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CAR CARE
NOVEMBER 18, 2013
GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN
DRIVING IN
Allendale When driving through campus and the surrounding area, it’s important to be careful. Although many of the roads do get salted, they are still rather slippery and dangerous. First, watch out for stoplights, stop signs, pedestrian cross walks and places that have people monitoring cross walks. All of these areas on campus get very busy at vari-
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ous parts of the day. Make sure to be cautious of what is going on around you in order to bring your car to a slow, safe stop. Second, parking lots tend to be particularly icy, so don’t lower your guard just because you’re no longer on the road. Drive slowly when pulling in or preparing to leave a parking spot to avoid hitting a vehicle or pedestrian in your vicinity. Third, Lake Michigan Drive should be proceeded with extra caution. With the curvy hills and high wind speeds, it becomes hard to see much of what is happening around you. The snow tends to blow, making for a complete white out, and the road get fairly slippery. In many areas, especially during weekdays when people are travelling between campuses, the street gets busy. Keep a space equivalent to two or three cars between you and the vehicle in front of you to avoid an accident. Four, when taking the back roads such as Fillmore Street toward Jenison, be aware of your surroundings, and take the snaky hill and sharp turn cautiously. For the most part, this street seems to be fairly safe if you drive at a moderate speed and break early enough in advance. Deer and other animals are commonly spotted in this area though, so keep that in mind, especially in the winter months. Five, West Campus Drive, Pierce Street and 48th Street, among others in the area, get very icy in the winter. These streets have been known to have several cars spin out. Drive at a moderate to slow speed, keep a large amount of room between you and other cars on the road and prepare to stop long enough in advance. Most importantly when driving in the Allendale area during the winter, and just driving in the winter in general, be cautious and confident. Black ice and slush are sometimes unavoidable, so remember to keep control of the wheel. Panicking only makes situations worse.
CAR CARE
NOVEMBER 18, 2013
GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN
5575 Lake Michigan Dr
3
616-895-0045
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Stationfortyfive@gmail.com
Auto Service & Sales
Complete Auto Repair for all makes and models th
56
e Av
Tires, Batteries, Check Engine Light, etc.. th
48
e Av Lake Michigan Drive
GVSU
4
CAR CARE
NOVEMBER 18, 2013
GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN
CAR PREP W
the air, the
worries have shivered into the bones of drivers. Although the imal at the moment, it only gets colder from here. As the snow begins to accumulate and the ice begins to condense, avoid slipping and sliding by simply paying attention to the road. accidents for Grand Valley State University during the winter time are due to driving too
fast for conditions and vehicles that are not ready for winter. Students should partake in a quick inspection rather than burning their money when the unprepared car fails them on the slick roads. Hansen-Dyke offers a variety of tips and services to keep your car intact and the money in your wallet. Driving safely during these cold months includes not only the mindset of the driver but also the tires and maintenance of the car. To insure that
your car is ready follow the Hansen-Dyke checklist: -Does your car need an oil change? -What are the lev-What is the percentage of the tread on your tires? -What is the tire pressure on your tires? -Is your car running soundly? Students can receive all these services at the local mechanic at great deals with brand new tires starting at $150. Also bring your GVSU I.D. To receive a discount on your next oil
change or brake repair service. Students can receive up to 10 persaid that maintenance of a vehicle helps reassure drivers, but the key to driving safely is to slow down and be cautious. “Any driver needs to travel according to how the weather conditions dictate and they need to be prepared for that,” Weaver said. “One should check the weather, you know, here in Allendale it’s sunny and mid-20s, south of here
“You Name It, We Fix It!”
along the lakeshore snow right now. Know your travel routes and communicate with friends and family.” So before the inches of snow begin to fall and the ice begins to pack, make sure to not only mentally prepare yourself for driving but also physically prepare your car. With these tips students, public will make the roadways safer and can avoid the bills of a car accident. spendowski@lanthorn.com
Auto Sales and Service
Complete Transmission Service
0-141 Lake Michigan Drive,
Front End Alignment
Grand Rapids, MI
Engine Overhaul
(616)-735-9400
Brakes
www.lakelandcarco.com
Exhausts Shocks and Struts WE SELL TIRES!! Most Brands 15% OFF any repair
FREE BRAKE INSPECTION
$15.95 Oil Change
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CAR CARE
NOVEMBER 18, 2013
GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN
FIRST AID KIT TOOL KIT FLASHLIGHT & EXTRA BATTERIES ROAD FLARES/REFLECTIVE TRIANGLES EMPTY GAS CONTAINER STRONG ROPE/TOW CHAIN PONCHO/UMBRELLA JUMPER CABLES SOLAR BLANKET GLOVES ICE SCRAPER
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HOURS: M-F: 7:30 - 5:30 Sat: Closed Sun: Closed
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68th Ave
Lake Michigan Drive
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64th Ave
All major credit cards accepted
6815 Lake Michigan Dr 616.895.6163 ensingsauto.com
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CAR CARE
NOVEMBER 18, 2013
GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN
FALL SERVICE SPECIALS ENGINE TUNE UP
SYNTHETIC 4x4 SERVICE
14995 $ 199 95 $ 26995
Remove old fluid from the front rear differential & transfer case, replace with GM Synthetic Fluid
Platinum plugs & ACDelco wires. Recommended at 100,000 miles.
