MOTOR REPAIRS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 10 January 1931, Page 3

MOTOR REPAIRS

HOW TO GIVE INSTRUCTIONS SOME HELPFUL ADVICE .It is unfortunate, but nevertlilcss true, that sooner or later every ownerdriver has to give instructions for the carrying out of repairs or adjustments; but the delay and inconvience while the car is laid up can be considerably reduced if proper arrangements are made beforehand.

The man who uses his car only for week-end runs is in the habit of locking the garage door on Sunday evenings and forgetting all about motoring until the following Friday when he begins to plan the weekend programme once more. Then he suddenly recollects a mysterious engine knock, a noisy tappet, or a squeaky spring. The car is rushed at once to the agent’s repair shop with instructions that “it must be ready for the week-end.” Time and unnecessary annoyance are saved if arrangements are made in plenty of time with the garage foreman so that once the car is in the shop the work will be done as expeditiously as possible. When leaving the car for repairs, loose tools, rugs and floor carpets should be left at home. It is not that one distrusts garage hands; on the contrary they are usually a most obliging and honest body of men, who are always ready to help the owner-driver and to explain what has caused the trouble and how it may be prevented from recurring. But in a large garage there are people moving in and out all day long, and it is some of these people who seem to cause tools to disappear mysteriously. One may not discover the loss until a roadside adjustment is required, and one may be held up for hours on this account. If there is a lock on the tool box, there is no need to take any further, precaution; but any tools not under lock and key should be left in the home garage. WHAT TO DO BEFORE LEAVING THE CAR - When leaving a car for an extensive overhaul it is always advisable to make out a list of what has to be dofte,and on taking delivery to check over the list with the foreman. It is really extraordinary how the smaller items can bo overlooked, and it is extremely an-, noying to find, after one has reached home, that one or two details have been completely ignored. Mechanics do not leave the large items to chance; the job is done and done thoroughly; but when one has asked for the door hinge to be adjusted, the ignition advanced a trifle, the liand-brake taken up, or the fan belt tightened—-all things which could be done at home in the ordinary way but which may as vyell be carried out when larger repairs 'aye being executed—it is so easy for one or two to be forgotten.

After an extensive overhaul has been completed, and before one drives away, it is advisable to check the level of radiator and batteries, to see that there is sufficient oil in the sump, and that the repair ticket has been removed. One would expect, to find the foreman seeing to these details, but again, ! it is easy for-'small 1 things to be forgotten, and annoying to. find the rdiiator thermometer registering “danger” within a few miles, of leaving the garage, or some such occurrence which could have been avoided so easily. Repairs always mean a certain amount of inconvenience; byit motor en, gineers as a rule welcome the ownerdriver who arranges beforehand about the work required, for it simplifies shop routine and, in the end, makes for satisfied customers.