Spring is the ideal time to get your car ready for the active 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 experts at the nonprofit National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence offer the tips below on getting your vehicle ready:

* Look at the owner's guide and follow the recommended service schedules. Pay attention to "regular" vs. "severe" schedules proposed, and determine which is appropriate for your driving conditions and routine.

* Try to find a methodical repair facility with recent equipment in the service bays and skilled automotive technicians being staff, as evidenced by trade school qualifications, certificates 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 indicated in the service manual's recommendations. The level, state 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 problems corrected, such as hard starts, tough idling and stalling. You'll get better gasoline mileage, and you could put off more costly repairs.

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

* Seek out a skilled auto technician to test the condition of belts, clamps and hoses, but be precautionary by looking for signs of deterioration.

* 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 released into the air through irregular or incompetent service.

* Change the oil and oil filter as detailed in the owner's manual. This straightforward, 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" before checking their pressure. Uneven wear, "cupping", vibrations or "pulling" to one side points to difficulties with your tires or suspension system.

* Exchange your headlights with some good quality 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. Very rarely do you realize how dim your headlights are until you upgrade. It is likely that the winter road grim has ruined your lenses to the point where they actually need to be replaced.

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