A Few Checks Now Could Save Your Holiday
The Age
Thursday November 24, 1994
IF THE weather of the past week is anything to go by, we're in for a long, hot summer with sudden lashings of heavy rain. These are just the conditions to test your car to the max.
It's a good time to start fixing key items. Your car's cooling system is probably going to be stretched this year. Nearly every car has coolant in the radiator to protect it. However, after two years it starts to eat the parts it is meant to protect so to avoid blown head gaskets, leaking radiators and heater cores it should be flushed out and replaced. Get the system pressure tested.
A dud radiator cap will cause the car to boil and soft hoses will blow under pressure. Check the bypass hoses hidden around the top of the engine. Heater hoses are also important as they have to hold the same pressure as any other part of the cooling system. And if the car has a thermatic electric fan, does it cut in when it's needed? The air-conditioning is often the only way to demist the windscreen in a sudden storm. Give it a test run; if it doesn't chill quickly enough it's time for a re-gas. Check the belts driving the water pump and air-conditioning for tension and wear.
With the kids and holiday luggage on board and the temperature in the 40s, your brakes have to work harder than they ever did on your way to work. Brake fluid is hygroscopic and spends all winter sucking up the moisture from the air, lowering its boiling point ready for total failure.
Brake fluid should be flushed and renewed every two years and leaks in the system repaired. Automatic transmissions also work harder with extra weight and heat and need to be checked at least every two years.
Dirty auto transmission fluid needs to be flushed out and replaced, filters cleaned and routine adjustments made for best economy and reliability.
Leaking exhaust systems can fall apart on a long hot drive and can be dangerous as they fall on the road. They can also pump fatal carbon monoxide into the cabin to create those mysterious ``left the road and hit a tree" fatalities. Check the rubber seal around the hatch or boot, if it's split or broken it will cause exhaust to be sucked into the cabin. There was a tragedy in NSW in which a family of sleeping children were gassed to death when exhaust leaked past a faulty tailgate seal as their father drove into the night.
Worn shock absorbers or dampers often do not show up until the car is loaded. They also deteriorate in the heat. They are one of the most important items as they keep the wheels on the road when you brake and steer and stop the car from bouncing when you hit a dip or a bump.
Most modern cars have coil springs at the back for a smooth ride but they slump with age so when you load up the car, there is no springing left. This can be lethal but new springs can be fitted for as little as $100 on some cars.
Most modern cars have a cam belt that needs replacing every 50,000 kilometres or later. If they break, the engine stops dead or blows up.
If it happens in the middle of nowhere your car may not be easily fixed, so check when it is due.
It's a good time to clean the rubbish out. When you spend hours behind the wheel, fresh air free of food smells and other junk can help you stay alive.
The diet of birds must change in summer, as when it comes through the other end it seems to lift the paint. A thick coat of polish acts as a barrier when you park under a tree for shade.
Tyres, wiper blades, lights and seat belts are also worth a close look.
© 1994 The Age