Spring is the ideal time to get your vehicle ready for the hectic summer driving season ahead. It's sensible 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 following tips on getting your vehicle ready:

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

* Try to find an orderly repair facility with current equipment in the service bays and skilled 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.

* Flush and fill up the cooling system (radiator) according to 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 removing the radiator cap. Engine overheating is the most common summer breakdown.

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

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

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

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

* Change the oil and oil filter as specified in the owner's manual. This easy, inexpensive service can add to the life of your vehicle.

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

* Verify 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 indicates difficulties 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 dim your headlights are until you upgrade. Chances are the winter road grim has ruined your lenses to the point where they really need to be replaced.

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