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Get Your Car In Shape For Summer Travel

(NUI) - The more things change, the more they stay the same. Awkward station wagons with imitation wood paneling have given way to functional minivans with built-in baby seats. Cigarette lighters are no longer for smoking, but for car phones and modems.

But one bit of Americana remains unchanged. Millions of families will embark on a familiar ritual this summer - the automobile vacation.

Unfortunately, some of these trips will be ruined by mechanical breakdowns. Summer's heat and stop-and-go traffic can cause components to fail. To help lessen the chances of mechanical troubles, the nonprofit National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence offers the following advice:

Start preparing your vehicle well ahead of your vacation. Routine maintenance and service should be a year-round investment. Your vehicle will last longer and you will gain peace of mind.
Read the owner's manual, follow recommended service intervals and keep good records.
Inspect your vehicle periodically for such things as unusual sounds, odors, changes in performance and handling, leaks and drips. Be prepared to mention these symptoms to your auto technician.
If you're not a do-it-yourselfer, find a shop with a courteous staff, qualified technicians and modern equipment. Reward good service with repeat business. Ask friends for their recommendations and check the reputation of the shop with your local consumer organization.
Look for repair facilities that employ one or more ASE-certified technicians. These technicians have taken national exams to prove their competency to their employers and to you. They wear blue and white ASE shoulder insignia, while their employers display the blue and white ASE sign and often post their technicians' credentials in the customer service area.
A summer inspection should cover the following: air conditioning system, condition and tightness of belts and hoses, engine performance, and fluids. Also check the radiator, brakes, tires (including spare), suspension and steering, all lights and bulbs, the battery, and windshield wipers.
Carry some basic tools, road flares and a flashlight for emergency use. And keep plenty of windshield washer fluid to combat road dust and summer insects.

The experts at the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence have prepared a brochure on summertime auto maintenance. For a free copy of "Getting Your Vehicle Ready for Summer," send a self-addressed, stamped, business-sized envelope to: ASE, Dept. NU-S95, 13505 Dulles Technology Drive, Suite 2, Herndon, VA 22071.