCERTAIN T IMES A New Investment Team Seminar for Planning Your Retirement Come learn how our Investment Team can help you with your investment and financial planning needs. Bring along your friends and family who may be interested in our investment services. Refreshments will be provided. Seating is limited, so RSVP more than a week in advance. Call Tanda Murders at 800-773-3236, ext. 3118 and reserve your place today! To help motorists avoid car problems this winter, simple, preventive maintenance proce- dures should be done in the fall. Look for belt cracks. The serpentine or V-ribbed engine belt drives the water pump, power steering pump, air condi- tioner compressor, alternator and fan (if it’s not electric). When the belt on a serpentine drive breaks, it’s the equivalent of as many as three regular V- belts breaking at the same time. Without it, the accessory drives won’t work. Serpentine belts should be replaced every four years, re- gardless of appearance. They should be inspected at 60,000 miles. If more than three cracks per inch are evident on the grooved underside of the belt, more than 80 percent of its service life is gone and replacement should be considered. Serpentine belts usually are tensioned by a spring-loaded idler mechanism that contacts the smooth backside of the belt. Although the tensioner is designed to last for the life of a vehicle, it can fail for several reasons, including misalign- ment, loss of damping, pulley bearing failure, and internal spring wear. It can be replaced at the same time the belt is changed. Feel for hose degradation. Until recently, the most com- mon method of checking an en- gine coolant hose was to visu- ally inspect its outside cover for signs of wear, or “ballooning.” However, the primary cause of coolant hose failure is an elec- trochemical attack on the tube compound of the hose, accord- ing to research by an industry leader. The phenomenon, known as electrochemical degradation, or Your Painting & Interior Specialist Vernonia, Oregon 503-830-6057 CCB# 159353 VERNONIA INN Enjoy a quiet weekend with us. FULL SIZE, IN ROOM HOT TUBS Date: Thursday, Dec. 1, 2005 Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2005 Thursday, Dec. 8, 2005 Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2005 Time: 6-7pm 6-7pm 6-7pm 6-7pm Location: Clatskanie Branch Astoria Branch Clatskanie Branch Astoria Branch Queen Beds • Private Bath • Separate Entrance Cable TV • Phones • Handicapped Access CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST FOR RESERVATIONS CALL 1-800-354-9494 / 503-429-4006 W a una F e de r al Cr e dit Union Ask for solution the details today! 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The best way to check coolant hose for the effects of ECD is to squeeze the hose near the clamps or connectors. If the ends are soft and feel mushy, chances are, the hose is under attack by ECD. A replacement interval of four years for all coolant carry- ing hoses – especially the up- per radiator, bypass, and heater hoses – can help pre- vent unexpected failure from ECD. Winter Survival Kit • Three-pound coffee can • Candle stubs and matches • Metal cup • Red bandanna and plastic whistle to alert rescuers • Pencil and paper • Change for phone calls • First-aid kit, including any essential medications • Plastic flashlight with spare batteries • Bottled water and snack foods for energy, such as can- dy bars • Extra winter clothing: snowmobile suit, gloves or mit- tens, and winter boots • Blankets or sleeping bag • Jumper cables • Basic tools • Shovel • Bag of sand or grit • Tow cable or chain • Road flares or reflectors Be Prepared • Keep your gas tank full. • Turn on your headlights. • Inform someone of your starting time, destination, and expected arrival time. • Pay attention to weather forecasts. • Never leave your vehicle. If you are stranded, your chances of survival greatly increase if you stay with your vehicle. • Carry a cellular phone for use during emergencies. Be- cause driving requires your full attention, find a safe place to pull off the road when you need to use the phone.