Odd Jobs in the Garage

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23333, 29 April 1939, Page 12 (Supplement)

Odd Jobs in the Garage

REPLACEMENTS THAT PAY FOR ATTENTION

MODERN cars give such re- | liable service that many owners overlook the fact that certain parts must inevitably wear out. If they do riot expire they at least deteriorate. But until almost the bitter end, these components continue to function and their rate of deterioration is gradual, so that one does not realise perhaps the corresponding dropping off in performance, whether it be in the engine, in economy, in lighting, braking, or some other direction. All such points do pay for attention and Bome for replacement after a fair mileage has been covered. Normal maintenance will help to keep them in trim. After service of 10,000 to 15,000 miles, a drop in performance may result from a loss of spark plug efficiency, too wide a gap and worn points in the distributor, faulty insulation of the high

control, the battery itself may liavo given its best service and it will be xo your advantage, then, to replace it. "Nothing is more annoying than an electrical breakdown which robs a car of ignition as well as lights. See to the fuses. Other renewable features or a mechanical nature arc the "brake linings. One expects more than 10,000 miles from these nowadays, but the efficiency of the braking system will indicate the degree of attention desirable. If you have an hydraulic system, top-up the reserve tank with the proper brake fluid. Do not in any circumstances use ordinary oil. The tyres are another essential to Bafety. Worn covers or those which show any signs of cuts which weaken the walls should be renewed. Do not forget that good covers sometimes repay the cost involved in having them retreaded, which gives an increased non-skid quality. There are many other things about the car which pay for attention, to give increased pleasure as well as increased efficiency. Have the upholstery vacuumed, particularly if it is a cloth, to remove the dust which settles therein. Floor mats will show signs of wear where one's heels rests. Seat cushions may have settled a bit under constant use, and wedges placed beneath them will help to restore them to a comfortable angle. Consider, also, loose covers to cover up oil stains and blemishes. Lamp bulbs lose their efficiency after constant use. Windscreen wiper blades may have become fouled with mud or crease and no longer give that clean sweep which is essential. A sluggish vacuum-operated type may simply need renewal of the hose connection, which may be leaking, interfering, incidentally, with the engine efficiency as well as the wiper efficiency. Rubber door buffers compress or wear and thev are easily renewable. Rattles may be'stopped with special insulating tape and rubber strips. Cover blemishes in the wings or body with the appropriate synthetic or cellulose paint.

tension leads, air leaks past the inlet manifold and carburetter joints, apart from mechanical considerations, such as the valve gear, worn pistons, and so on, states a writer in the Motor. Certain parts are renewable. Plugs can be replaced with advantage after about 10,000 miles. From this change alone one will definitely find an improvement in performance and economy. Check up the gap in the distributor. It may be desirable to renew the points as well. If they have been hammering away with too great a gap for a period, it may lead also to condenser trouble, so have these put right as well. The high tension leads may let you down and cause short circuiting as a spark'jumps from faulty insulation to the cylinder block, for example, but this generally follows because they run too close to a warm component. Oil may also settle from the fumes which circulate under the bonnet and help to eat their way through any weakened covering. Plug leads are not dear and are easy to renow. While still under the bonnet consider also other parts of the electrical equipment. Dynamo brushes wear out: and make sure that all connections are tight. The batteries, it has been found, K ive considerably better service on modern cars which have constant voltage control embodied in the dynamo. None the less, they still need topping dP If you own an earlier model which has not the modern system of charging