Because they are classified as light
trucks and multipurpose vehicles,
these overwhelmingly popular replace-
ments for station wagons are exempt
from some of the federal safety
standards for passenger cars. Check
into: Crash-resistant roof, doors and
bumpers, head restraints, automatic
seatbelts in front seats and shoulder
harnesses on rear-seat belts.
Source. Karen Fjer,t, co-author with Jack Gillis of The car
Book, H~rper & Row, 10 E. 53rd St., New York 10022.
Front-wheel-drive cars: Check to verify
that the radiator fan is operating. If it's
not, turn on the air conditioner, which
may force the fan to come on via a
separate circuit.
Rear-wheel-drive cars:
Turn off the air conditioner...
occasionally shift into neutral and rev
the motor at 1200-1300 rpms to speed
up the fan and fluid flow.
Both types of cars:
Coast as much as possible.. put the
car in neutral as much as possible.. .use
the brakes as little as possible. Last
resort:
Open the windows and turn on the
heater full blast.
Preventive measures:
Maintain the proper level of engine
oil-too much or too little can make
the car run hot . . keep tires properly
inflated-under-inflation causes
excessive drag.. .wash the radiator to
clear trapped bugs, which prevent the
free flow of air.
Source: Dee Bcungardt, wocldelass technician and editor of
Nor: ondRoir:, Box 123, Butler; Maryland 21023.
To avoid a parking4ot fenderbender...
ePark next to four-door cars. Their
doors are shorter than those on two-
door models, so riders are less likely to
hit adjacent vehicles when opening
their doors.
Park between compact cars. The
smaller the cars, the bigger the space
in between them.
Park next to a new vehicle. New car
owners are usually much more careful.
Avoid parking next to rusted cars.
These car owners are not concerned
with the appearance of their car-or
yours.
Don't park behind a truck or van.
They have a limited rear view.
Don't park at the unprotected end of
a row. Poor visibility at parking lot
intersections leads to numerous
accidents.
Park squarely in the middle of your
space.. .and parallel to the lines. That
puts your car as far as possible from
others.
Avoid parking near poles. Then you
can't back or turn into a pole you for-
got was there.
elf spaces are perpendicular to the
aisle, look for empty facing spaces and
pull through to the far row. When
leaving, just pull forward. This is safer
than backing out.
Don't pull through empty facing spaces
if they are angled. Such lots are usually
designed with one-way driving lanes. If
you pull through, you'll be heading in
the wrong direction when you leave.
Source: American Automohile Association, gil Gatehouse
Rd., Fall, Church, Virginia 22047.
Three or four repairs were attempted
for the same problem.. .or
The car was inoperable for 30 days
within the first year or within 12,000
miles of the warranty period.
In both cases: The problem must
substantially lower value, use or safety.
Example: Cigarette4ighter problems
would not qualify, but power windows
could.
To prove your car is a lemon...
Keep accurate records of the number
of repair attempts and the time the car
is out of service.
Give the dealer a dated, detailed list
of problems each time you bring the
car in (and keep a copy for yourself).
Obtain a copy of repair orders to
prove when the car was not driveable.
Source: Lemon Book: Auto Rights for New & Used Cars by
Ralph Nader and Clarence Ditlow, Moyer Bell, Ltd., colonial
Hill, Mt. Kisco, New York 10549.
Before selling your car, don't under-
take major mechanical repairs or body
work. What you'll receive for the car
will almost never cover these high
costs. What should be done before
selling: A thorough cleaning-inside
and out, including the trunk... have the
engine steam-cleaned, to remove
accumulated dirt... remove corrosion
from the battery... tighten anything
(license plate, mirrors, etc.) that is
loose or rattling.
Source: The Used Car Bank by Jack Gillis, Harper & Row, 10
E. 53 St., New York 10022.
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