Spring is the perfect time to get your vehicle ready for the busy summer driving season ahead. It's advisable to have your vehicle inspected before summer's intense vacation traffic and stop-and-go situation begin earnestly.
The experts at the nonprofit National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence offer the tips below on getting your vehicle ready:
* Read the owner's manual and keep up to the suggested service schedules. Watch out "regular" vs. "severe" schedules proposed, and determine which is appropriate for your driving conditions and routine.
* Look for an orderly repair facility with modern equipment in the service bays and certified automotive technicians being workers, as shown by trade school qualifications, certificates of advanced course work and training, as well as national certification of the individual technicians by ASE.
* Cleanse and refill the cooling system (radiator) according to the service manual's recommendations. The level, condition and strength of the coolant should be checked regularly. Make sure the engine has cooled down before taking off the radiator cap. Engine overheating is the most common summer breakdown.
* Have engine performance problems corrected, such as hard starts, tough idling and stalling. You'll get better gasoline mileage, and you could prevent more expensive repairs.
* Don't overlook your transmission and brakes. Expensive repairs can be prevented by periodic service. Neglected brakes can create safety issues, too.
* Seek out a skilled auto technician to check the condition of belts, clamps and hoses, but be proactive by looking for signs of wear, cracking or fraying.
* Have a marginally running air conditioner system repaired by a technician qualified to handle refrigerants. Older units often contain ozone-depleting compounds that could be released into the air through irregular or incompetent service.
* Change the oil and oil filter as specified in the owner's manual. This simple, inexpensive service can boost the life of your vehicle.
* Change other filters (air, fuel, PCV) as recommended in the service manual.
* Verify 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 points to problems with your tires or suspension system.
* Replace your headlights with some good aftermarket headlights. Good custom headlights or even just a nice new series of H11 bulbs for your normal lights will make a vast difference when you're traveling in dark. Very rarely do you realize how dim your headlights are until you upgrade. It is likely that the winter road grim has damaged your lenses to the point where they really need to be replaced.
Guidelines For Preparing Your Car For Summer Trip
Spring is the perfect time to get your vehicle ready for the busy 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
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