MORE HINTS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 645, 23 April 1929, Page 6

MORE HINTS

The Care of the Car Topping Up Batteries Not every new owner appreciates the fact that when the level of acid in a car battery drops it is due solely to evaporation of the water. The acid itself does not evaporate, so, therefore, to return the level to its former height, distilled water only should be inserted; no acid will be needed. Protecting Horn Wires On certain cars the wiring from the electric horn to the button is affixed to the steering column. If these wires are left bare long enough in the first instance, they often break at the steering column, thus putting the horn out of action — possibly at a critical moment. Any risk of such a failure occurring can be overcome if, when putting on a new wire, it be given a loose double turn round the steering column, by which method no strain is put upon the wires when the wheel is turned. A Tyre Repair It is often the case that an otherwise perfectly good tyre blows out in one place. Naturally the owner does not wish to discard it, and so he puts a sleeve inside, this generally being made from an old cover. This makes a very strong repair, but the sleeve often works round the tyre, leaving the burst portion exposed. To obviate this the sleeve can be secured at each side, near the beading, with, a couple of small coach bolts and washers. The nuts, of course, should be outside, the round heads inside having no injurious effect on the tube. Better Light in the Rain Many motorists have probably noticed that their headlights do not seem to be nearly as brilliant when driving in the rain as they should be. The trouble is due to the diffusion of the raindrops that collect on the glass. Each one acts as a tiny lens, and the rays that should be directed toward the road in front are reflected off into every other direction except the right one. If the headlight glasses are wiped over with a rag •which has been moinstened with glycerine, the rain will not collect in drops, but will spread evenly over the glass, and will not affect the lights to any great extent. A new record for road construction has been set by America in the 195mile continuous stretch of concrete road laid in Alabama. The 135-mile section on the Minnesota highway was previously rated as the longest in the world.