The Mail-Journal, Volume 14, Number 15, Milford, Kosciusko County, 4 May 1977 — Page 22

Car’s mandated safety devices need timely maintenance, too!

Much of the safety equipment on your car was mandated by the Federal Government but it’s up to you. the motorist, to make sure the devices continue to do their job. The Automotive Information Council consulted one of the auto industry’s pioneers in the vehicle safety area for his recommendations He is Roy Haeusler. who even has earned the plaudits of the industry’s severest critics. Seat and belts are one area you don’t have to be concerned about. ‘The belts on your car are good for the life of the car," Haeusler says. The webbing has been subjected to prolonged periods of artificial radiation to determine how they resist brilliant sun-' light The belts withstood all tests." Some other safety device tips Steering column Energ» *ti»-orb>nK 'leering column : Even the slightest vertical movement in the column calls for a service check Two small, hidden capsules hold the column rigid, but giv< way in the event of a crash Lights Light': It’s a simple matter to see if they all glow but an owner frequently misses the flasher system that warns other traffic when a car is stalled The flasher should be blinking half the time as opposed to an inconsistent pattern This is especially important in daylight so

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the flasher can be seen Inconsistency means the flasher is approaching its last blink Head rest Head rv-t: Haeusler concedes this device has generated controversy over its merits but he favors it and urges front seat pas sengers to raise the head rest to the proper height If the head rest should come down when the car is driven over a bump or a railroad track, it obviously needs tightening Seats s<«t lau-hc': There are safety standards on seat strength but the latching mechanism should keep them firmly in place - enough to hold fast in a 30 - mile -an - hour crash Obviously, it can’t be tested too easily. If you can move the seat by applying body pressure, it isn’t latching and is dangerous if the car is moving Doors Door latches: Their job is to keep the passengers from being thrown from the car in the event of a collision Statistics prove the chances for survival are greater if the passenger remains in the car. Latches should keep the door closed even when the lock button is “up.” Some latches, in time, become hair-triggered” and even a slight bump against the door or the door handle can cause the door to fly open. The handle or lever should move at least a quarter of an inch before

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it releases the latch and opens the door. > Door locks: The lock buttons can become faulty and there may be times when you, think the door is locked, but it isn’t. This is particularly true of power door locks. Occasionally, check the doors on the outside to make certain they lock properly Parking brake Parking brake: Owners of cars with manual transmissions use this equipment, especially when parking on a slope. It can become “hair-triggered” in time and release when a passing car causes the parked vehicle to sway. Releasing the brake should require a firm effort Safety checks on tires, foot brakes, steering, etc , have been necessary since the first single - cylinder runabout made its American debut before the turn of this century. Today, we have dual braking systems on all cars. If one system goes, you still have sufficient braking to bring your car to a halt. Haeusler advises periodic check of the brake fluid level. 'When the brake warning light glows, it’s not really a warning,” he says. ‘ ’lt means that one of your systems Js not operating.” He has some further advice on replacing brake fluid: “Before you check the fluid level, wipe the area around it to make certain no dirt enters the fluid chamber. Otherwise, It might have been better

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not ta,check it. Also, don’t use fluid that hasn’t been kept in an air tight containeer. Moisture destroys the fluid.” Finally, the safety ex-

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pert notes the growing popularity of sun roofs and warns owners to make sure the roof is properly latched — especially if you don’t wear seat belts.