The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1927-05-04

~ IL BOuSIdllY DSuSNSQ L0SI Y
great deal Of trouble with auto,
mobiles can be traced to owners
failure to know more about their
cars before they start using them
iTtensively.
The average car is pressed into
service Immediately and often is re.
Quired to do things for which it was
not built. Regardless Of whether
the owner understands the car. he
proceeds on the assumption that he
knows all about It. and the conse.
quence Is that his first destination
often Is a repair shop. Many OF
these trips, 1t is pointed out, can
be eliminated from his itinerary IL
the owner win give the new car
half 3 chance.
Complete Investigation
Giving a new car half chance
means giving it a complete investi-
cation. No halfway measures In
this respect can be expected to help
the owner through to complete sue.
cess. If the car has peculiarities Of
It's own~-and the probabilities are
that 1t will--the owner should be
able to find out what they are be-
fore he INDUCES in any extensive
driving. If the car requires any
special consideration in handling or
in servicing, he should be familiar
with its demands before he under.
takes to use it.
The person most likely to be
caught off his guard Is the one who
has bought a car Of the same make
as the one he has discarded or
traded. Because he is familiar with
the make of the car, he thinks he
also 10 familiar with the new model,
and It is this error which often
proves costly. Changes in design are
automobile line today that very often
q car is practically total stranger
to its predecessor. even though it
bears the same name. Since the
first OF the year. one prominent
automobile manufactures switched
from an L-head motor to an F-head
motor. This fact, illustrates how
important it is for owners who are
buying new cars of the same make
TO be certain that they also make a
change in their knowledge Of these
cars.
General Design
Much has been said about I'M
derstanding the general design of
cars, and particularly Of understand
ing those changes which are
brought about with the introduc.
ton of new models; but this phase
of the subject is by no means the
most important. A fact which
many motorists completely overlook
Is that every automobile, where It
is one Of many thousands from the
assembly line develops certain pecu-
liarities Of its own. These are not
always Immediately apparent but
they can be singled out IL the new
owner is careful to study the car
In detail and refrain from giving
1t harmful use during the first few
weeks 1t is in his possession.
These peculiarities Of new cars,
In fact in all cars, are a source Of
constant anxiety to service stations.
Too often the vagaries of cars are
aggravated by their drivers Sup.
pose car has clutch that has
not been assembled with the same
precision as the twenty thousand
that went before it during the same
month? If the owner discovers
this during the first few days Of
his ownership of the car, the
chances are he win either try to
have It replaced or repaired or he
will make certain allowances for
its shortcomings. This he may do
uneonsciously and without any par
ticular effort provided he knows
what the situation is, but IL he
does not know what to look out for.
he is very likely to handle that
clutch as though it ware absolutely
perfect, with the result that in q
very short time he is back to the
service station with some real
trouble.
Trouble in Repair
One Of the most difficult things