As part of the "Be Car Care Aware" education campaign, the Car
Care Council is also offering a free service interval schedule to
help take the guesswork out of what vehicle systems need to be
routinely inspected and when service or repair should be performed.
Hot Weather the True Culprit Behind Car-Battery
Trouble
Excessive heat and overcharging are the two
main reasons for shortened battery life. Heat causes battery fluid
to evaporate, this damaging the internal structure of the battery. A
malfunctioning component in the charging system, usually the voltage
regulator, allows too high a charging rate. That's slow death for a
battery.
True, there are more road service calls in
cold weather for dead batteries that cause starting failure. That's
when a battery's output is diminished because of sluggish
electro-chemical action that gives the battery its power. Also,
colder temperatures increase thickness of the engine oil, making the
engine harder to turn over. These factors lead to harder starting.
"An average of one out of four vehicles gets
a new battery every year," said Rich White, executive director of
the Car Care Council. "Sooner or later all batteries have to be
replaced, but having to so prematurely can involve more than the
cost of a road service call and a new battery, it can be
inconvenient as well."
To get the most life out of a battery, White
suggests the following:
- Be sure the electrical system is charging
at the correct rate; overcharging can damage a battery as quickly
as undercharging.
- If your battery is the type that needs to
be topped off, check it regularly, especially in hot weather. Add
distilled water when necessary.
- Always replace a battery with one that's
rated at least as high as the one originally specified.
- Keep the top of the battery clean. Dirt
becomes a conductor, which drains battery power. Further, as
corrosion accumulates on battery terminals it becomes an
insulator, inhibiting current flow.
Cold Facts About A/C
Refrigerant
How did we ever get along without air
conditioning in our cars? It's a feature we take for granted until,
suddenly, it's blowing hot air.
In the past few years, many owners have
discovered that fixing an inoperative air conditioner can cost a few
hundred dollars or more, depending upon the make and model of
vehicle. The reason is that the old standby R-12 refrigerant, trade
named DuPont Freon, has been replaced by R-134a. Touted as being
environmentally safer than its predecessor, R-134a has been standard
since '94.
If
your older vehicle needs major repairs to the air conditioning
system you can expect to replace refrigerant and the oil in the
compressor in addition to the old components. You also may need to
install a retrofit conversion. Do not allow anyone to mix
refrigerants. They're not inter-changeable. You cannot add R-134a to
your older air conditioner without first flushing the system.
Further, according to the Car Care Council, some substitutes are
volatile mixtures of propane, butane and flammable hydrocarbons.
Keep in mind the fact that if your vehicle is
leaking refrigerant, you're damaging the ozone
layer.
Click the cover to download the brochure |
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An annual
inspection of the vehicle, including the air conditioning
system, may help forestall costly repairs. Many automotive
service shops offer AC inspection specials when warm weather
arrives. Otherwise, ask your service center to evaluate your
system before those hot and humid days of summer.
Quiz - Check your cooling system
knowledge.
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