Dear Tom and Ray:

My relationship with my '88 Mercury Tracer is in trouble. We've been together through many winters in Alaska, but now that we are living in Southern California, the bloom is off the rose. You see, the car has no air conditioning, and the cost of having AC installed (about $1,000) is putting a strain on our relationship. I have a standard toolbox (crescent wrench, screwdriver and claw hammer) and can read. Is this a project I can do myself? -- Tim

Tom: No. Under no circumstances should you attempt this, Tim.

Ray: Right. You'd have a better chance of building a nuclear reactor out of old soda cans and cereal boxtops.

Tom: It's a huge job. A complicated, complete pain. Even though you may be able to buy a parts kit from your Mercury dealer, and even though this car is likely to be pre-wired and have the requisite duct work in place, you'll end up a week later with no air conditioning, and $500 worth of Mercury parts strewn around your garage floor.

Ray: Hey. Maybe he can build a nuclear reactor with those!

Tom: So if you really are in love with this car (which we can't quite understand, but we'll take your word for it), take it to your Mercury dealer and pay him $1,000 to install the AC. It'll be the best 1,000 bucks you ever spent. Trust us on this.

Stop the madness! You can stop driving like a knucklehead, and you'll help your car in the process. Learn how your driving habits can harm your car in Tom and Ray's pamphlet "Ten Ways You May Be Ruining Your Car Without Even Knowing It!" To order, send (check or money order) to Ruin, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. You can also order online.

© 1998 by Tom and Ray Magliozzi and Doug Berman Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.

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