“Kn w Y ur Car”


Keeping Your Car Battery On Track for Winter


taking a long trip or after it’s been recharged. Inspect the battery cables, posts and fasteners: Prepar- ing your car for the winter doesn’t end with the battery itself. You need to inspect your battery cables, posts and fasteners. Make sure the cables are in good shape and are secured firmly to the battery. Corrosion keeps power from flowing freely from the battery, reducing the power that is available to start the car. Keep it clean: Clean the battery terminals with a wire brush or spray some battery cleaner on the terminals. In just 30 seconds, Inter-


Clear vision is essential


to safe driving, especially in the wintertime. Neglect your wiper blades, and you may find yourself in hazardous weather situations with limited vision. The most important aspect


Salem Community Patriot January 28, 2010 - 11


Monthly AUTO SECTION


Don’t Wait Until it’s Too Late to Change Your Wiper Blades


“Kn w Y ur Car”


Here’s a cool idea: Be sure your car’s battery is in good condition before venturing out into the cold


Preventing a frozen battery in the winter is easier than you may think if you take some time to check out the situation before nasty weather sets in.


To ensure that your car battery starts depend-


ably, no matter how outrageous the weather, Interstate Batteries cold weather expert Gale Kimbrough offers some simple tips to protect your car battery against severe cold conditions: Test the starting power: The cold weather can


dramatically reduce a battery’s available starting power, so have the vehicle’s starting and charg- ing system tested every three months or every oil change.


Charge the battery: Use a battery charger to maintain charge levels and keep the battery in good condition. If the battery is more than three years old, it should be tested to make sure it can survive the coldest winter months. Test the battery: Have the battery tested before


state All Battery Center loca- tions can provide motorists with a free printout analysis of their vehicle’s battery


condition-from projected battery life to cranking performance. It’s important to have the battery and electrical system checked by a professional. Sometimes the naked eye cannot detect the pres- ence of corrosion because it is hidden under the metal between the connection and the post. A fully charged battery is the best defense against cold weather and vehicle nonstarts because engines require more cranking amps in colder weather. The cold also reduces a battery’s efficiency, reducing its charge acceptance and ability to start an engine. An engine at 32 degrees Fahrenheit often demands more than 150 percent cranking power from the battery than it does at 80 degrees. At 0 degrees Fahrenheit, it can be 250 percent. For more information, visit www.interstatebat- teries.com.


- NAPSI Monthly AUTO SECTION


of driving is being aware of your surroundings. When the weather takes a turn for the worse, a driver’s best friend is a set of wiper blades that leave your windshield with a consis- tent, clean, clear wipe. Not only is a clean wind- shield a necessity during rain, snow and sleet, but how many times have you experienced a windshield that is smeared with insects, bird droppings, road tar or other messy deposits? Removing such dirt with worn wiper blades is nearly impos- sible. Usually, you wind up smearing the mess and obscur- ing your vision even more. If you change your blades regu- larly, you can avoid these problems and keep your eyes clearly on the road. Knowing when to change your blades So when should you change your wiper blades? When a blade is past its physical prime, it will show wear signs like cracking or discoloration. Another indicator that it’s time for new wiper blades is by the quality of the wipe. Streaking or unwiped areas are a dead giveaway. If the blades make noise or chattering sounds, then they need to be replaced. On some newer blades, such as PEAK Valeo SmartBlade, there is a built-in wear indicator which recognizes diminished blade per- formance. By taking one glance at the indicator, you will know when they need replacing. How often should you replace your blades? If your blades don’t have a special indicator, the National Highway Transportation Board recom-


Beware of Glare for Safety


sunglasses. In fact, a clinical study conducted by Essilor as a precursor to the survey found that driver reaction times improve by one-third of a second for drivers who wear polarized lenses. For a car traveling 50 miles per hour, one-third of a second allows a driver to stop 23 feet sooner, or the length of an intersec- tion. In glare-intense situations, polarized lenses, improve vision clarity by 75 percent, as opposed to ordinary sun lenses, allowing wearers to enjoy better clarity of vision.


Sixty percent of eyeglass wear- Polarized lenses can improve vision clarity by up to 75 percent, an important factor in driving safely


Good vision is an essential part of driving safely, and more than 90 percent of decisions and reac- tions made behind the wheel depend on it. While many believe a bright, sunny day is optimal for driving, the reality is that blinding glare from sun, snow and vehicles can be a significant contribut- ing factor to fatal auto accidents. Additionally, a recent survey commissioned by Essilor of America, Inc., the world leader in eyeglass lenses, revealed the disturbing fact that 20 percent of eyeglass wearers sometimes drive without their prescription glasses and instead wear nonprescription sun- glasses, quickly making day driving unnecessarily treacherous. Glare Dangers When driving, consider the following tips to minimize dangers from glare. • Drive carefully and keep a safe distance be- tween your car and the car ahead of you. • Keep your car’s windshield clean. • Use the sun visor. • Rest your eyes and take frequent breaks dur- ing sunny conditions.


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• Purchase a pair of polarized, prescription sunglasses if you wear eyeglasses, as they cut the glare much more effectively than over-the-counter sunglasses. The Importance of Polarized Lenses For blinding glare when driving, simple solu- tions abound in the form of polarized, prescription


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ers surveyed agree that when driving during the day, glare from sun and snow makes it difficult to see while driving; however, those with prescription sun- glasses, particularly those with polarized lenses experience less trouble. Currently, only one- third of eyeglass wearers have prescription sunglasses with polarized lenses, so it’s critical that consumers discuss with


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their eye care professionals the lifesaving benefits of polarized, prescription sunglasses. For more information, visit www.xperiousa.com. - NAPSI


mends that drivers change their wiper blades, at minimum, every year. However, the average vehicle owner replaces his/her wiper blades only once every 2.5 years. “Most people wait until they are in a down- pour and nearly drive off the road before they are convinced it’s time to change blades,” says Jenifer Maddox, product manager for PEAK Automotive Products. Some blades, such as the SmartBlade, even come with simple connector systems that make installing the blades on any vehicle a snap, so there is no excuse for not replacing worn out blades. If you’ve been procrastinating about changing


your windshield wiper blades, take a few min- utes today to change them. You’ll be glad you did when your windows are clear and dry this winter. - ARA Content


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