$
4 Cyl
6 Cyl
8 Cyl
Exp 12-14-13. Plus taxes & supplies. Most makes/models. Not valid with other offers.
OLDIE SPECIAL
15%
OFF
Your ‘07 or older GM repair of $100+ Exp 12-14-13. Plus taxes & supplies. Most makes/models. Not to exceed $150. Not valid with other offers.
COOLANT SERVICE
119 95
$
+ tax
Flush cooling system with new coolant, pressure test, check hoses, cap & connections. Exp 12-14-13. Most makes/models. Not valid with other offers.
BATTERY REPLACEMENT
22995
$
+ tax
Exp 12-14-13. Most makes/models. Not valid with other offers.
80
$
TODD WENZEL GIFT CARD
With the purchase of four select tires. Up to $80 in manufacturer rebates available! 195/70R14 Kelley EXP 205/55R16 Goodyear RSA 225/60R16 Goodyear Integrity 225/55R17 Eagle LS2 255/65R16 Bridgestone Ecopia 265/75R16 Dest. LE LT245/75R16 Transforse HT 225/60R17 Goodyear Fuel Max 265/70R17 Goodyear ATS B.W. 275/55R20 Goodyear LS2 P245/65R17 Goodyear Fortera HL 275/55R20 Bridgestone ALZ
5995 $ 7995 $ 8995 $ 13995 $ 16995 $ 12995 $ 15495 $ 15995 $ 14995 $ 12995 $ 10995 $ 16995 $
Pricing for each tire shown above. Plus install of $16.25 each. Free rotations for life of tires. Exp 12-14-13. See advisor for details.
• • •
FREE LOANERS FREE CAR WASH PLUS MUCH MORE
8995
$
Installed
Exp 12-14-13. Plus taxes & supplies. Most makes/models. Not valid with other offers.
BRAKE PADS
7995
$
After $20 mail in rebate
ACDelco Professional DuraStop brake pads.
Exp 12-14-13. Most makes/models. See advisor for details. Not valid with other offers.
FRONT END ALIGNMENT
3995
$
With Inspection
Exp 12-14-13. Plus taxes & supplies. Most makes/models. Not valid with other offers.
OIL,TIRE ROTATION, INSPECTION
2995
$
After $10 mail in rebate
With conventional oil. Exp 12-14-13. Most makes/models. See advisor for details. Not valid with other offers.
Todd Wenzel Chevrolet 3156 Highland Dr. | Hudsonville (616) 669-6683
Shop toddwenzel.com
CAR CARE
NOVEMBER 18, 2013
GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN
T
he temperature is dropping and leaves are falling, which can only mean one thing—winter is coming. Before winter hits, it is imperative to get your vehicle prepared. Jill Tolman, who co-owns Tolman’s in Allendale along side her husband, suggests a winter tune up and to make sure your wipers and battery are functioning properly. “A battery that isn’t working to par won’t last the winter temperatures,” Tolman said. Don Mulder from Allendale Auto Service points out that maintence is also important. Check your vehicles charging system, alternator, battery, starter, and make sure your antifreeze stays up to temperature. Tires are also an important component of having a safe winter on the road. Maintenance and tune ups should
ideally be done before it starts to freeze and the snow starts to fly, but its better later than never. As the winter hits it is a good idea to keep certain items in your vehicle at all times. “Make sure you have a good snowbrush and also a winter kit just in case you do break down you can stay warm,” Mulder said. A successful winter kit consists of flares, kitty litter to help you get unstuck by helping to create traction, hand and feet warmers, and a shovel. Keeping a full tank of gas is also important because it keeps moisture from forming and prevents freezing. Keep in mind that driving in winter conditions is much different than driving on a perfect summer day. Drive according to the conditions and remember to accelerate and decelerate slowly to help regain traction in the ice and snow and don’t try to power up hills because it will only increase your risk of spinning out.
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On days where ice or snow is present keep an eight to 10 second following distance between vehicles to allow more reaction time. Also on those kinds of days don’t use your cruise control but remain in manual control. “Make sure you know your brakes. If you have the antilock system brakes push the pedal straight down and keep it there. If you don’t have the antilock then pump your brakes,” Tolman said. As the winter quickly approaches it is important to prepare so the upcoming winter will be a safe one. Take your vehicle in for a winter tune up and check to make sure everything is working properly. It is better to be overly prepared than not prepared at all, so pack a “winter kit” in your car in case of emergencies. Most importantly when driving, remember to drive according to the conditions. Help us make this winter as safe as possible on the roadways by being cautious and geared up.
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