It's been some time since my last column but I'm back behind the wheel and pulling out into traffic again.
I suspect many of you attended the Junction Car Show recently, as did I, and I was very impressed! The turnout was great, the weather was great, and the selection of cars on display was also wonderful.
In only it's second year, I see that West Seattle was very welcoming in hosting a car show like this, and with all of the sponsors involved, looks like it will likely grow next year. Being in the heart of the business district of West Seattle, I think it's a great way to show what the community has to offer and it is always nice to see the care and attention that all of the owners give to the vehicles they had on display.
The Car Counselor looks forward to next year, and with a little luck, maybe our show can outgrow the Greenwood show!
My next topic is, now that summer has finally ended, the month of October is national Car Care Month. It is a great time to have your car or truck checked out and serviced for the fall/winter season.
Some important items to have inspected include tires, belts, hoses, wiper blades, coolant/antifreeze protection and starting/charging system.
Proper tire inflation and tread depth are vital to traction and braking in our wet winter months. Water is channeled away from the tread as you drive, and if tread depth is too small, the risk of hydroplaning increases.
Belts and hoses are constructed of rubber and rubber compounds and may become more stiff and/or noisy as the weather gets cold. It is essential to keep everything on the engine spinning at the proper speed and nobody likes to develop a leak in the cooling system when it's dark and cold.
The proper protection level of the coolant also guards against freezing in the cooling system as well and protects you from possible engine damage when the temperatures drop below freezing.
Problems with the starting and charging system that may not be evident in milder summer weather tend to crop up in wintertime. In addition to colder temperatures taxing the battery during starting, more accessories are being used. Lights, heater, wipers, etc. all being on at the same time may be too much for a weak or marginal charging system.
Stop by your regular service provider soon and give yourself the peace of mind you'll appreciate when you're doing that last-minute Christmas shopping at 8 p.m. when it's 38 degrees and raining.
Todd Ainsworth is shop manager at Alki Auto Repair and can be reached at todd400@comcast.net or 935-8059.
