Caring for Your Car
Before it gets cold, follow these steps
to ensure safe driving in all seasons.
-lealthy Heart
By Kenny "the Car Guy" Walters
1
Walk aims to raise awareness
of congenital heart disease.
Before we know it, the crisp air and crunch of leaves will be replaced with bitter snow and ice-
glazed streets. It's the perfect time to plan ahead so your car can weather the seasons even better
than you. For this reason, try to park in garages as much as possible when it's cold out, to protect your
battery's power level.
First, survey the entire car with a perspective on general maintenance. Make sure your car's fluid
levels are sufficient for the season.
Now that you've checked fluids, let's take a closer look at the parts of your vehicle that are most
vulnerable to cold:
Cortney Barnett and her team from last year's walk
T
he third annual Congenital
Heart Walk of SE Michigan
will be held Sunday, Sept. 29,
at Depot Park in Clarkston. The Adult
Congenital Heart Association, along
with the Children's Heart Foundation,
are part of a national effort to raise
awareness and funds for vital research,
education, support and advocacy pro-
grams in the fight against congenital
heart disease.
Here are a few facts about congenital
heart disease:
• Congenital heart defects are the most
common birth defects in the U.S.
• One out of every 100 babies born has
a CHD.
• Every 15 minutes a baby is born with
a heart defect.
• Due to advances in treatment and
monies raised by organizations,
more than 85 percent of babies born
with a heart defect now live to at
least age 18.
• Today there are more than 1 million
adults living with congenital heart
disease.
Cortney Barnett of Beverly Hills
is co-chairing the event with Sally
Powers of Clarkson. Barnett has cre-
ated Team Mrs. A & Mrs. Bs with her
mother-in-law, Deborah Barnett, and
her mother, Alisa Ambrose, both of
West Bloomfield.
Barnett, 27, was diagnosed with
complex congenital heart disease at
2 months old. She underwent two
closed-heart and two open-heart sur-
geries by the time she was 8. Living
with congenital heart disease is a life-
long struggle, and Cortney will require
more surgeries in the future. She has
episodes of atrial flutter, an irregular
heart rhythm that tires her out easily
and requires monitoring during exer-
cise.
She attended Temple Israel in West
Bloomfield, and was active in its
Brakes: Make sure your rotors are still in good shape. If they look warped or cracked, or if the pads
have been worn down to a flimsy minimum, it may be time to have your brakes serviced.
Antifreeze: In the dead of winter, antifreeze stops your engine from freezing and breaking down, so
it's imperative to put some in your radiator. Keep in mind that antifreeze should always maintain a
50:50 ratio of water and antifreeze chemicals.
Three generations: Alisa Ambrose,
Lois Katzman and Cortney Barnett
at last year's walk.
youth group and madrachim program.
In 2011, she married Seth Barnett,
a member at Temple Shir Shalom.
Professionally, she teaches students
who are deaf and hearing impaired in
the Bloomfield Hills schools. As a vol-
unteer, she is working hard to advocate
and raise money for all affected by
congenital heart disease.
Keri Urquhart, a nurse educator
from the Michigan Department of
Community Health, will be a guest
speaker at the walk. She will announce
the results of recent legislative efforts to
mandate newborn screening for critical
congenital heart disease in Michigan. If
passed, this means all newborns will be
given a pulse oximetry screening before
leaving the hospitals.
Registration for the Congenital
Heart Walk of SE Michigan opens at 9
a.m. Sunday, Sept. 29, at Depot Park in
Clarkston. The walk begins at 10 a.m.
There is no charge to walk, but dona-
tions are welcome. Also enjoy food,
refreshments, music, family entertain-
ment and a 1.5-mile walk through the
historic village of Clarkston.
To donate to Cortney Barnett's team,
visit tinyurl.com/mrsaandmrsbs.
To create your own team or for more
details about the, go to www.
congenitalheartwalk.org or email
cortneybarnett@gmail.com.
❑
Tires: In slush and sleet, we count on our tires to maintain proper traction and air pressure. If you
haven't changed your tires in a while, chances are they're worn, and have lost much of their 'tread
depth' (that measures how deep the grooves in your tires go). Rotating and inspecting your tires
quarterly will keep you in top shape.
Also, consider investing in snow tires before winter.These specialized tires are made with rubber
compounds that resist low temperatures and grip the ground even under unplowed snow.
Coolant: Before the cold hits, check your coolant system.This includes checking radiator pressure and
examining hoses under the hood for cracks or bulges.
Windshield: Clear visibility is a huge part of driver safety. Refill windshield fluid when it gets low.Also,
since your wiper blades are made of rubber, which can freeze and break over time, replace them
whenever you notice cracks, skids or uneven wiping. If you haven't replaced your blades within the last
six to 12 months, it's time.
Battery: Cold weather reduces a car's battery capacity, so it's wise to do a thorough inspection before
winter arrives. Check battery fluid level and look at cables for breaks or cracks. Make sure all terminals
fit tightly together.
After your inspection, if your battery is three years or older, have a mechanic perform a cold cranking
power test. While your battery may work smoothly during warmer months, chemical reactions that
occur in the winter can cause it to lose up to 50 percent of its power.
Stock Up: Keep an emergency kit in your car. Purchase one that includes flares, blankets, jumper
cables, boots, a radio, a flashlight and extra engine oil and washer fluid. Some drivers also like to keep
salt in their cars so that, when driving in extremely icy conditions, you can sprinkle some on the road
in front of your car, causing the ice to melt.
Don't procrastinate on your winter car care — waiting until the cold arrives only puts you behind
on your safe driver maintenance. We're here to help you at Mufflers and More in Walled Lake. Call
anytime and ask for me, Kenny the Car Guy, so we can both ensure your driving experience is always a
safe and smooth one.
SERVICE DISCOUNT (labor only)
an
[UFFI
$10 OFF $50
11 I
$20 OFF $100
$30 OFF $250 or more
ER
11 I
Full Service Auto Re it & Maintenance
I
1".
Full Service Auto Re air 8 Maintenance
Kenny "the Car Guy" Walters,
owns the award-winning auto shop
Mufflers and More
at 490 N. Pontiac Trail
in Walled Lake
248.668.1200
www.mufflersandmore.net
Full Service Auto Repair & Maintenance
Email Kenny the Car Guy at
Kenny@mufflersandmore.net
September 19 • 2013
23