Hot wheels to Hot Rod - Tremonton Leader

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6 Chipping in some advice Jessica Tanner Leader Staff Writer With winter coming to an end, it is time to free your dirty vehicle of all that salt and grime. Also you may want to consider replacing your windshield if it has expanded and cracked from the cold. Stan Summers of Windshield Wizzard and River Wash offered tips and suggestions for windshields and how to keep your vehicle clean inside and out. When calling to have your windshield replaced, make sure you know who your insurance company is, what your comprehensive deductible is and whether your vehicle is a two or four door, along with the year, make and model. These all make a difference in selecting the right windshield. Individuals should replace sandblasted windshields. Summers said, “I think a sandblasted windshield is as bad or worse than a crack.” They are hard to see through when the sun hits them and when it rains. The windshield cannot reflect the sun-light as efficiently and the water gets pitted in the holes, making it hard for the wipers to clear it. With chip repairs, if the weather is not nice, place a piece of scotch tape on the chip until it can be fixed. Summers said, “It is worth the money to pay and have the chips fixed rather than waiting for it to split and having to pay more later.” Chip repairs costs about $20. If an individual postpones fixing a chip, they will pay anywhere from $150-$500, depending on the replacement wind- A S T O RA G E Locally Owned By Stan Summers & Family Low Cash Price • High Quality Work 35 North 200 West • Tremonton shield. Chips only have to be filled once and are 75-85 percent clear. Take your vehicle to a shop where the chip can be fixed in a controlled environment. This decreases the likelihood of the chip cracking. Chips fail because of expansion and contractions in the glass. Spring is a good time to wash your vehicle. Maintaining it inside and out will increase its value. Washing preserves the vehicles paint and wax makes it easier to clean your vehicle the next time. Have your car detailed on a regular basis, whether it is at a shop or at home. Your vehicle’s carpet will last longer if vacuumed often. In the summer, wash your car frequently, but do not wash it during the heat of the day. If a vehicle is too hot, the water leaves spots because it does not have adequate time to dry, he said. Washing your vehicle at a car wash rather than at home saves 40-50 percent water. An individual has a time limit at a car wash. At home the individual become less concerned with the time factor and places the hose on the ground while it is still running. Summers said, “You only need about 10 minutes, tops, to wash your vehicle.” Tire cleaner can be used on your vehicle’s windshield and grill to remove bugs. However, make sure to rinse and brush off the cleaner so it does not bake onto your vehicle in the sun. Headlight restoration will also improve the look of your vehicle. The headlights look 90 percent better and are relatively cheap BUY ONE Chip Repair GET ON FREE 1 coupon per customer. Expires 5/31/11 Car Care Guide 2011 Car care down the road Jessica Tanner Leader Staff Writer Vacations are just around the corner but before you pack up, make sure your vehicle is serviced and ready. Matt Fowles, service manager at Murdock Chevrolet Buick, offered suggestions for maintaining vehicles. With the warm weather approaching, car issues can be manifested, Fowles said. Extreme temperatures bring out the worst in vehicles, making them more susceptible to problems. “A good portion of expensive repairs happen when customers are not following the preventative maintenances,” said Fowles. One of the most important things an individual can do is to familiarize themselves with the vehicle’s owner manual. Perform quick visual checks around and under the vehicle to look for leaks or other problems. Look under the hood to familiarize yourself with the engine and perform periodic fluid checks. This can be done while Leader/Jessica Tanner Murdock Chevrolet Buick technician Duely Smith works on a vehicle’s engine. filling up your vehicle with gas. Studies show repair costs in preventative maintenance often outweigh big expenses for those who wait for big repairs. “I have found this to be true,” said Fowles. “Our customers who maintain their vehicles seem to have their vehicles last longer than those who don’t, but there are always exceptions.” With fuel, Fowles recommends individuals run the octane level their vehicle calls for. In most cases, if the vehicle calls for an 87 octane, there is no added long-term benefits for using a higher-octane level. Fowles said people should check the engine oil and transmission fluid level. In the summer, top off the windshield washer fluid. Check the power steering fluid, brake fluid and tire pressure. It is also recommended to have spark plugs, filters, engine coolant and the timing belt checked on a regular basis to prevent big problems. When these items have issues they can damage the engine. • GAS • FOOD • SERVICE (435) 257-5455 327 West Main • Tremonton
Diagnostics is key for car care Ellen Cook Leader Editor The time is past when just about anyone can be a shade tree mechanic, doing major vehicle repairs in the driveway with a wrench and a rachet. Today most cars and trucks have become high-tech, sporting sophisticated computer systems requiring specialized equipment to detect small problems before they grow into larger ones. Nate Christensen of K&N Automotive, a local company that specializes in computer diagnostics, said engines may be the same as those of yesteryear, but operating systems are much more complicated. If a car develops problems, the parttime, do-it-yourself repairman may not be able to recognize the source of the problem immediately. A lit engine light may denote a multitude of issues, Christensen said, and guesswork can get expensive. Going to a parts store and picking up State Farm Insurance “Like A Good Neighbor State Farm is There” Jennifer Steward • Car • Home • Health • Life Car Care Guide 2011 7 what may or may not be needed for the repair is a waste of time and money. A simple, low-cost diagnosis by a qualified automotive technician can pinpoint exactly where the trouble is located and what needs to be done to remedy it. Christensen said after the analysis is made, the car owner can then decide if he is knowledgeable enough to fix it himself or turn the work over to a professional. Either way, Christensen said, “It’s worth knowing exactly what to do.” Those who don’t profess to be mechanics, shade tree or otherwise, and plan on taking their defective vehicle to a pro, should be prepared with a little information to make the diagnosis easier, according the Christensen. Does the car run rough in the morning or when it rains, does it make a noise during acceleration or when turning or is the car misfiring at higher speeds? “The more information the owner can provide the technician, the better,” he said. Christensen said a vehicle owner could do Ron Jeppeson 60 North 100 West • Tremonton, Utah 435-257-3940 some simple maintenance work on his own to keep the car running smoothly. Now is a good time to check the cooling system and car battery, as both hot and cold weather can be hard on them. Lack of maintenance can cause a multitude of problems, including misfires, poor gas mileage or even irreparable damage to the motor. Women who come in for repairs are often more guarded about sharing information, Christensen said, mainly because they are fearful about being taken advantage of. That is why all automobile owners, male or female, should take their vehicles to someone they trust, a reputable service center with high-quality equipment and service. K&N Automotive guarantees its diagnostic findings and its staff can offer sound advice to those who are do-it-yourself mechanics. K&N technicians are also qualified to provide a wide range of automotive services, from oil changes to engine repairs. Nate Christensen, owner of K&N Automotive, checks the bent axle on a truck. The local business offers a full line of automotive services, excluding alignments and tire replacements. Leader/ Ellen Cook
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