The Mail-Journal, Volume 14, Number 15, Milford, Kosciusko County, 4 May 1977 — Page 27

Housewife’s tune-up center makes women feel at ease

Fleet owners also come to her for regular service Two years ago, Catherine “Kay” Butler was just another housewife who dreaded taking her car in for service. Today, she is the owner of a successful tune-up center in Portland, Ore. that caters to female car owners. “I knew other women felt as uneasy as I did talking to service managers and mechanics about repair work we didn’t understand,” Mrs. Butler states as the reason she went into business. "That’s why I wanted my service center to be a place where women could relax in pleasant surroundings while they wait, be confident the work was being done properly and feel free to ask questions.” Her service center, TuneUp Experts, is exactly that Every part of the facil-

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ity reflects the woman’s touch. In the spotless office, customers can sip coffee on the house, read the latest issue of Cosmopolitan or Ladies Home Journal while relaxing in soft, comfortable chairs, or just chat with Mrs. Butler about her many office plants and flowers. “This is where I do my thing,” Mrs. Butler says as she points to a “Sidewalk Superintendents Welcome” sign on the office wall. “I try to make our customers feel at home, answer their questions as best I can and explain what we’re doing to their car." She admits her mechanical knowledge is limited, but talks with pride about her chief mechanic, David Chun, "who is on a firstname basis with everything under the hood ” "I call David my resident genius,” she says. “He does the actual work but is also very helpful in

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explaining to a customer what’s wrong with the car and how it should be fixed.” Mrs. Butler’s service center specializes in tuneups and minor repairs but she has developed another business evaluating used cars for women who want to know more about a car before they buy it. • “This is one thing I preach loud and long — have a qualified mechanic give any used car the once over before the deal is signed. Too often, women are more concerned about how a car looks rather than how it runs. Color is secondary. It’s the** motor that gets you around town.” She is also very specific when it comes to the value of periodic maintenance. “Just being a woman is no excuse for letting a car fall apart from neglect. Change parts at recommended intervals, keep the oil level full, use the

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proper fuel, check the brake pedal for fade, make sure the lights work properly and the battery cells are full, and check the pattern wear on the inside of the tires. These are all simple checks that anyone can make." While a significant num ber of Tune-Up Experts’ customers are women, Kay Butler does not discriminate. “Men customers with balky engines are welcome anytime. In fact.

New York cars are polluting

State-wide auto emissions tests show that 45% of New York State automobile owners are needlessly polluting the air and wasting gasoline, according to Commissioner Peter A. A. Berle of the Department of Environmental Conservation. “Some 80-85% of the polluters could meet State standards for auto emissions and save money by simple, inexpensive carbu retor adjustments,” Commissioner Berle said. “Any

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we have some fleet accounts and taxi cabs that come in for tune-ups and preventive maintenance on a regular basis." Evaluating the success of her new business, Mrs. Butler says, “AU in all, the first two years have been a lot of fun and an occasional headache. But one thing I know for certain: I don’t have to worry where to take my car the next time it needs a tune-up.”

garage can test a car at idle to check the carburetor.” SAFE STOPPING Any time your car brakes fail to function properly, better stop at the first available service station and have the system’s fluid level checked Operation of your hydraulic braking system is absolutely dependent on a proper fluid level in the master cylinder.

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