04/ 02/ 2007
Warm weather is a perfect time to shape up your ride
Now that warm weather is here, you may discover quirks in your car that winter's deep freeze masked. Clogged radiators, malfunctioning thermostats and failing water pumps can be hard to detect in cold weather, but as the temperature climbs, they become hard to ignore.
Avoid being stranded on the side of the road when you should be at an important client meeting. Brush up on car maintenance to reverse the damage of winter and steer clear of summer breakdowns. The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence suggests:
- Reading through your owner's manual to see if you're following recommended service schedules for oil changes, transmission repairs and filter replacements.
- Flushing and refilling the cooling system and checking the level, condition and concentration of coolant.
- Correcting engine problems like hard starts, rough idling and stalling now before they become expensive repairs.
- Checking the condition of tires and the spare. Note instances of uneven wear, vibrations, pulling to one side or other signs of tire or suspension problems.
- Replacing burned-out bulbs and worn wiper blades. The institute also suggests removing clutter from floorboards and the trunk (since extra weight makes your engine work harder), and washing and waxing your vehicle to remove winter grime.
