Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2006 6A HOW T 0... MAINTAIN & SERVICE NOUN CAN ————— . Your service center can help care for your car. A big investment like your car calls for the protection and regular maintenance of this possession. From checking the tire pressure to scheduling regular tune ups, it’s up to you to make sure you get the most from your car. Maintenance Timetable Under-Hood Checks: Once a week or when refueling. Oil Change: Every 3,000 miles with oil filter. Washing: Once a week. Hand washing is best, but if you must use a car wash, find one that is brushless and relies on high pressure water or attendants that soap the car by hand. Waxing: Every six months with a good qual ity non-abrasive wax. Once a year put some wax on the door jams and the underside of the trunk. If you’re ambitious, you could spend some time detailing the under-hood area, or have it done by a professional if you’re not comfortable handling machinery. Align and Balance: Have car checked every 12,000 miles or the first time you notice steer ing behavior or a vibration at highway speeds. Tire Rotation: Every 6.000 miles following the manufacturers’ rotation recommendations. If you have a matching spare, include it in the rotation. Tune Up: Follow manufacturer’s recommen dation. Winterize: Every two years. Timing Belt: If your car has one, every 60,000 miles or follow the manufacturer’s recommen dation if it is longer. Filters: Frillow the manufacturer’s recommen - fi H•'• Br •'.•■■ H 3Ba IMBBgßgffi-M' '.''• Jr SPSg' 1 *9 gHBI IP' ;.' * : i^Bl ; - y ' r ~™ '^S->s>yPsPlpil^Nß^BjPPP^N^R^ jHgrjgpH^n pPSrP VViaraCMOr 54450 jk rnimnft .jmmi p%X®W| wmi.iiui 1 —«*... $9450. S BtfIKBWBSBL %%<3MUNI !j®e»r?f^t? i WLchange | 4»lit»«Mrti««WlMMi« t Till 111 nfflitT ) TinnTlT- - -'- | ■ lß^^l9 50 -j h>mb—m '^KH*i»*lllHrini«aH ( JPIRVI h|*n «MMt RA FFIELD== TIRE-MASTER AUTO SERVICE CENTER “We Go The Extra Mile-Jor You" TOVO TIRES II * lAcra I "3k .. SA.Jk,-. - : '. a.y», _ dation. The following items should be checked periodically: - Engine oil level - Transmission fluid - Brake fluid - Power steering fluid - Coolant (Antifreeze) level - Battery - Windshield washer solvent - Belts & Hoses - Windshield wiper blades - Tires Engine Oil Level This is the most important under-hood check you can do. An engine cannot run without oil without serious engine damage or total destruc tion. To check the oil level, make sure that the engine is turned off, then find the engine oil dipstick and remove it. With a paper towel or rag, wipe off the end of the stick and notice the markings on it. You will usually see a mark for Full and another mark for Add. Push the stick back into the tube until it seats, then immedi ately pull it out to see the oil level. You should not add oil unless the level is below the Add mark and NEVER add oil to bring the level above the Full mark. Your main concern with this check is that the oil consumption is not rapidly increasing. If it is, take the car to a repair shop as soon as pos sible and have it checked out. Transmission Fluid Most automatic transmissions should be BCjI MM Mfc at MMMMg^pAf ■ ioro yygggflM Pro»e» TPT s79—~ pmiw WMWft JKJi I wmSmt Oatemins rroEL INJECTION ! MAINTENANCE **SNM4MttRCNHC|Hfk I'MMHMrMtIRfe, llOjfiir L* WS «W MM w MM MM MM» M MM <MM MM MM MM MM M NO INTEREST FINANCING • 6 MONTHS - NO NTEREST PURCHASES OVER ssoo* • 3 MONTHS * NO MTEREST PURCHASES OVER sloo* n !■“■■■■ M&nr ss mi2oo WJEjfA £ ApjjHPOMQti AutefQQINMF Mon.-Fri., 7:30-600; Sat., 7:30-1:00 KELLY l£ TIRES | checked while the engine is running. Check your owner’s manual to be sure. Brake Fluid The brake fluid is under the hood right in front of the steering wheel. Most cars today have > a transparent reservoir so that you can see the level without opening the cover. The brake fluid level will drop slightly as the brake pads wear out. Power Steering Fluid The power steering fluid reservoir usually has a small dipstick attached to the cap. Remove the cap and check the fluid level. The level should not change more than the normal range on the stick. If you have to add fluid more than ( once a year, then have the system checked for leaks. Battery Most batteries today are ‘maintenance free’ which simply means that you can’t check the water level. The main things to check are the top of the battery which should be clean and dry, and the terminal connections which should be clean and tight. Windshield Washer Solvent Windshield washer solvent is readily available by the gallon in auto stores as well as super markets and it is cheap. Belts and Hoses In most cases your mechanic can check your belts and hoses when you bring in the car for an oil change. These checks are best done while the car is cold. Belts are used to drive a number of compo- jKINNETICA^Sp Ifltturi gattej A&T (gTy mm* |Mgu BARB 1 fwwJ TTSi^p "* MB . yNURSf fisfjk y §eß 923-439? MBf® hSb nr GOODYEAR I «* ™ 4MB p m Bn B^Sbh_|^^ RAFFIELO== TIRE-MASTER i AUTO SERVICE CENTER “We Go The Extra Mik.. for You” 4 WHEEL ALUGNMENT i dr*?* _—_ - IXPMH«IC«i TICIMiCiUS HOUSTON DAILY JOURNAL nents on an engine and they should last about 30,000 miles. The other type for belt is called a V belt and is adjustable. There is usually more than one to an engine, sometimes three or four. Check each one for cracks and tightness and have them replaced if you find any problems. Hoses should be checked visually and by feel. You are looking for dry, cracked rubber, especially at the ends where they are attached. You should also check the ends for any signs of ballooning. Tires Buy a decent tire gauge and keep it in the car. Improper tire pressure can affect tire wear as well as ride and handling. You should always check your tires when they are cold. Use the manufacturers recommended tire pressures. Filters There are a number of replaceable filters in a car. They are listed in your owner’s manual along with recommended replacement inter vals. The Top Five Things You Should Know... 1. When you need help with the servicing of your vehicle, choose a reputable dealer. 2. Most dealers are price competitive. 3. Staying on a maintenance schedule often guarantees a longer life for your vehicle. 4. Always consult your owner’s manual when servicing your vehicle. 5. When in doubt about doing it yourself, check with your service center. sT?flso‘T| PjjlpgmjF WBWNIIII...jHm 1 -*| fate 0 TMS 4fi£2S JlLtaitßA ■y* *393L Vl lasftvni— abbjh tSemini DISC BRAKE SERVICE .oaaJfcH 1 ”* •iMaiMpk 'Spy* C 4 n OFF ! TEST v |||«^-; tipm 11WM* INr j free service package W/r>l -AN'T Tire’ Pi.'re h .:**e- P2' "C Saanc oc rei-vvC s*er f*Si~"CC Fa* Kepa-'S c '6r L'C f r -C • or. -a *• •■'• " '"'* ■ '° ’ ■ v. f f t ra-.w ’v c- : - N -^ NUCHELiN