Guidelines On Setting Your Car For Summer Drive
Spring is the right time to get your car ready for the hectic summer driving season ahead. It's sensible to have your vehicle checked out before summer's extreme vacation traffic and stop-and-go conditions begin earnestly.
The experts at the nonprofit National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence offer the following tips on preparing your car:
* Look at the owner's handbook and follow the recommended service schedules. Be careful on "regular" vs. "severe" schedules listed, and determine which is appropriate for your driving conditions and habits.
* Seek a systematic repair facility with current equipment in the service bays and skilled automotive technicians being staff, as demonstrated by trade school diplomas, certificates of advanced course work and training, as well as national certification of the individual technicians by ASE.
* Flush and replenish the cooling system (radiator) as stated in the service manual's recommendations. The level, form and intensity of the coolant should be checked periodically. Make sure the engine has cooled down before detaching the radiator cap. Engine overheating is the most frequent summer breakdown.
* Have engine performance problems corrected, such as hard starts, rough idling and stalling. You'll get improved gasoline mileage, and you could avert more costly repairs.
* Don't ignore your transmission and brakes. Costly repairs can be avoided by routine service. Neglected brakes can create safety issues, too.
* Seek out a qualified auto technician to verify the condition of belts, clamps and hoses, but be preventive by looking for signs of deterioration.
* Have a marginally working air conditioner system serviced by a technician qualified to deal with refrigerants. Older units often contain ozone-depleting chemicals that could be released into the air through improper or incompetent service.
* Replace the oil and oil filter as indicated in the owner's manual. This easy, inexpensive service can add to the life of your vehicle.
* Replace other filters (air, fuel, PCV) as suggested in the service manual.
* Check the condition of tires, including the spare. Let the tires "cool down" before checking their pressure. Uneven wear, "cupping", vibrations or "pulling" to one side indicates troubles with your tires or suspension system.
* Change 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 massive difference when you're traveling at night. Very rarely do you realize how dim your headlights are until you upgrade. Chances are the winter road grim has spoiled your lenses to the point where they actually need to be replaced.
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