Rutherford Weekly - Shelby NC
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Wednesday, November 23-November 30, 2011 www.rutherfordweekly.com 828-248-1408 Rutherford Weekly - Page 17 Keep Your Vehicles Running Their Best Simple ways to add years to a vehicle's life Getting more for your money is a popular trend among consumers. As economic uncertainty reigns, smart consum- ers are looking for the best values in an effort to get the most out of each and every dollar they spend. One of the best ways to stretch a dollar is to take better care of your vehicle. Buying a home and fi nancing a college education are perhaps the only times many consumers will spend more money than they do when purchasing a vehicle. But unlike a home or an education, few people take their vehi- cles seriously, all too often avoiding vehicle maintenance that can greatly increase a car or truck's life expectancy. Drivers who want to keep their cars going strong for years to come can do so in a handful of ways. • Prevent, prevent, prevent. Preventive maintenance might seem like a boring way to spend a weekend morning or after- noon, but the efforts will be well worth it. Oil changes and fi lter replacements are quick and easy jobs but pay major dividends over the long haul. Drivers who aren't comfortable performing these tasks themselves need not worry about costly trips to the mechanic. Routine jobs like an oil change or air fi lter re- placement are relatively inexpensive, and today's vehicles can go much longer between oil changes and fi lter replacements. Each vehicle manufacturer is different, so drivers should con- sult their owner's manual and adhere to the recommended maintenance schedule. • Stay balanced. Balanced tires are tires that will last longer. But an out of balance tire will not only shorten the life of tires, it can also do damage to the rest of the vehicle while simulta- neously making riding in the car much less comfortable. When a tire is properly balanced, its mass is uniformly distributed around the axle, making for a smooth, vibration-free ride. How- ever, an out of balance tire shortens the life expectancy of sus- pension components, including bearings and shocks. Repairs that result from an unbalanced tire can prove costly. Should a vibration occur as the vehicle accelerates (typically, this vibra- tion will be noticeable when the car reaches speeds of 40-45 mph), chances are the tires are not properly balanced. • Look good, feel good. The credo of "look good, feel good" isn't only applicable to humans. In fact, a car that looks good likely feels good as well.Washing and waxing a car regularly helps avoid rust under the carriage and in the wheel wells. The longer a car goes between washes, the more likely it is to rust, and the paint is likely to corrode as well. There is no quick fi x to either of these problems, but preventive maintenance, like routinely washing and waxing the vehicle, can keep these po- tentially menacing issues from ever rearing their rusty heads. Preventing rust and corrosion is also a good way to ensure a car's resale value does not diminish over time. • Get out and drive. Cars that spend most of their life in stop- and-go traffi c likely won't last as long as those that routinely get out and go. That's because city driving with lots of stopping and going is very taxing on an engine. On a highway, air fl ow to the radiator, oil fl ow to the engine and everything that makes a car run is much more consistent, reducing the stress on the engine as a result. Constantly accelerating and decelerating is hard on an engine, while the consistent speeds of highway driving offer a welcome respite to the engine. City dwellers should get out and drive their car on a highway at least once a month for no less than 30 minutes. This is also a good way to get rid of potentially harmful condensation that can negatively impact engine performance. When looking to get more for your money, one of the best ways to do so is to take better care of the car sitting in your driveway. Courtesy of Metro Editroial Thanksgiving or Any Day... This Is A Bad Combination. Many people mistakenly assume that New Year's Eve is the holiday responsible for the most drunk-driving acci- dents. Although champagne and other alcoholic drinks are often free-fl owing on December 31, New Year's Eve holds a distant second place to Thanksgiving for the most drunk driving-related fatalities. McCurry-Deck $29.95* Oil/Filter Change + 27 Point Checkover No Appointment Needed mccurrydecknissan.com 156 Oak Street Extension OIL CHANGE SPECIAL! WILLETTE AUTOMOTIVE 5 quarts oil & filter, $ top off all fluids. 2080 Rte. 74 Business, Ellenboro 828-453-0380 AUTOS-TRUCKS QUICK CA$H!! Cars & trucks running or not. We pay top $dol- lar$. Batteries, $5. Check us out! Rick @ 704-470-7476. AUTOS-TRUCKS Front To Rear Full Service Repair Center! AUTOS-TRUCKS 2000 HONDA ACCORD Coupe. Leather, hail damage, runs great, 94k, miles, $5500. Set of 17" wheels & tires $250. 828-429- 7093. 1977 CHEVROLET TRUCK. Real good condition, rebuilt trans- mission & other repairs, 283 V8, $2000 OBO. 828-288-8436 or 828-748-2480. 2004 CHEVROLET Colorado, 4 cylinder, air, 5 speed, good miles, $4800. 828-247-4889. 1937 JAGUAR REPLICA Con- vertible, 4 cylinder, VW motor, 4 speed, $5500. 828-247-4889. 1986 MAZDA B2000, extended cab, $2500. 1996 Dodge Neon, automatic, $1800. 1993 Mitsubi- shi DeMante, $2000. All run ex- cellent. 704-470-7476. CASH MONEY FOR JUNK Cars, Trucks, SUVs & Vans. Will beat any price. Call 7 days a week, 828-223-3857. GM Factory Trained ASE Certification This message is brought to you by: Flush Radiator Replace Antifreeze Check Belts & Hoses WINTERIZE YOUR COOLING SYSTEM! SPECIAL $85.00 Plus Tax Regularly $105.00 AUTOS-TRUCKS 2005 RED FORD TRUCK, extra cab, 4x4, 111,500 miles, $9,995. 828-453-0609. AUTOS-TRUCKS 1999 CHEVY TAHOE 4x4, 4 door, auto, 350 Vortec, 145k miles, PW, PL, air, heated seats, leather inte- rior, $3800. 704-538-9604. AUTOS-TRUCKS AUTOS-TRUCKS 2002 FORD TAURUS S.W., V6, S.E., all power, 153k hwy miles, new tires, A-1 shape, $2800. 828- 248-1950, 828-429-8197. AUTOS-TRUCKS 24.99 AUTO PARTS 1891 Harris-Henrietta Road Forest City, NC ROBBINS 828-657-5732 robbinsrepairables.com Expires 11-30-11 Model Parts & Rebuildables Parts Guaranteed Computerized ©Community First Media ©Community First Media 12/2/11. ©Community First Media NOW OFFERING TIRES FOR SALE! DON'T DRINK AND DRIVE