Suggestions On Preparing Your Car For Summer Driving

Spring is the perfect time to get your car ready for the hectic summer driving season ahead. It's wise to have your vehicle checked out before summer's heavy vacation traffic and stop-and-go conditions begin earnestly.

The professionals at the nonprofit National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence offer the tips below on getting your vehicle ready:

* Look at the owner's handbook and follow the recommended service schedules. Pay attention to "regular" vs. "severe" schedules listed, and find out which is appropriate for your driving conditions and routine.

* Look for a methodical repair facility with current equipment in the service bays and qualified automotive technicians being staff, as evidenced by trade school diplomas, credentials of advanced course work and training, as well as national certification of the individual technicians by ASE.

* Cleanse and refill the cooling system (radiator) as indicated in the service manual's recommendations. The level, form and concentration of the coolant should be checked periodically. Make sure the engine has cooled down before removing the radiator cap. Engine overheating is the most frequent summer breakdown.

* Have engine performance conditions corrected, such as hard starts, tough idling and stalling. You'll get better gasoline mileage, and you could put off more costly repairs.

* Don't neglect your transmission and brakes. Costly repairs can be prevented by routine service. Neglected brakes can cause safety issues, too.

* Seek out a skilled auto technician to check the condition of belts, clamps and hoses, but be precautionary by looking for signs of deterioration.

* Have a marginally operating air conditioner system serviced by a technician qualified to handle refrigerants. Older units often contain ozone-depleting chemicals that could be emitted into the air through irregular or incompetent service.

* Change the oil and oil filter as detailed in the owner's manual. This easy, inexpensive service can increase the life of your vehicle.

* Replace other filters (air, fuel, PCV) as recommended in the service manual.

* Check the condition of tires, including the spare. Let the tires "cool down" prior to checking their pressure. Uneven wear, "cupping", vibrations or "pulling" to one side points to problems with your tires or suspension system.

* Exchange your headlights with some good quality aftermarket headlights. Good custom headlights or even just a nice new set of H11 bulbs for your standard lights will make a huge difference when you're traveling at night. Hardly ever do you realize how dim your headlights are until you upgrade. Chances are the winter road grim has damaged your lenses to the point where they actually need to be replaced.

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