Spring is the right time to get your vehicle ready for the busy summer driving season ahead. It's sensible to have your vehicle tested before summer's intense vacation traffic and stop-and-go conditions begin earnestly.

The experts at the nonprofit National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence recommend the guidelines below on preparing your car:

* Read the owner's manual and keep up to the suggested service schedules. Watch out "regular" vs. "severe" schedules listed, and determine which is suitable for your driving conditions and practice.

* Seek a systematic repair facility with modern equipment in the service bays and skilled automotive technicians being workers, as shown by trade school diplomas, certificates of advanced course work and training, and national certification of the individual technicians by ASE.

* Wash out and replenish the cooling system (radiator) as stated in the service manual's recommendations. The level, condition and intensity of the coolant should be checked at regular intervals. Make sure the engine has cooled down before taking off the radiator cap. Engine overheating is the most frequent summer breakdown.

* Have engine performance problems rectified, such as hard starts, harsh idling and stalling. You'll get improved 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.

* Look for an experienced auto technician to verify the condition of belts, clamps and hoses, but be preventive by looking for signs of wear, cracking or fraying.

* Have a marginally working air conditioner system checked by a technician qualified to deal with refrigerants. Older units often contain ozone-depleting chemicals that could be released into the air because of inappropriate or incompetent service.

* Replace the oil and oil filter as indicated in the owner's manual. This simple, inexpensive service can add to the life of your vehicle.

* Change 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. Rough wear, "cupping", vibrations or "pulling" to one side implies troubles with your tires or suspension system.

* Change 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 at night. Very rarely do you realize how weak your headlights are until you upgrade. It is likely that the winter road grim has spoiled your lenses to the point where they really need to be replaced.

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