Recommendations On Getting Your Car Ready For Summer Driving
Spring is the ideal time to get your car ready for the busy summer driving season ahead. It's wise to have your vehicle tested before summer's intense vacation traffic and stop-and-go conditions begin earnestly.
The professionals at the nonprofit National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence suggest the guidelines below on preparing your car:
* Look at the owner's guide and follow the suggested service schedules. Be careful on "regular" vs. "severe" schedules proposed, and determine which is appropriate for your driving conditions and routine.
* Seek a systematic repair facility with modern equipment in the service bays and certified automotive technicians being workers, as demonstrated by trade school diplomas, credentials of advanced course work and training, as well as national certification of the individual technicians by ASE.
* Cleanse and fill up the cooling system (radiator) as stated in the service manual's recommendations. The level, condition and intensity 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 recurrent summer breakdown.
* Have engine performance conditions rectified, such as hard starts, harsh idling and stalling. You'll get better gasoline mileage, and you could avert more expensive repairs.
* Don't ignore your transmission and brakes. Expensive repairs can be avoided by routine service. Neglected brakes can create safety issues, too.
* Seek out an experienced auto technician to check the condition of belts, clamps and hoses, but be precautionary by looking for signs of deterioration.
* Have a marginally working air conditioner system checked by a technician qualified to handle refrigerants. Older units often contain ozone-depleting chemicals that could be released into the air because of irregular or incompetent service.
* Change the oil and oil filter as indicated in the owner's manual. This easy, inexpensive service can increase the life of your vehicle.
* Change other filters (air, fuel, PCV) as recommended in the service manual.
* Check the condition of tires, including the spare. Let the tires "cool down" before checking their pressure. Bumpy 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 normal lights will make a vast difference when you're traveling in dark. Hardly ever do you realize how dim your headlights are until you upgrade. It is likely that the winter road grim has spoiled your lenses to the point where they actually need to be replaced.
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