How to keep your car from showing its age

How can car owners prevent their vehicles from exposing their real age?

A motor car can show its years in the way it looks and the way it sounds.

It is often said that a car’s biggest single enemy is rust. This corrosive action works day and night to damage the car’s power curves, its sculptured metal panels, and the shiny trim that gives our modern chariots their eye appeal.

Additionally, the slamming of the door which gives the impression that it is being hit by a bomb. The constant rattle, which would annoy even the deaf. Dented and damaged bumpers, with chipped tooth-like park lights, wobbling wheels to name a few.

Jean-Pierre Campbell, manager of Bumper to Fender Auto Care, told the Gleaner’s Automotives, that if your take care of your motor vehicle inside out, the age of your car will always be a mystery to the average admirer.

“It is not at all difficult to deal with the way it (your car) looks and the way its sounds,” says Campbell.

Here are some tips to maintain that power look and sight appeal:

1. Give your car a good wash with cold water and mild soap. Also give it the occasional under carriage power wash. salt, dirt and air love rust. This should be done in the shade.

2. Wash vinyl tops with mild soap, lukewarm water and a soft-bristle brush. This should be followed by a vinyl top dressing. If by chance a cut is observed, repair it immediately.

3. Touch-up paint on chips and scratches does a little for appearance and a great deal for rust prevention.

For handling the unusual sounds:

1. If your motor car sounds like a tired jalopy, there might be a serious problem although most squeaks and rattles are not necessarily very serious. However, every unusual sound deserves a double-check

2. A spray lubricant can be used on hinges of doors, the hood, and the trunk. Noises from bumpers, fenders, or grilles might be caused by loose bolts.

“If the noise appears to be coming from underneath, have a trusted auto mechanic place the car on a lift and inspect the exhaust system for loose fasteners.

3. The squealing could also mean a loose drive belt.

4. If there is an unusual loud roaring, it could mean that there is a hole in the muffler. Just in case there are other noises, it could mean that trouble is on the horizon.