Spring is the right 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 situation begin earnestly.

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

* Read the owner's manual and follow the recommended service schedules. Pay attention to "regular" vs. "severe" schedules planned, and find out which is suitable for your driving conditions and routine.

* Seek an orderly repair facility with modern equipment in the service bays and qualified automotive technicians being staff, as evidenced by trade school qualifications, credentials of advanced course work and training, and national certification of the individual technicians by ASE.

* Cleanse and replenish the cooling system (radiator) according to the service manual's recommendations. The level, condition 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 recurrent summer breakdown.

* Have engine performance conditions rectified, such as hard starts, tough idling and stalling. You'll get improved gasoline mileage, and you could prevent more expensive repairs.

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

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

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

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

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

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

* Replace your headlights with some good 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 in dark. Hardly ever 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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